Jayden Daniels DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

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.

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels went 17-for-24 with 184 passing yards and no scores in his regular-season debut. However, the reigning Heisman winner made his mark with his legs by tallying 88 yards and two goal-line scores on a team-high 16 carries. The Commanders did not have too much rhythm in the first half, but the former second-overall pick began to find his footing as the game progressed. In the second half, Daniels led Washington down a 60 and 70-yard touchdown drive. While his passing production did not raise his fantasy production this afternoon, his legs did. Fantasy managers should continue to start Daniels in all standard formats, given his ability to pick up points on the ground.

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels should be locked into all starting lineups as he prepares to make his regular-season debut on Sunday afternoon. The reigning Heisman trophy winner looked sharp in his limited preseason action as he went 12-for-15 with 123 yards and added 16 rushing yards and a score with his legs. In his final season at LSU, the former number-two overall pick threw for 3,812 yards with 1,134 rushing yards and 50 combined scores. Daniels will line up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who surrendered 248.9 passing yards per game, which was the fourth-most in the league last season. Fantasy managers should feel confident placing the future of the Commanders in their starting lineup as he should provide not only a safe floor but the upside to finish near the top of his position.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is entering his rookie season with some big expectations both on the ground and through the air. The LSU sensation amassed 3,812 passing yards with 40 touchdowns and four interceptions while running for another 1,134 yards and 10 scores on the ground. His dual-threat ability is the biggest reason he's as high as he is on fantasy draft boards despite not having the best receiving corps. He does still have a quality receiver in Terry McLaurin, but Daniels is projected to put up some big rushing numbers which will help bolster his fantasy points per game. In half-PPR redraft leagues, Daniels ADP is outside the top 100 meaning he can provide some very good value to teams looking for late quarterbacks.