Jun 16, 2026, 11:48 PM ET

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is coming off a disappointing sophomore season caused by multiple injuries that limited him to only four full games. The narrative around Daniels has shifted from a young phenom to one of injury worries. Before last season, he had only missed one game due to an injury dating back to his high school career. Daniels will aim to return to his 2024 production, in which he posted one of, if not the, best rookie seasons of all time. The former Heisman winner was fifth in fantasy points per game (21.5) and overall scoring (364.8) that season. That production would have placed Daniels second overall in both categories in 2025 fantasy scoring, only behind Josh Allen. In 2026, Daniels will lead a new offense under David Blough that is quarterback-friendly and highly praised by players. Blough's offense will likely feature a healthy amount of play-action, pre-snap motion, and designed rollouts to get Daniels out in space to maximize his dual-threat ability. The offensive tempo will significantly slow down from a 60-plus percent no-huddle rate the previous two seasons, keeping an improving offensive line fresh to protect Daniels throughout games. The 25-year-old has a rushing cheat code to push for the QB1 title in fantasy football that overshadows his elite arm talent from the pocket. He produced a rookie quarterback record of 891 rushing yards, along with a rookie record 69 percent completion rate and a 100.1 passer rating that ranks fourth all-time for rookie quarterbacks. Managers can draft Daniels with confidence that he will return to his 2024 level of play, with a high floor and immense upside.--Wyatt McClintock