Jayden Daniels's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels went 23-for-29 with 226 passing yards in his first regular-season victory against the New York Giants. On the ground, he added 44 yards on ten carries. This was a significant improvement for the number-two overall pick, as he threw for just 184 yards on 17 completions in his debut last week. Throughout the afternoon, the LSU product was able to lead Washington downfield but could not capitalize on any red zone opportunities as the Commanders only came away with field goals - six of them. His longest pass of the day was a 34-yarder to Noah Brown on the eventual game-winning drive. Fantasy managers should continue to feel comfortable staring Daniels in all formats, given his elite rushing ability, even as he continues to develop as a passer. He should be viewed as a low-end QB1 next week as he faces the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels relied on his legs in his regular season debut as he ran for 88 yards and two scores on 16 carries. Through the air, he went 17-for-24 for 184 yards. The Commanders could not find much consistency in their passing attack, which forced the reigning Heisman winner to utilize his legs much more than his coaching staff would like. However, fantasy managers hope that the LSU product does not shy away from taking off, as his running ability placed him as the No.3 QB in total points last week. This weekend, he will face the New York Giants, which allowed over 200 passing yards to Sam Darnold. While Daniels will still need time to develop as a passer, fantasy managers should feel confident starting him this weekend in any league size.

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has expressed a desire for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to prioritize passing over rushing after his Week 1 performance. Quinn stated, "We'd love to see him remain a passer first." The news is a little worrisome for fantasy as Daniels' rushing helped propel him to a top-three finish at the quarterback position in Week 1. Despite an impressive debut with 88 rushing yards and two touchdownsmarking the most rushing yards by a rookie quarterback in a Week 1 debut and the most carries by a Commanders quarterbackDaniels showed vulnerabilities in his passing game. The team's leading receivers were running backs Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson, while wideouts contributed only 55 yards, with top receiver Terry McLaurin managing just two catches for 17 yards. Additionally, Daniels' high rushing volume raises concerns about his durability and the need for improved sliding technique to avoid big hits. Washington will look to adjust their game plan for Week 2 against the New York Giants to reduce Daniels' reliance on running.