Team Profile
Washington Commanders
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20.9% 2ndOff DVOA
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50.4% 2ndPassing DVOA
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5.2% 8thRushing DVOA
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6.8% 25thDef DVOA
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10.2% 18thDef Passing DVOA
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3.4% 26thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For26.2 6th
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Points Against22.8 19th
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Yards Per Game377.0 4th
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Yards Allowed Per Game325.0 15th
Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown is a healthy scratch in Week 1. The Commanders take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the team looks to enter a new era with a new regime. Brown joined the team after being cut by the Texans at the conclusion of the preseason. He had a solid season with the Texans in 2023 with 33 receptions for 567 yards and two touchdowns in ten games. The healthy scratch is not surprising since Brown had hardly any time to become integrated with the team. He is a talented player who should be able to earn playing time as the season progresses.
The Washington Commanders have placed quarterback Marcus Mariota (chest) on injured reserve and have signed quarterback Sam Hartman from their practice squad. Mariota, who sustained a chest injury during Wednesday's practice, will be sidelined until at least early October. Washington had signed Mariota to a one-year, $6 million contract before drafting Jayden Daniels with their second-round pick. Mariota, a former No. 2 overall pick in 2015, had agreed to either mentor or start as needed for the team. This marks Mariota's first season with the Commanders after previous stints with the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, and Philadelphia Eagles. The rookie from Notre Dame will step in as the third-string quarterback behind Daniels, the starter, and Jeff Driskel, the new backup, for the start of the season.
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (chest, pectoral) has officially been ruled out for Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had been limited on Wednesday but then did not practice on Thursday or Friday. His absence means that Washington will head into its first game of the year with Jeff Driskel backing up Jayden Daniels. Of course, Daniels, this year's No. 1 pick, is the only Washington quarterback worth rostering in fantasy football. He's a mid-to-low QB1 option against the Buccaneers.
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz could see a hefty amount of targets his way in the season opener, making him a high-end TE2 in all leagues. With many questions surrounding the No.2 receiver in Washington, Ertz could fill that role in the short term. Last season, the veteran appeared in just seven games before suffering a season-ending quadriceps injury. During this span, Ertz averaged a mere 7.4 PPR points but was targeted on 23.2% of his routes. Through his first taste of the regular season, rookie Jayden Daniels may lock on to Ertz in the middle of the field instead of pushing the ball outside. However, if the 33-year-old cannot perform, he may soon be replaced by rookie Ben Sinnott, who the Commanders selected in the second round of this year's draft. Facing the Buccaneers, who allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends last season, Ertz might be a sneaky play in DFS formats and a high-end TE2 in deeper leagues.
Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown looks to emerge as the No. 2 wideout in the season opener but should be left out of your starting lineups this weekend. Brown flashed some upside during the preseason, especially in the opening game, where he caught a 42-yard pass from quarterback Jayden Daniels. In the second game, he continued to build a connection with Daniels by seeing three targets on just one drive. Through his first three seasons in Washington, the UNC product totaled only 476 yards and three scores, making him a boom-or-bust option in Week 1. However, if Brown can claim the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, he could become a solid flex play as the season progresses as Daniels develops as a passer.