Washington Commanders DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) was unable to practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Samuel suffered a strained right hamstring in the Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and hasn't practiced since, also missing the Week 3 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The injury was initially expected to keep him out for multiple games, so fantasy managers shouldn't plan on having him for the Week 4 tilt against the New England Patriots, especially with him not practicing on Wednesday. The 28-year-old is a must-start in fantasy lineups on a weekly basis when he's active, but he's probably going to be unavailable for a second straight week. Jauan Jennings should be rostered in all fantasy formats after catching 11 of 12 targets for 175 yards and three touchdowns in the Week 3 win with both Samuel and tight end George Kittle (hamstring) both out.

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) was ruled out for this weekend's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, according to JP Finlay of 1067 The Fan. Ekeler suffered a concussion in their Week 3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday. The 29-year-old will now prepare to return to action in Week 5 when the Commanders host the Cleveland Browns. Before the injury on Monday, Ekeler scored his first touchdown of the campaign and tallied 35 yards on the ground. Fantasy managers should expect Brian Robinson Jr. to see an increased role this weekend, and he should be viewed as a high-end RB2 in what should be a three-down role.

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) is in the concussion protocol. Ekeler is also being treated for a laceration on his ear. Ekeler was having a productive night before his injury. He recorded three carries for 35 yards and a touchdown, and two receptions for 22 yards. Ekeler also returned a kick 62 yards to set up the Commanders in excellent field position which ultimately led to a touchdown. The news is a bummer for fantasy managers who were getting surprisingly good production out of Ekeler in all three games this season. He may not be the same player that he was with the Chargers, but he has had flex value. If Ekeler cannot play in Week 4, then Brian Robinson Jr. figures to see a boost in an already solid workload. The only other running back on the Commanders' active roster is Jeremy McNichols so it remains to be seen if they will bring anyone else in.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown caught three passes for 29 yards on three targets in the team's win over Cincinnati on Monday night. The former Cowboys wide receiver was involved mostly in the short passing game for Jayden Daniels. Terry McLaurin was by far the most productive Washington wide receiver in this game but Brown did have a role to play on the outside. With Luke McCaffrey as the slot receiver, Brown could become more involved as the outside receiver opposite McLaurin. But Daniels looks to run often and there aren't a ton of opportunities for receivers to make big plays in this offense. It's best to leave Brown on the fantasy waiver wire.

Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver Luke McCaffrey bounced back in a big way on Monday night. After catching three passes for 18 yards in his NFL debut, the Rice product was held out of the box score last weekend. However, on Monday, McCaffrey caught all three of his targets for 44 yards, good for second-most among Washington pass catchers. His best play of the night came on a fourth down where Washington needed just two yards but the 23-year-old went on to pick up 30 and set up their first score of the evening. This was an excellent rebound game for the young wideout as he continues establishing himself as the No.2 receiver in this offense. For now, McCaffrey remains an excellent stash candidate and is a name to keep a close eye on going forward as he continues to build a connection with his fellow rookie QB.