Washington Commanders DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler did not see a heavy workload on the ground but caught a team-high four receptions in the season opener. Ekeler shared the spotlight with Brian Robinson Jr. throughout the preseason but saw only two carries Sunday afternoon in Tampa Bay. However, he made up for that disappointing workload through the air as he caught all four of his targets for 52 yards. Ekeler made a nice 22-yard catch-and-run play in the second quarter, which helped set the Commanders up for their first touchdown. Fantasy managers should lower expectations for Ekeler heading into Week 2 in standard scoring but give him a slight uptick in PPR as he is clearly building a connection with his rookie QB making him a low-end flex play for the time being.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. led the Commanders backfield in rushing with 40 yards and a score. He added 49 yards on three receptions. Entering the season, many expected the Commanders to deploy a committee approach, but Robinson was the clear workhorse running back in the season opener. Austin Ekeler saw just two rushing attempts but did see slightly more work in the passing game. The Alabama product found the end zone on a seven-yard carry in the second quarter. Later in the third, Robinson made an impressive 32-yard catch but was unfortunately tackled at the one-yard line which set up a rushing score for Jayden Daniels. Even though he did not finish with a hefty rushing total, seeing the vast majority of carries compared to Ekeler is an excellent sign of his fantasy stock. Fantasy managers should continue to treat Robison as a low-end RB2/flex play in Week 2 as the Commanders face their division rival, the New York Giants.

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels went 17-for-24 with 184 passing yards and no scores in his regular-season debut. However, the reigning Heisman winner made his mark with his legs by tallying 88 yards and two goal-line scores on a team-high 16 carries. The Commanders did not have too much rhythm in the first half, but the former second-overall pick began to find his footing as the game progressed. In the second half, Daniels led Washington down a 60 and 70-yard touchdown drive. While his passing production did not raise his fantasy production this afternoon, his legs did. Fantasy managers should continue to start Daniels in all standard formats, given his ability to pick up points on the ground.

New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn led the team with three receptions on six targets during Week 1 versus the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished the game with a total of 21 receiving yards. The former Viking operated as the Patriots' No. 2 receiver, putting to bed any speculation that rookie Ja'Lynn Polk may open the year in that role. Even with solid volume, Osborn will be tough to trust going forward. We don't have enough confidence in this run-heavy Patriots offense yet, meaning Osborn can't be depended on for consistent production going forward.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown is a healthy scratch in Week 1. The Commanders take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the team looks to enter a new era with a new regime. Brown joined the team after being cut by the Texans at the conclusion of the preseason. He had a solid season with the Texans in 2023 with 33 receptions for 567 yards and two touchdowns in ten games. The healthy scratch is not surprising since Brown had hardly any time to become integrated with the team. He is a talented player who should be able to earn playing time as the season progresses.