Washington Commanders DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott led the team in receiving yards with 57 and receptions with three on Saturday afternoon. Sinnott made his first professional catch in the first quarter off a one-yard pass from Jeff Driskel. In the second quarter, Driskel hit him on his longest reception of the day for 44 yards. Later in the second half, he made his final reception for 12 yards from Sam Hartman. This was a great sign for the former second-round pick, as he looked quite comfortable in his first NFL game. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression through the remainder of the preseason, as he could become a consistent option in the offense. For now, veteran Zach Ertz should be viewed as the starter, but Sinnott could be worth a flier late in drafts if he continues to produce in the preseason.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is already showcasing his comfort in the new offense by calling deep-play audibles. Running back Austin Ekeler revealed that Daniels changed the play from a planned screen pass to an all-go route, leading to a deep completion to Dyami Brown. OL Sam Cosmi also praised Daniels for his decision-making, noting the 42-yard strike and saying, "I think we've got a guy back there." Daniels, who has drawn significant interest from fantasy experts and fans, had an impressive debut in his first preseason game. Known for being the only FBS player with over 12,000 passing yards and more than 3,000 rushing yards, Daniels presents intriguing value as a late-round fantasy quarterback pick. With a strong supporting cast and his dual-threat capabilities, he stands out as a potential QB1 option for those looking to prioritize other positions early in their drafts.

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.