Washington Commanders DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin made team history in their victory over the Dallas Cowboys as he caught his 13th touchdown of the season. This is now the most touchdowns caught by a wide receiver in a single season in team history. McLaurin finished the day with 62 yards on eight receptions. He saw 12 targets his way. McLaurin caught this touchdown in the final seconds on a five-yard strike from Marcus Mariota to move Washington up to the No.6 seed in the NFC. This was also a nice bounce back outing for McLaurin as he caught just one of his seven targets for five yards last weekend. McLaurin enjoyed a fantastic season with Jayden Daniels under center. During Weeks 3 through 16, the Ohio State product averaged a stellar 18.2 PPR points per game. McLaurin should be viewed as a high-end WR1 in all playoff competitions.

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler ran the ball three times for 12 yards. The running back added 20 yards on his two receptions. Ekeler missed the previous four games due to a concussion. While this victory helped the Commanders move up to a higher seed, they already secured a playoff spot and as a result, the team did not give Ekeler a heavy workload in his return. However, the 29-year-old performed well, especially in the receiving game which is a promising sign heading into the playoffs. During his first ten games of the season, Ekeler ran the ball seven times per game and saw just under four targets per game. During this stretch, he averaged a strong 66.0 total yards per game. If the Commanders find themselves in a high-scoring affair in the Wild Card round, Ekeler would have a path to being the top option out of the backfield, given his elite pass catching abilities.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. ran the ball just five times for ten yards during their victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Robinson brought in his lone target for six yards. With Austin Ekeler back in action, Robinson saw his workload decrease. This matched his previous lowest rushing attempt total of the campaign. With the Commanders trailing throughout the game, Robinson was unable to find much rhythm in a negative game script. Entering this game, Robinson was carrying a three-game touchdown drought. During this stretch, he averaged just 49.7 rushing yards per game. During his first ten games of the season, he tallied eight touchdowns with 64.0 yards per game. Given his current struggles, fantasy managers should view Robinson as a low-end RB2 heading into the postseason.

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota led the Commanders to a thrilling victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18. Mariota replaced Jayden Daniels at the start of the second half. With the Commanders already locked into a playoff spot, they opted to protect their rookie QB. However, this victory pushed them up to the No. 6 seed in the NFC. Over the final two quarters, Mariota went 15-for-18 with 161 yards and two touchdowns. He added 56 yards and a score on five carries. He found tight end Zach Ertz on a five-yard strike late in the third quarter. Then in the fourth, Mariota punched in a score at the goal line and would then find his top wideout Terry McLaurin on a game-winning, five-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds. Mariota also saw time in Week 7 against the Panthers when Daniels left early with a rib injury. He was sharp in that game as well, going 18-for-23 with 205 yards and two scores.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will watch the rest of Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys from the sidelines. The rookie sensation will take a seat in a cautious move from the coaching staff with the playoffs right around the corner. Daniels finished with 38 yards on 6-for-12 throwing and four carries for 27 yards while getting sacked four times. When he went to the bench, the Commanders were down 9-3, and Marcus Mariota is now under center. Daniels will finish his rookie season with around 3,500 yards, 25 touchdowns, and nine interceptions to go along with 864 yards and six scores on 144 carries.