Washington Commanders Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Commanders HC Dan Quinn named QB Jayden Daniels the Week 1 starter. As expected. Daniels, 23, becomes the second rookie QB in franchise history to start the opener (Robert Griffin III).

Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury says RB Austin Ekeler looks as good as ever. "I watch [Ekeler] and I'm like, 'This guy is tremendous.' So, I'm not sure what it was last year, but he hasn't lost a step." Washington, of course, signed Ekeler in free agency to join RB Brian Robinson Jr. -- while also letting RB Antonio Gibson leave for New England.

Commanders WR Jahan Dotson is excited by what he's seen from QB Jayden Daniels in training camp so far, calling the rookie a "special talent." Daniels had his best day of camp on Tuesday, per The Washington Post's Sam Fortier, connecting on multiple deep passes and breaking off at least one long run.

The Raiders placed WR Michael Gallup on the reserve/retired list. Gallup signed a one-year deal – with less than $1 million in guarantees – back in April.

Ben Standig of The Athletic writes that TE Zach Ertz "showed more speed than expected" in spring practices. He added that second-round rookie TE Ben Sinnott "might ultimately be more H-back or fullback than tight end."

New Commanders RB Austin Ekeler endured a forgettable 2023 season. It started with a Week 1 high-ankle sprain, one that lingered upon returning in Week 6. The now 29-year-old set career lows in yards per carry (3.5), yards after contact per attempt (2.64) and Pro Football Focus Elusive Rating (49.4). With better health, can Ekeler rebound in Washington?

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels spoke glowingly about OC Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Of course, it'd be a much bigger surprise if a rookie QB had anything negative to say about his OC. But it's noteworthy after Kingsbury helped QB Kyler Murray to a strong rookie season in Arizona back in 2019.

WR Michael Gallup agreed to a one-year deal with the Raiders worth "up to" $3 million, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Gallup went for 1,107 yards in his second NFL season back in 2019 and 843 yards in 2020. But he hasn't been the same player since tearing an ACL late in the 2021 campaign. He averaged just 27 yards per game for the Cowboys over the last two seasons, while ranking outside the top 60 WRs in yards per route and Pro Football Focus receiving grade both years. Gallup has a shot to win the No. 3 WR job in Las Vegas, but that wouldn't be enough to make him a real fantasy factor.

The Commanders selected Kansas State TE Ben Sinnott in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. Sinnott was a no-star recruit and walked on at Kansas State. He totaled just two catches across his first two years on campus but earned a scholarship and significant role as a junior in 2022. Sinnott ranked fourth on that Wildcats team with 447 receiving yards and tied for second with four receiving TDs. 2023 brought new career highs across the board: 49 catches, a team-high 676 yards, and a team-high six scores. Sinnott ranked ninth in both Pro Football Focus receiving grade and yards per route among 81 qualifying TEs. The 6’4, 250-pounder boasts plus ball skills and fluidity in his routes and after the catch. He crushed the Combine with a 4.68-second 40 time, a 40-inch vertical, and elite marks in 3-cone and short shuttle to earn a 9.73 Relative Athletic Score. Sinnott also brings versatility, lining up in-line, in the slot, out wide, and in the backfield at Kansas State. The Commanders currently have Zach Ertz atop the depth chart, but he’s playing on a one-year deal. He also turns 34 next season. If Jayden Daniels hits, Sinnott could develop into a spot-start TE1 before the end of 2025.

The Commanders added LSU QB Jayden Daniels in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Award after racking up 3,812 yards and 40 TDs passing, plus 1,134 yards and 10 TDs rushing. He completed a sterling 72.2% of his passes in spite of a big 10.5-yard average target depth. Daniels was especially lethal throwing deep, completing 35 of 55 passes 20+ yards downfield for 1,347 yards, 22 TDs, and 0 INTs. He led the FBS in completion rate, yards per attempt, TDs, and Pro Football Focus passing grade on throws 20+ yards downfield. Daniels was just as impressive as a runner, averaging 10.4 yards per carry if we remove the negative yardage from sacks taken. He ripped off eight runs of 15+ yards, including an 85-yard TD vs. Florida. It’s certainly worth noting that it all came in Daniels’ fifth college season. He spent three years at Arizona State before transferring to LSU for the last two. But he consistently improved as a passer, culminating with a 92.0 PFF passing grade last year – second among 125 qualifiers. Daniels’ combination of deep-ball prowess and truly elite rushing ability give him massive fantasy upside. Think Lamar Jackson. In Washington, Daniels has a clear path to the Week 1 starting role. This supporting cast is underwhelming behind Terry McLaurin, but note that the Commanders have two Round 2 picks and three Round 3 picks. Regardless of what tomorrow brings, Daniels’ fantasy upside will remain tied to his excellent rushing ability. Consider him a likely fantasy spot-starter in 2024.

The Patriots are signing WR K.J. Osborn to a one-year deal worth $4 million, with a top value of $6 million. That's not enough to guarantee a significant role. But Osborn clearly lands in a place with opportunity. WR Demario Douglas led the team in targets last year as a late-round rookie who played just 14 games. RB Ezekiel Elliott led the team in receptions as a 28-year-old addition averaging just 6.1 yards per catch. And TE Hunter Henry was the only other Patriot to reach 40 catches. We'll see how this year's pass-catching corps sorts out and who's throwing passes. Osborn arrives as an unexciting option, topping out at 3.5 receptions per game in 2022.

The Texans re-signed WR Noah Brown, ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime reports. Brown flashed in spurts last year, with receiving lines of 6-153-1, 7-172-0, and 8-82-1. He struggled staying healthy otherwise, missing seven games and most of an eighth. Brown, of course, will be no better than No. 3 on Houston's depth chart in 2024 behind WRs Nico Collins and Tank Dell. If he hangs on to that No. 3 job, though, Brown could at least provide value as a late-round best-ball pick.

The Commanders are signing RB Austin Ekeler to a two-year deal, according to multiple reports. NFL Networks' Tom Pelissero reports it's worth "up to $11.43 million." The exact terms aren't yet clear, but it looks like he'll get a larger annual average than the three-year deal Antonio Gibson agreed to with the Patriots. The new Washington staff likely views Ekeler as at least an upgrade over Gibson. And Commanders run-game coordinator Anthony Lynn is plenty familiar with the veteran RB, having served as Chargers HC through the first four years of Ekeler's career. Ekeler figures to share touches with Brian Robinson Jr., operating as the lead receiving back. We'll watch for more signals on Ekeler's expected role. For now, both Washington RBs make sense in RB3 range of best ball drafts. Check our best ball rankings to see exactly where they land.

The Cowboys have given WR Michael Gallup permission to seek a trade, according to The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins. Watkins adds that Gallup is unlikely to find much of a trade market because other teams expect Dallas to release him. That would save the Cowboys $9.5 million in 2024 cap space. Gallup has totaled just 842 yards on 11.5 yards per catch in 31 games since tearing an ACL late in the 2021 season. He ranked 77th out of 80 qualifying WRs in 2022 yards per route and then 70th out of 80 last year. We'll see where Gallup lands, but there's little reason to be optimistic for his 2024 fantasy value. His departure would leave opportunity in Dallas for WR Jalen Tolbert -- although we'd expect the Cowboys to add to the position in free agency and/or the draft.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that TE Zach Ertz has agreed to a one-year deal with the Commanders worth "up to" $5 million. We'll be curious to see more specific terms on the contract -- such as whether it even guarantees he'll even break training camp with the team. Ertz managed just 27 catches over six games for the Cardinals last year, coming off a 2022 ACL tear. He failed to reach another active roster after Arizona waived him Nov. 30. (He finished the year on Detroit's practice squad.) Ertz will turn 34 in November and has set career lows in yards per catch each of the past two seasons (8.6, then 6.9). He spent his pre-2023 Arizona time playing under then-HC Kliff Kingsbury, who joined Washington as OC this offseason. We'll see how much that factored into Ertz's signing and what Kingsbury might have planned. The Commanders have room on the TE depth chart after dumping Logan Thomas, with only Cole Turner and John Bates under contract. But the Ertz signing shouldn't exclude them from making any other moves at the position. You can consider Ertz as a third TE late in your best ball drafts, but we wouldn't chase him any earlier than that.

LSU QB Jayden Daniels didn’t throw or work out at the NFL Combine. He wasn’t measured, either, so we’ll have to wait until LSU’s March 27 pro day for official numbers. (The team lists him at 6’4, 210.) The slender, fifth-year breakout displayed a dynamic run/pass ability last fall alongside stud WRs Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels’ raw stats really jump off the page: 3,812-40-4 passing, plus 1,134 rushing yards and ten scores. It’s the rushing that supplies an enticing fantasy ceiling. The 23-year-old could enter the spot-start QB1 mix as early as 2024.

The Commanders are hiring Kliff Kingsbury as their OC under HC Dan Quinn, according to multiple reports. Kingsbury had an underwhelming tenure as Cardinals HC from 2019 to 2022, going 28-37-1 over those four seasons. He landed two of those teams inside the top 8 in total yards, but none cracked the top 10 in points. Kingsbury at least deployed fast-paced attacks, with three of his four offenses finishing top 3 in pace and offensive plays. He joins a Washington squad with plenty of skill-position talent and the No. 2 overall pick in this spring's draft, which will presumably be used to take a QB.

The Commanders are hiring Dan Quinn to be the new HC. Quinn spent the past three years as Cowboys DC. Those teams finished seventh, fifth, and fifth in points allowed after checking in 28th and 11th the two years before he arrived. Quinn spent 2015-19 as HC of the Falcons, going 43-37 over that span with two winning seasons. Atlanta fired him five games into 2020 (with an 0-5 record). As a career-long defensive coach, Quinn shouldn't affect offensive outlooks in Washington with his arrival. We'll see who he brings in to assist on that side of the ball and what the Commanders decide to do at QB. We'd bet they'll select one with the second overall pick in the draft. The Washington defense can only improve after ranking last in both yards and points allowed in 2023.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder) was a full participant in Friday's practice and is not listed on the final injury report for the NFC Championship. Samuel will play against the Lions on Sunday -- and it looks like he'll be ready for his usual role. We'll look for further updates on his status, but we're boosting Samuel in this week's rankings.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder) got in a limited practice on Thursday. Samuel is dealing with a "bad and painful" bruise, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, but "has a chance" to play in Sunday's NFC Championship game vs. the Lions. We'll see how he's listed on the final injury report on Friday afternoon.