Washington Commanders DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Los Angeles Chargers are expected to let impending free-agent running back Austin Ekeler explore free agency in 2024, according to league sources, which means they won't use the franchise tag on him. Ekeler was one of the biggest early round fantasy busts in 2023, as the 28-year-old finished with 628 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 179 carries in 14 games in his seventh year with the Chargers. He also had 51 receptions (74 targets) for 436 yards and one touchdown through the air. Ekeler has never had 1,000 yards rushing in his career and could face an uncertain future if he leaves LA. He's not going to be a first-round fantasy pick in fall drafts, but Ekeler has bounce-back potential if he's healthy and in a significant role, whether it be with the Chargers or another team.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, one of this year's top draft prospects, plans to throw at his pro day on March 27 instead of at this week's NFL scouting combine, according to sources. Daniels will be in Indianapolis this week for interviews and meetings with teams, but he will not work out at all. USC's Caleb Williams, the consensus top overall pick for the upcoming draft, also will not throw at the combine this week. The 23-year-old won the Heisman Trophy last year, which has vaulted him to No. 3 behind Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye in the QB rankings for the upcoming draft. Daniels has plenty of upside at the next level, but his fantasy value for the long term will all depend on where he lands in the draft.

The Athletic's Jon Machota suggests that wide receiver Michael Gallup is a potential cut candidate this offseason. The 27-year-old has three years left on the five-year, $57.5 million extension he signed in March of 2022. He was coming off a season-ending knee injury when he signed that deal, and he hasn't been the same player since. Gallup averaged 975 receiving yards and 5.5 touchdowns per season in 2019 and 2020, but he hasn't had more than 445 yards in a season since. He caught all six of his targets for 103 yards in the wild-card loss to the Packers, his best game of the last two years. If Dallas cuts Gallup before June, they'll be left with $13 million in dead-cap money in 2024, which would only save them around $800,000 in 2024 because his cap hit for 2024 is $13.85 million. A pay cut is probably coming for Gallup if he's not released.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring) had a frustrating Sunday night in the team's 25-22 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. The former second-rounder fell to the turf, grabbing his leg in the third quarter but returned shortly after. While 49er fans and fantasy managers could breathe a sigh of relief when he returned, Samuel wasn't able to do much damage after -- or for that matter, before -- the injury. He finished the game with three catches on a game-high 11 targets for just 33 yards. San Francisco also attempted to get Samuel involved in the running game, giving him three carries which turned into just eight yards. He'll most likely be taken near the WR1/WR2 border when fantasy drafts happen in the fall.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring) has returned to Sunday's Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. He suffered the injury on a non-contact play in which he was not the intended target. The 49ers initially listed him as questionable, but he checked back in for the first play of the next drive. At the time of his departure, the talented playmaker had seven targets, two catches, two rushes, and 23 scrimmage yards. His return puts the 49ers' offense back at full strength as they look to preserve their one-score lead over the Chiefs.