Fantasy Preview: Daniels Poised for Big Year 2, But Will McLaurin Stay With Commanders?

The Washington Commanders head into the 2025 NFL season with high hopes after a 12-5 run that ended in the NFC Championship Game, and second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels looks ready to take another big step forward. General manager Adam Peters didn’t hold back this offseason, bringing in Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, playmaker Deebo Samuel, and veteran pass rusher Von Miller to solidify both sides of the ball.

The Commanders face a tough schedule, eighth-hardest in the league, including several playoff contenders and a challenging stretch of divisional games to close the season. With the NFC East still allergic to back-to-back champions, Washington has a real shot at claiming its first division title since 2020. Head coach Dan Quinn is focused on building a team that’s not just competitive, but built to make a serious run deeper into January.

The biggest question mark? Terry McLaurin’s just-announced trade request.

Odds to Make Playoffs:  -140

By Jason Radowitz

• Quarterback: Jayden Daniels

  • Last Season: 17 games, 331-480, 69.0% completion percentage, 3,568 passing yards, 7.4 average pass, 209.9 passing yards per game, 25 TD, 9 INT, 891 rushing yards, 6 rushing TD

  • Jayden Daniels scored the sixth-most fantasy points for quarterbacks last season. Many got him in late rounds in their drafts, but that won’t be the case this year. Still, Daniels has plenty of upside with his running ability and has really good playmakers around him. He’ll want to improve his passing, but overall, the sky is the limit for Daniels in Year 2, especially with Deebo Samuel on the roster. 

• Running Back: Austin Ekeler 

  • Last Season: 15 games, 77 carries, 367 yards, 4.8 yards per carry, 4 TDs, 30.58 yards/game, 0 fumbles lost

  • Nobody was really sure what to expect from Austin Ekeler last season. However, he didn’t disappoint. Despite being the No. 2 running back, Ekeler finished as the 29th-best running back and was used more heavily when Brian Robinson was injured and out. Ekeler has injury concerns himself, including his concussions that kept him out of five games last season. But he’s super versatile and should fit in nicely for this Commanders offense for the second consecutive season. He’s someone you should consider late in rounds as a flier.
    

• Wide Receiver: Terry McLaurin

  • Last Season: 17 games, 82 receptions, 117 targets, 1,096 receiving yards, 13 TDs, 64.47 yards/game, 292 yards after catch

  • Terry McLaurin had a career season with Jayden Daniels under center. He earned 13 touchdowns and saw his first-read target share rise to 30% over the last five weeks of the regular season. Ultimately, Daniels wasn’t the most accurate quarterback, but if he can improve his passing, McLaurin is a legitimate WR1 candidate this year — whether he stays with Washington or is moved.
    

• Tight End: Zach Ertz 

  • Last Season: 17 games, 66 receptions, 91 targets, 654 receiving yards, 9.9 yards per reception, 4 TDs, 38.47 yards/game, 187 yards after catch

  • When the Commanders signed Zach Ertz last season, many fans and analysts shrugged it off. However, he finished with nearly 10 fantasy points per game for the Commanders and saw more than five targets per game this season. That target volume may shrink with Deebo Samuel. But George Kittle found ways to get involved despite Samuel being on the roster in San Francisco. That said, the Commanders expect Ben Sinnott to play more in 2025, which could hurt Ertz’s stock eventually. Still, there’s potential that Ertz finishes as a back-end TE1 when all is said and done.
    

• Defense

  • Last Season: 23 points per game, 3rd down 39.7%, 4th down 53.1%, 7 interceptions, 43 sacks, 16 fumbles caused, 10 fumbles recovered, 0 TDs

  • The Commanders beefed up their defense with several intriguing additions, including Javon Kinlaw, Deatrich Wise, Jonathan Jones, and Will Harris. All four of those guys will likely start along with veterans like Bobby Wagner and Marshon Lattimore. There is a lot of talent and a good mix of players on this defense for Joe Whitt Jr. to work with. Washington isn’t the top defense, but they’ll be a solid streaming option and could surprise down the stretch.