RADIO
Marcus Mariota Remains an Injury Away from Playing Time in Washington
Across 11 games (eight starts) in 2025, Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota completed 65.2% of his pass attempts for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The 32-year-old also remained a productive player with his legs, rushing for 297 yards and a touchdown on 50 attempts. Mariota was forced into more playing time than Washington would have liked in 2025, as star quarterback Jayden Daniels played in just seven games due to knee, hamstring, and elbow injuries. Still, Mariota profiles as one of the better backup quarterback options in the NFL, and the Commanders re-signed him to a one-year deal for the 2026 season in early March. When Mariota gets a chance to play, his dual-threat ability makes him a quality streaming option for fantasy managers, especially in two-quarterback formats. Given Daniels' durability question marks, Mariota should at least be on the radar of deep-league managers entering 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jeremiyah Love an Option for the Commanders at No. 7 Overall?
The Washington Commanders "would have no reason to hesitate" selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Washington already has Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White in its backfield, but Love is an entirely different breed of running back, offering workhorse potential and massive playmaking ability. He took college football by storm last season, totaling 1,372 rushing yards, 280 receiving yards, and 21 total touchdowns. Given how well he played in 2025, there's no guarantee that Love even makes it to the Commanders at No. 7 overall. If he does, though, it sounds like Washington would be very interested. Depending on his landing spot, Love could be an RB1 in redraft leagues during his rookie season. He has even more value in dynasty leagues, where he's in the conversation to be the 1.01 in rookie drafts.
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Commanders Still Looking for Receiver to Complement Terry McLaurin
ESPN's John Keim writes that the Washington Commanders are still seeking another receiver "who can serve as a No. 2 wideout" opposite Terry McLaurin this offseason. The Commanders did sign backups Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson and also re-signed Treylon Burks, but they still want someone who can be a true No. 2 behind McLaurin, like Deebo Samuel Sr. was last year. An intriguing name that Keim thinks the Commanders could pursue is San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) once he's released. The team is aware of Aiyuk's desire to play with quarterback Jayden Daniels, but they likely won't sign him for more than a one-year, prove-it deal after he missed all of the 2025 season. The Commanders could also look to the upcoming NFL draft for another wideout to pair with McLaurin. Neither McLaurin nor Daniels was healthy last year, leading to a disappointing season overall for the franchise. If McLaurin and Daniels stay healthy in 2026, he could be a solid WR2 for fantasy managers, regardless of whether they bring another WR.
Source: ESPN.com - John Keim
Source: ESPN.com - John Keim
Can Terry McLaurin Bounce Back as Top Target-Earner in 2026?
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin had his fifth straight 1,000-yard receiving season in 2024 and made his second career Pro Bowl before signing a three-year, $96 million contract with the team last August. The 30-year-old veteran then proceeded to play in a career-low 10 games due to injury, finishing with just 38 receptions, 582 yards, and three touchdowns in his seventh year in the league. His fantasy managers surely weren't happy with the outcome, but he will have a chance to bounce back as a WR2 if he's healthy. Scary Terry should be the unquestioned WR1 in Washington, and with better health for both him and quarterback Jayden Daniels, another 1,000-yard season is certainly possible. McLaurin has relied on big plays over heavy volume, as he's averaged only 4.7 catches per game in the NFL. It makes him more of a boom/bust WR2 target, especially coming off an injury-plagued season. The good news is that new offensive coordinator David Blough seems intent on getting McLaurin more looks in 2026.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Ben Sinnott Does Not Appear to Be in Washington's Long-Term Plans
A second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott has had a tough time carving out a consistent role in his team's passing game through his first two NFL seasons. Across 33 career games, the 23-year-old has recorded 16 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets while stuck behind veteran tight end Zach Ertz (knee) on the depth chart. Ertz suffered a torn ACL in Week 14 of 2025 and is also currently a free agent, so he is unlikely to stand in Sinnott's way for a third straight year in 2026. However, Washington signed former Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo to a three-year contract in free agency, all but assuring that Sinnott will remain siloed to a reserve role. Based on his lack of production and his team's roster management around him, Sinnott's value in dynasty formats should be at an all-time low heading into 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jeremy McNichols Re-Signs With Commanders
Free-agent running back Jeremy McNichols is re-signing with the Washington Nationals on an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Washington's current backfield includes McNichols, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, and Jerome Ford. In his second year with Washington in 2025, McNichols saw 44 carries for 221 yards and one rushing touchdown in 17 games (one start), adding 25 receptions on 31 targets for 196 yards through the air. The 30-year-old veteran was also a key special teams contributor in addition to his depth role in the Commanders' backfield. The offseason additions of both White and Ford, who are both capable pass-catchers, is bad news for McNichols as he heads into his third year in D.C. At best, the former fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017 out of Boise State will be a deep-league stash at RB. McNichols had a career-high 261 rushing yards and four touchdowns for the Commanders in his first year with the team in 2024.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Jayden Daniels' Suppressed Dynasty Value Makes him a Buy-Low Candidate
Following a historically great rookie season in 2024, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels went into Year 2 firmly in the conversation for both dynasty QB1 and the first overall pick in superflex startup leagues. Following an injury-plagued sophomore season, Daniels is now being drafted around the 1/2-turn in 2026 startups. While his long-term durability becomes an unavoidable concern after missing time with three separate injuries (knee, hamstring, elbow), his fantasy upside is still rare, making him an obvious buy-low candidate for risk-averse managers. His 891 rushing yards as a rookie were the ninth-highest single-season output by a quarterback in NFL history, joining Lamar Jackson and Randall Cunningham as the only players to rush for more than 850 yards while topping 3,000 passing yards.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Commanders Agree With Jerome Ford on One-Year Deal
The Washington Commanders agreed with former Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford on an undisclosed one-year deal on Saturday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Ford will head to the NFC East after spending the first four years of his career playing in Cleveland, where he averaged 4.3 yards per carry for 1,463 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 340 carries over 57 games (18 starts). The 26-year-old played in a career-low 13 games for the Browns in 2025 and had just 24 rushing attempts for 73 yards and no touchdowns while adding 26 catches for 103 yards through the air on 32 targets. The former fifth-rounder in 2022 out of Cincinnati will now join a Washington backfield that also features Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White. Ford is likely to serve in a rotational RB3 role yet again in 2026 behind JCM and White, leaving him very little fantasy appeal to those in very deep leagues.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Commanders Signing Van Jefferson on Friday
The Washington Commanders are signing veteran free-agent wide receiver Van Jefferson (forearm) to an undisclosed deal on Friday, a source told Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Even though it's wide open right now behind WR1 Terry McLaurin in D.C., the 29-year-old Jefferson will most likely serve as a depth option for the Commanders in 2026. The team also brought back Dyami Brown on Friday after he spent his first four seasons with Washington. Jefferson ended last year on Injured Reserve due to a forearm injury. Before his injury, the former second-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 caught 29 of his 52 targets for 350 yards and one touchdown in 16 games (seven starts) with the Tennessee Titans. Jefferson's career year in 2021 with the Rams in his second year in the league has been the outlier, as he hasn't come anywhere close to the 802 receiving yards and six TDs he had that season. The Commanders are likely to bring in more receiving help via free agency and the draft, which would push Jefferson further down the WR depth chart.
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Commanders Bring Back Dyami Brown on One-Year Deal
The Washington Commanders are bringing free-agent wide receiver Dyami Brown back on an undisclosed one-year deal on Friday, a source told Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Brown will return to D.C. after he was drafted by Washington in the third round (82nd overall) in 2021 out of North Carolina. He had 59 catches on 102 targets for 784 yards and four touchdowns in 63 games (10 starts) in his first four years in the league with the Commanders before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025. In 14 regular-season contests (six starts) with the Jags last year, the 26-year-old pass-catcher had a 20-227-1 line on 37 targets. The Commanders are pretty desperate for WR options at the moment behind Terry McLaurin, with Deebo Samuel Sr., Noah Brown, and Chris Moore all on the open market. The team also signed veteran Van Jefferson on Friday, but Brown is better suited to potentially become Washington's No. 2 receiver in 2026, barring more additions in free agency or the draft.
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Commanders Signing Rachaad White to a One-Year Deal
The Washington Commanders are signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Washington non-tendered former RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. on Wednesday, and he quickly latched on with the Jacksonville Jaguars. To give the team more depth in the backfield alongside second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, the Commanders have now added White to the mix. The 27-year-old former third-round pick in 2022 out of Arizona State had 2,656 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 677 carries (3.9 yards per attempt) while adding 205 catches, 1,450 yards, and 11 touchdowns through the air in his four years in Tampa. Depending on what else Washington does at the RB position this offseason, White figures to operate as more of a third-down back in D.C. in 2026, with JCM operating as the early-down option. It's a similar role to what he had with the Bucs when Bucky Irving was healthy.
Source: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
Source: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Currently the Lead Back in Washington
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt currently sits atop the depth chart as the new league year gets underway. With Chris Rodriguez Jr., Austin Ekeler, and Jeremy McNichols all departing for free agency, Croskey-Merritt remains the lone holdover from Washington's 2025 backfield. That could change via free agency, the NFL Draft, or even a trade, but for now, it appears that Croskey-Merritt has an early leg up on the backfield competition for 2026. He's coming off a solid rookie season in which he amassed 873 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns. We should also note that it's not like Washington is just waiting to bring back some of its familiar faces, either. Rodriguez has already signed with Jacksonville, and it seems unlikely that Ekeler will return to Washington following his Achilles injury. Dynasty managers should hold Croskey-Merritt for now. Although he could be a buy-low candidate, there's also the risk of his value slipping if Washington does make a running back splash in the next month or so.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Commanders Sign Charles Omenihu to a One-Year Deal
The Washington Commanders have signed free agent defensive lineman Charles Omenihu to a one-year, $4 million deal that has a maximum value of $7 million, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. A former fifth-round pick out of Texas, Omenihu has spent time in the NFL with the Texans, 49ers, and Chiefs. Across 17 games (zero starts) in Kansas City last year, he amassed 3.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and 28 tackles. The Commanders and defensive-minded head coach Dan Quinn had been in search of pass-rush reinforcements on the defensive line, so the Omenihu signing makes plenty of sense. He projects as a rotational piece alongside fellow free agent additions K'Lavon Chaisson and Odafe Oweh.
Source: Cameron Wolfe
Source: Cameron Wolfe
Jaguars Signing Chris Rodriguez Jr. on Wednesday
The Jacksonville Jaguars are signing former Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. to an undisclosed two-year deal on Wednesday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Rodriguez will head to the AFC South after three years in Washington. The 25-year-old former sixth-round pick by the Commanders in 2023 out of Kentucky had his best year in 2025, carrying the ball 112 times for 500 yards and six touchdowns, which were all career-highs. He also caught three passes for 30 yards in 13 games played (seven starts) in D.C. In his three years with Washington, C-Rod had 10 rushing touchdowns while averaging a healthy 4.6 yards per tote. Jacksonville lost Travis Etienne Jr. to the New Orleans Saints in free agency and will now go into the 2026 campaign with Rodriguez, Bhayshul Tuten, and LeQuint Allen Jr. as their backfield options, barring another RB addition in the upcoming draft. Tuten figures to be the Jags' RB1, but Rodriguez could easily have flex appeal in a complementary role in a rising offense. UPDATE: Rodriguez will make $10 million on his two-year deal, and the deal includes $6.2 million in guarantees.
Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
Commanders Agree to Three-Year Deal With Chig Okonkwo
The Washington Commanders agreed to an undisclosed three-year deal with free-agent tight end Chig Okonkwo on Wednesday, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Okonkwo led the Titans with 560 receiving yards on 56 catches (79 targets) last year, but he caught just two touchdowns and lost a lot of valuable targets and playing time to rookie Gunnar Helm. The 26-year-old tight end finished as only the No. 22 player at his position in half-PPR scoring. Zach Ertz is a free agent and probably won't return to Washington, so Okonkwo has an opportunity to become the Commanders' top pass-catching TE going into next season. It could be a huge boost to his fantasy value as long as starting quarterback Jayden Daniels can remain healthy in his third year in the league. Okonkwo will definitely become at least a more attractive TE2 with upside for more in D.C. UPDATE: Okonkwo's three-year deal is worth up to $30 million.
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
