Washington Commanders Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

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.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder) won't practice on Wednesday, HC Kyle Shanahan said. Shanahan added that Samuel still has pain in that shoulder but "feels better." Shanahan wouldn't say whether he expects Samuel to be available to Sunday's NFC Championship game vs. the Lions. We'll update his status again tomorrow.

The Lions are signing TE Zach Ertz, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Ertz arrives as a fairly big name, but don't consider him a serious challenge to TE Sam LaPorta's outlook. Detroit suddenly finds weak depth at the position after losing Brock Wright to a forearm fracture in Sunday's win over the Buccaneers. The team previously placed TE James Mitchell on IR after he suffered a hand injury in practice ahead of the win over the Rams. Wright drew just 1 target before leaving Sunday's game, in which he played 30 snaps. No Lions TE besides LaPorta drew a target in the previous game, despite LaPorta being just a week removed from a knee injury.

The 49ers consider WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder) "50/50" for Sunday's NFC Championship vs. the Lions, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that x-rays on Samuel's shoulder showed no fracture and that he's already started rehab. We'll keep a close eye on his status throughout this week.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel will have further testing on his injured left shoulder on Sunday, ESPN reports. The team is reportedly hoping that Samuel didn't suffer the same hairline fracture injury that he did in a Week 6 loss to the Browns. That cost him the next two games. Samuel was able to return following San Francisco's Week 9 bye. "I don't know yet," HC Kyle Shanahan said after the win over the Packers. "I mean he tried to come back [but] couldn't do it. I know he did something similar versus Cleveland." We should get an update on Samuel within the next 24 hours. WR Jauan Jennings stepped up for five catches and 61 yards vs. Green Bay and would be in for an expanded role if Samuel misses the NFC Championship.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel is questionable to return to Saturday's game with a shoulder injury. He missed two games with a shoulder issue earlier this season. We'll see if he's able to return in the second half.

Update: Samuel was ruled out in the second half.

Texans WR Noah Brown has been placed on IR with the shoulder injury he suffered in Saturday's Wild Card win over the Browns. He'll miss the rest of the postseason. Brown flashed a few times during the 2023 season but was unable to string together more than a handful of healthy games at a time. The 28-year-old is due to hit free agency in March.

Texans WR Noah Brown suffered a shoulder injury in the first half of Saturday's game vs. the Browns and has been ruled out. That leaves WRs Robert Woods, John Metchie, and Xavier Hutchinson behind alpha dog Nico Collins.

Texans WR Noah Brown (back) is listed as questionable for Saturday's Wild Card game vs. the Browns. He only got in a limited practice on Thursday, so it's safe to assume that Brown won't be close to 100% if he ends up playing. He's not an attractive option in playoff-long contests or the Wild Card DFS slate.

The Commanders fired HC Ron Rivera on Monday. The writing was on the wall after Washington went 4-13 and ended the season with eight straight losses. Rivera lasted four seasons on the job but never posted a winning record. Per league insider Jordan Schultz, Washington has contacted the agent for Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh. We’ll see if there’s mutual interest. But there’s little doubt that Washington will usher in a new starting QB after Sam Howell’s second-season slump. The Commanders sit atop the league in projected cap space -- $85 million, according to Spotrac -- while they also hold the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Texans WR Noah Brown (back) is out for Saturday night's game vs. the Colts. WR Robert Woods (hip) is listed as questionable but didn't practice all week. WRs Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie might be forced into significant roles in this must-win game.

Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner said Wednesday he's "100%" playing in 2024, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson. Wagner added that he hasn't even thought about not playing into his age-34 season. Wagner returned to Seattle on a one-year deal after spending 2022 with the Rams. He has played all but 19 snaps through the team's first 16 games, having what HC Pete Carroll calls a "fantastic season." We'll see where Wagner lands in 2024, but we'd bet on him getting a job somewhere. Seattle's probably the best bet at this point. Expect Wagner to land inside the top 15 of our 2024 LB rankings. Keep him around on IDP dynasty rosters where you can.

Texans WRs Noah Brown (back) and Robert Woods (hip) did not practice on Wednesday. Both guys were knocked out of last week's win and are in danger of missing Saturday night's game against the Colts. Their absences would leave Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie as Houston' No. 2 and 3 WRs behind Nico Collins. We'll see how Brown and Woods are listed on the final injury report tomorrow.

The Browns will start QB Jeff Driskel in Week 18. Cleveland’s guaranteed the No. 5 seed, so they’ll rest Joe Flacco for a fairly meaningless matchup at Cincinnati. Driskel owns a 59.2% completion rate and 6.1 yards per attempt across 23 career appearances (11 starts). He’s not someone we’d rush to play in Week 18 DFS contests.