Washington Commanders

Houston Texans wide receiver Noah Brown (shoulder) is nearing a return to the practice field. Brown has been out of practice since suffering a shoulder strain last week. It's uncertain if it's related to the same shoulder he injured during the Wild Card game in January. Regardless, Brown shouldn't be sidelined for much longer. He'll be held out of the preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday. Brown is coming off a career-high 567-yard season in 2023. Sadly for him, Brown will be stuck battling for the fourth string role behind Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins in Houston.

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler is returning kicks at training camp during Thursday's practice. That's one way for the Commanders to get Ekeler involved besides backfield usage. The 29-year-old receiving back looked like he was running with a piano on his back after missing three games early last year due to an ankle sprain, rushing for just 3.5 yards per carry and producing only 4.6 yards per touch in 14 appearances for the Los Angeles Chargers. Even so, Ekeler still ranked sixth among qualifiers at his position in yards per catch (8.5) over 52 receptions and 10th in yards per route run (1.55) across 282 routes in 2023, so Washington is going to try and get the ball in his hands in space. He's a wild card for 2024 as an RB3/flex gamble in the double-digit rounds of fantasy drafts this summer, one that is best suited for PPR settings alongside early-down back Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running backs Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. are both listed as starters on the team's initial preseason depth chart. There's not much of a surprise here, as the Commanders will likely ride one back or the other based on game scripts this fall. Robinson projects as Washington's early-down and goal-line back with plenty of touchdown upside after finding the end zone nine times in 15 games last year, whereas Ekeler is set to be utilized mostly on third downs and in obvious passing situations after tallying 74 targets with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023. There's a real chance this ends up being an even split for touches amongst the two, with Robinson being the preferred option in standard fantasy leagues, and Ekeler the priority in PPR formats.

The Washington Commanders have named rookie Jayden Daniels their starting quarterback on the season's initial depth chart, a decision many had widely anticipated. Initially, Daniels and Marcus Mariota split first-team reps, with Mariota often getting the first look. Still, as training camp progressed from July to August, Daniels took the majority of reps. Jeff Driskel is listed third on the depth chart, with undrafted rookie Sam Hartman fourth. On Saturday, Daniels will start the preseason opener against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. He's an intriguing late-round fantasy quarterback pick due to his solid supporting cast and rushing ability, and he stands out as the only FBS player in college football history with over 12,000 passing yards and more than 3,000 rushing yards. The main concern is the uncertainty of his offensive line, particularly at left tackle, where 33-year-old Cornelius Lucas or rookie Brandon Coleman will start. Nonetheless, Daniels offers significant upside as a QB1 option in later drafts, allowing you to prioritize other positions early on.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is set to play in the team's first preseason game against the New York Jets. This isn't shocking news after Daniels was taken as the No. 2 overall selection in this year's draft. He will get his first taste of NFL action next weekend as the organization is hopeful Daniels is their quarterback of the future. It's worth noting that the Commanders haven't revealed their starter for Week 1. Both Marcus Mariota and Daniels have been given first-team reps in camp. The assumption is Daniels will start the season opener, but we'll wait and see how Daniels looks in the preseason opener.