Washington Commanders DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler made his return from the injured reserve last weekend and carries solid receiving upside against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ekeler missed the previous four games due to a concussion. In his return last Sunday, Ekeler ran the ball three times for 12 yards and brought in both of his targets for 20 yards. Before his injury, Ekeler averaged a solid 12.3 PPR points per game. He saw 3.6 targets per game and averaged an impressive 11.1 yards per catch. The 29-year-old was typically deployed in passing downs but out-snapped the presumed starter Brian Robinson Jr. last weekend. Seeing the team deploy him as the lead option after missing four games is a positive sign. Despite facing a tough rushing defense in Tampa Bay, given his elite pass-catching ability, Ekeler could be in store for a productive evening given the hefty 50.5-point total this game carries. He is a high-upside RB2 target in DFS at a great value.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. has struggled to generate much on the ground over the past month and has another tough matchup ahead of him on Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over his past four games, Robinson has only tallied double-digit PPR points once and averaged a mere 39.8 rushing yards per game. During this span, he did not score a touchdown and saw just 2.3 targets per game. However, prior to this stretch, the Alabama product averaged a strong 13.4 PPR points per game and scored eight touchdowns in ten games. Given his lack of recent production and the return of Austin Ekeler, Robinson Jr. is a touchdown-dependent RB2 in DFS that does not carry much upside facing a Tampa Bay defense that has allowed the tenth-fewest PPR points to opposing RBs this season.

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels exceeded all expectations this season and looks to stay hot in Tampa Bay on Sunday night. Over his previous five full games (excluding Week 18), the LSU product has averaged a stellar 34.0 PPR points per game. During this span, Daniels has averaged over 300 all-purpose yards while scoring 17 total scores. He threw just two interceptions over this span. Daniels was on the injury report earlier this week with a quadriceps injury but was able to log three straight full practices and avoid a designation. Daniels faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first week of the season and scored 30.0 PPR points as he threw for 184 yards and added 88 yards and two scores on the ground. Given how well he has progressed as a passer, Daniels carries elite QB1 upside this weekend. He is a top play in DFS facing the Buccaneers, who have allowed the third-most PPR points to opposing QBs.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels (quadriceps) is off the injury report and is set to make his playoff debut on Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Daniels exited last weekend's game early due to minor leg soreness but was able to do three consecutive full practices this week, which suggests he should not face any limitations in Sunday's playoff game. During Weeks 12 through 17, the LSU product averaged a stellar 34.0 PPR points per game. During this stretch, Daniels averaged over 300 total yards per game and found the end zone 17 times. The first time he faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (in Week 1) he scored 30.0 PPR points as he tallied two rushing scores with 88 rushing and 184 passing yards. Given how well he has developed as a passer, DFS players should feel confident viewing Daniels as a high-end QB1 facing a struggling Tampa Bay defense.

Washington Commanders veteran wide receiver Jamison Crowder (groin) was limited in Wednesday's practice as the team begins preparing to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road at Raymond James Stadium for the wild-card playoff game on Sunday night. Crowder returned from a stint on Injured Reserve in Week 15 but played only 20 offensive snaps and wasn't targeted at all in the Week 18 win over the division-rival Dallas Cowboys in the regular-season finale. The 31-year-old was likely being rested last weekend so that he'll be ready to go for the start of the playoffs, but even when fully healthy, Crowder has been a non-factor in Washington's offense this year. In his second year in D.C., Crowder has only nine receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns in six games, making him a low-upside dart throw for DFS playoff lineups.