Jayden Daniels DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has reportedly been impressive this offseason, but not all organizations want to start their rookie quarterback right away. The No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of LSU could sit behind veteran Marcus Mariota to begin his career, though Commanders reporter Ben Standig believes that will not be the case. "Daniels' development is the story. The competition for Week 1 starter isn't," Standig wrote. "Quinn will maintain lineup battle talk. There's a daily progression coaches have planned for the rookie, yet it's clear the dual-threat talent is the clubhouse leader to be QB1 thanks to his sizzling potential and Mariota's limitations." Daniels threw for 40 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,100 yards in his Heisman-winning 2023 campaign, and if his skills translate to the next level, he's a future high-end QB1 in fantasy football in the making. He's being selected as a high-end QB2 in preseason drafts, but if he starts right away and plays all 17 games, he has a clear path to beating his ADP.

Washington Commander rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the second overall pick in this year's NFL draft, has done nothing but impress this offseason as he heads into his first year in the league in 2024. Daniels has yet to face a live pass rush, but what he's done to this point has been impressive nonetheless. The Commanders hope the former Heisman Trophy winner can bring stability under center in D.C. Teammates and coaches say that the 23-year-old signal-caller is ahead of schedule in learning the offense. "He's further along than you probably should be," head coach Dan Quinn said. It remains to be seen if he'll continue to look this good in training camp and the preseason, but Daniels' pedigree and dual-threat ability should make him fantasy relevant in his first NFL season as a QB2 in superflex leagues if he beats out Marcus Mariota for the starting gig.

The Washington Commanders and second overall pick Jayden Daniels agreed to terms on a four-year, $37.75 million fully guaranteed deal on Friday that includes a $24.3 million signing bonus, according to his agent. The young quarterback out of LSU is the highest pick of this year's NFL draft to sign their rookie deal to this point. While Daniels is technically competing for the starting gig in his rookie season in 2024 with veteran Marcus Mariota, most people are projecting Daniels to win the competition and start right away in Week 1 in D.C. The 23-year-old dual-threat signal-caller has all the physical skills to have success at the next level in an offense without much proven talent at the receiver position beyond Terry McLaurin. Aside from durability concerns, Daniels has the makeup to have a seamless transition to the NFL, immediately making him relevant in two-QB, superflex leagues in 2024.

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has begun to build chemistry with the revamped offensive line in the nation's capital, especially with center Tyler Biadasz. Biadasz played under newly named Washington Head Coach Dan Quinn in Dallas and was one of the best centers available on the market in free agency this spring. Biadasz was brought in to help bolster a weak Commanders line that surrendered the second most sacks last season and finished with the sixth-fewest total rushing yards. Zach Selby, a senior writer for the Commanders reported that Daniels and Biadasz have begun to build a strong relationship and chemistry on the field during the early part of OTAs. This is a great sign for dynasty managers who selected the former LSU product early in their rookie drafts. By having a strong line in front of him, Daniels will be put on a great path to succeed in his rookie campaign and will have more time in the pocket to get the ball to the newly acquired Austin Ekeler and pro-bowl wideout Terry McLaurin.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, whom the team selected second overall in last month's NFL Draft, is already making a positive impression during the early days of OTAs. "His football IQ is really high," offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said. "He's really well versed in protections." Kingsbury noted that Daniels works very hard, constantly improved on tape in college, and is always working hard to get better. The former LSU signal-caller also drew praise from wide receiver Jahan Dotson, who said, "That's the quarterback I wanted." He added that he's been very impressed by what he has seen from Daniels so far. Overall, there seems to be plenty of positive buzz surrounding Daniels. There's a case to be made that he could be the No. 1 rookie quarterback in fantasy football, putting him over the likes of Caleb Williams and the rest of the class. He should be a top-five pick in rookie drafts and a must-draft name in most redraft formats.