Jayden Daniels to Practice This Week, Considered a Long Shot for Week 13
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) is considered a long shot to play on Sunday Night Football in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos after he was evaluated coming out of the team's bye week, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. However, Daniels has made progress from a dislocated left elbow and will return to practice this week. The 24-year-old second-year signal-caller suffered a gruesome dislocation of his left elbow back in the Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but luckily, he did not suffer any ligament damage or broken bones. Daniels probably won't play against Denver, but if he continues to make progress, he may be in consideration to start in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings. After an impressive rookie season in which he led Washington to the NFC Championship game, Daniels hasn't been able to stay healthy in 2025, as he also missed several games earlier this year with a knee sprain.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Set for Lead Rushing Role in Washington Coming Out of Bye Week?
In his final game before his team's Week 12 bye, Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. recorded 79 rushing yards on a season-high 15 carries against the Miami Dolphins. The Commanders have operated with a committee backfield of Rodriguez Jr., Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols for most of the 2025 season. However, Rodriguez Jr. has recorded 33 carries and two rushing touchdowns over the team's last three games and could be emerging as the team's lead back on early downs. The 25-year-old has just one reception across nine games played, so his fantasy upside is limited in PPR leagues. However, Rodriguez Jr. is still worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Washington's Week 13 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Marcus Mariota's Playing Time Remains Uncertain Following Week 12 Bye
With Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) missing time due to both knee and elbow injuries, backup QB Marcus Mariota has gotten extended playing time in 2025. Across seven games (five starts) this season, the 32-year-old has completed 65.7% of his pass attempts for 1,065 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions. Mariota also brings some juice with his legs, rushing for 193 yards and a touchdown on 27 attempts. However, Daniels was able to avoid surgery on his dislocated left elbow, which could allow him to return to the field shortly after the Commanders' Week 12 bye. At the same time, Washington is out of the playoff mix with a 3-8 record, so the team could choose to shut Daniels down and play for 2026. Still, the Commanders will face one of the NFL's best defenses in the Denver Broncos in Week 13. Mariota does not profile as a starting fantasy QB option in Week 13, which may be his last chance to start before Daniels returns.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is it Time to Cut Ties with Jacory Croskey-Merritt?
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, out of Arizona, has seen his role decrease over the past few weeks. Chris Rodriguez Jr. saw a season-high 15 carries in Week 11 and ran for a very solid 5.27 YPC. Meanwhile, Croskey-Merritt saw a 27 percent snap share, and although he carried the ball nine times and caught one pass, it all added up to 33 all-purpose yards (3.11 YPC) against the Miami Dolphins in Spain. The Commanders are on a bye in Week 12, and it appears that this running back room is starting to shape out in a way where Rodriguez will get a bulk of the carries, Croskey-Merrritt will be the change of pace back, and Jeremy McNichols will get mixed in as the pass-catching option. Knowing all of this, it makes Rodriguez the clear running back to own in this backfield, and Croskey-Merritt can be dropped to the waiver wire if your team is in a pinch and you need to fill the roster spot with someone that can help you win now. In Week 13, the Commanders get the Denver Broncos, where none of the running backs will be a recommended start, as the Broncos' defense ranks top 5 in points allowed against opposing running backs.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Rodriguez Jr. On the Rise as Commanders Get Healthy
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. was the lead back in Week 11, handling 15 carries for 79 yards in the overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins. Rumors were swirling about Rodriguez taking over the backfield from rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and he was efficient in his first game as the lead back. Rodriguez played 45% of the snaps, while Croskey-Merritt and receiving back Jeremy McNichols played 26% of the snaps each. While the Commanders' offense has been lackluster to say the least, reinforcements are on the way, with Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Terry McLaurin (quad) nearing a return. If the offensive production improves, Rodriguez could be a sneaky producer for fantasy managers down the stretch.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Commanders Considering Shutting Down Jayden Daniels?
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) is still expected to return to the starting lineup once doctors clear him from his elbow injury, but there has been external debate about whether it makes sense to bring Daniels back at all this year after the team has lost six games in a row to drop to 3-8, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler. Sources have said that Daniels could return as early as Week 13 against the Denver Broncos after their bye week, but the team has loosely braced for an absence of five to six weeks just in case. The team's current standings and the fact that it's been an injury-plagued year for the second-year signal-caller could end up being enough to persuade the Commanders to pull the plug on Daniels for the rest of 2025. Washington could very well make a final decision on Daniels' future for this year during this week's bye.
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler
Commanders Sign Kicker Jake Moody
The Washington Commanders signed kicker Jake Moody off the Chicago Bears' practice squad on Monday, according to John Keim of ESPN. It looks like Moody will get the first chance to take over kicking duties in D.C. after the team released struggling veteran Matt Gay on Monday. However, with the Commanders on bye in Week 12, the team could bring in additional competition for Moody as they prepare for a Week 13 matchup on Sunday Night Football against the 9-2 Denver Broncos. Moody, 25, was cut by the San Francisco 49ers early this season before he latched on with the Bears. He has gone 9-for-12 on field-goal tries and 5-for-5 on his extra-point attempts in 2025 in just three games played. Moody has a career 76.1% success rate on his 71 career field-goal attempts, and fantasy managers will want to stay away from him if he's the Commanders' placekicker for a difficult matchup in Week 13.
Source: ESPN.com - John Keim
Source: ESPN.com - John Keim
Commanders Release Matt Gay
The Washington Commanders released veteran kicker Matt Gay on Monday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's unclear who the Commanders plan on replacing Gay with, but they will likely bring in kickers over the next two weeks as they prepare to take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football in Week 13 following their Week 12 bye. The 31-year-old Gay was in the midst of a tough season with Washington, making a career-low 68.4% of his 19 field-goal attempts through 10 games this season. However, he was perfect on his 22 extra-point tries. Gay missed two field goals in Sunday's 16-13 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Madrid, which was the last straw for the Commanders. Whoever the Commanders replace Gay with for their Week 13 game should be avoided in fantasy against a tough defense, with quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) likely out again.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Chris Rodriguez Jr. to Assume RB1 Duties?
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. posted season-bests in Sunday's 16-13 OT loss to the Dolphins in Madrid, and would be an intriguing waiver add if he retained his workload moving forward. The 26-year-old recorded his highest snap share of the season (45%) in Week 11, while carving out 79 yards on his 15 carries. It's modest production, but noteworthy considering he was the clear preferred option on the ground ahead of both Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols for the first time all campaign. The offense's floor has dropped significantly since quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) suffered another injury. That said, a shift in backfield philosophy could put Rodriguez Jr. on the lower end of the fantasy map. The next time he takes the field will be against a staunch Denver Broncos defense in Week 13.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Leads Commanders' Backfield in Week 11 Loss
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed for 79 yards on 15 carries during Sunday's Week 11 loss against the Miami Dolphins in Madrid. He also converted his lone target into a six-yard reception. Washington has operated out of a backfield committee for most of this season, but it now appears that Rodriguez has taken over as the team's lead back. Not only did he have more carries than Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols combined, but he also had more yards per carry than each of them. Rodriguez is now averaging 9.9 fantasy points (full-PPR) over his last three games, and he handled a season-high 44.8 percent snap share on Sunday morning. Fantasy managers should view Rodriguez as a high-end RB3/flex on the other side of his Week 12 bye.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Deebo Samuel Sr. Becomes First Player to Score Touchdown in Madrid
Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. caught seven of his eight targets for 74 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 11 contest against the Miami Dolphins in Madrid. He also logged a three-yard rush. Samuel became the first NFL player to ever score a touchdown in Madrid as the league wrapped up its 2025 international series. The 29-year-old has proven to be a valuable addition for the Commanders, stepping up as the team's No. 1 receiver with Terry McLaurin (quad) enduring an extended absence. Samuel continued to showcase his rapport with Marcus Mariota on Sunday, and he'll remain a high-end WR2 option on the other side of Washington's Week 12 bye.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Marcus Mariota Throws One Touchdown in Overtime Loss
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota finished Sunday with 213 yards passing, 49 yards rushing, one touchdown pass, and an interception in an overtime loss against Miami. Filling in for starter Jayden Daniels (elbow), the veteran was solid if unspectacular by completing 20 of 30 passing attempts and breaking a 44-yard run that accounted for most of his rushing yardage. Mariota briefly departed the game to be checked for a concussion, but re-entered and finished the game. Unfortunately for Washington, his lone pick was a big one: Miami intercepted him on the first play of overtime and was able to kick a short field goal to clinch victory. From a fantasy perspective, Mariota should maintain Superflex value as long as Daniels is hurt.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jaylin Lane Questionable to Return Against Miami
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane (hip) exited during the second quarter of Sunday's Week 11 contest against the Miami Dolphins. He is officially listed as questionable to return. At the time of his departure, he had caught just one pass for 13 yards. Washington continues to be quite short-staffed at the wide receiver position, losing Lane in addition to the existing absences of Terry McLaurin (quad), Noah Brown (groin, knee), and Luke McCaffrey (shoulder). Robbie Chosen and Chris Moore will fill Lane's void alongside Deebo Samuel Sr.
Source: Zach Shelby
Source: Zach Shelby
Matt Gay A Sneaky Option in Week 11 Versus Dolphins
Washington Commanders kicker Matt Gay hasn't been the most reliable fantasy option this season, failing to score double-digit points since his Week 4 performance against the Atlanta Falcons. Gay has struggled from long range, with three of his four misses coming on attempts of 50 yards or more. As Washington's offense has slowed down recently, the 31-year-old has only attempted one field goal over the past three games, excluding the Week 7 matchup that he missed due to a back injury. The Commanders travel to Madrid, Spain, in Week 11 to take on the Miami Dolphins in what could be a high-scoring game featuring two defenses that are allowing over 25 points per game this season. Gay could have more opportunities in this matchup and carries some streaming value.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Zach Ertz Profiles As Low-End TE1 For Week 11
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz has still been a useful player for fantasy leagues in his age-35 season, recording 35 catches for 345 yards and four touchdowns on 49 targets. Ertz has four catches in each of his past four games and made a few impressive contested grabs in Washington's Week 10 loss to the Lions. The veteran doesn't present much fantasy upside at this stage of his career, but he's always a threat to score a touchdown as Washington's offense has stayed relatively efficient with Marcus Mariota filling in for an injured Jayden Daniels (elbow). Ertz hasn't scored in the past three games, but gets an enticing matchup against the Miami Dolphins defense that has allowed the third most PPR points per game to opposing tight ends. Ertz ranks as RotoBaller's TE12 for Sunday's matchup in Madrid, Spain.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
RADIO



