RADIO
Austin Ekeler's Role Increases Coming Out of the Bye Week
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler should have a larger role on offense following the team's Week 7 bye. Ekeler has yet to play more than 27% of the snaps in any of these three games with the Commanders so far this year, but that could change in Week 8 as he steps into a larger role with Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) officially landing on injured reserve. The 31-year-old is particularly worth monitoring in PPR leagues, given his long track record of catching passes out of the backfield at the NFL level. While Washington already had Rachaad White in a similar role, we wouldn't be surprised to see the Commanders give White more of Croskey-Merritt's vacated carries, and then, in an effort to keep White's workload in check, give more receiving volume to Ekeler. Whether it's enough to get him on the flex/RB3 radar remains to be seen, but at the very least, the veteran pass-catching back is on the streaming radar for the duration of Croskey-Merritt's absence.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rachaad White is a Decent Streaming Option for Week 8
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White is expected to remain the lead back ahead of the Week 8 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Fellow back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) is still on the Injured Reserve, so White should continue seeing a larger role in the backfield. In Week 6, White carried the ball seven times for 27 yards, but he did most of his damage in the receiving game. White hauled in four of his five targets for 30 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The 27-year-old is a dual-threat back who could help needy fantasy managers in Week 8. There's probably not a ton of long-term value here with White, but he'll be a decent flex option for this weekend.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jeremy McNichols A Deep-League Option After Return From IR
Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols was activated from IR before the team's Week 6 loss to the 49ers and could be in the mix at the position as the Commanders return from a Week 7 bye. McNichols landed on IR with a lingering quad injury he suffered in mid-August, and he played 12 snaps (18%) in his return, taking five carries for 13 yards in San Francisco. With Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) placed on IR and not eligible to return until Week 11 at the earliest, McNichols will likely mix in with veterans Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler for the next few weeks. McNichols could be the favorite for short-yardage and early down work, which gives him touchdown-dependent potential if the Washington offense gets going. The Commanders host the Eagles on Sunday Night Football of Week 8 in a favorable matchup, so McNichols is worth a look if you are in a deep league and need running back help.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chig Okonkwo a Breakout Candidate to Target on the Waiver Wire
Washington Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo has largely been off fantasy radars so far in 2026, as he got off to a slow start to the season before missing time with a hamstring injury. However, the 27-year-old picked up his production in his final two outings before Washington's Week 7 bye, recording a combined 11 catches for 129 yards on 13 targets. The Commanders will also be down a significant weapon for the remainder of the season, as they lost star wide receiver Terry McLaurin (knee) to a season-ending knee injury in Week 6. For fantasy managers in need of tight end help, Okonkwo profiles as an intriguing player to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dan Quinn on the Hot Seat in Washington
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has an uncertain future with the organization as the team comes out of their Week 7 bye. Quinn went into the team's Week 6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night with some heat, but the Commanders had a strong showing and made things interesting in the loss. Rapoport says that Quinn seems to have bought himself some more time with the way the Commanders played in Week 6, but if the team's performance does not improve going forward, he could be in danger of being fired before the end of the 2026 season. It will not be easy for Quinn and the Commanders from an offensive perspective with top receiver Terry McLaurin (knee) out for the rest of the season, and second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) remains on Injured Reserve. It all came to a head for Quinn in the Week 5 tie against the division-rival New York Giants, when the offense botched the end of the game and failed to attempt a potential game-winning field goal in overtime.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Treylon Burks in Line for Uptick in Playing Time in Washington
Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks should be in line for an uptick in playing time going forward after Terry McLaurin suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Week 6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Monday night. Burks played 55.2% of the offensive snaps against the 49ers and caught four of his six targets for a season-high 66 yards in the 23-17 loss. The 26-year-old's receptions and targets were also season highs in the same game that McLaurin went down with an injury, which is not a coincidence. Veteran Stefon Diggs should operate as quarterback Jayden Daniels' go-to passing-game target, but both Burks and rookie Antonio Williams should have added responsibilities, starting in Week 8 in their Sunday night showdown against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. Burks, a former 18th overall pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 from Arkansas, has caught only nine of 17 targets this year for 152 yards, but he has found the end zone twice and should be a waiver-wire target in deeper leagues this week. He is currently rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Marcus Mariota to Return to Practice This Week
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Monday that veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota (knee) will return to practice as the team comes out of their Week 7 bye, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Mariota is recovering from a sprained right MCL in his knee and missed the two games before the Week 7 bye. The 32-year-old veteran could be back on the practice field this week, but it does not guarantee that he will be active for the Sunday night game in Week 8 against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. Before his knee injury, Mariota was forced into action early on in 2026 after Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. In three games played (two starts), Mariota threw for 340 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. If he does not do enough in practice this week to return for Sunday night's game against the Eagles, rookie signal-caller Athan Kaliakmanis will work as the backup to Daniels for a third straight game.
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Stefon Diggs Won't See a Workload Change with Teammate's Injury
Washington Commanders veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs (hamstring) missed the team's Week 5 tie with the Giants and again appeared on the injury report with a hamstring concern ahead of a Week 6 loss to the 49ers. Coming out of a Week 7 bye, head coach Dan Quinn told reporters on Monday that the 32-year-old is doing "well", but he is not anticipating a drastic workload change following the season-ending injury to Terry McLaurin (knee). Diggs has seen a 59.8% snap share through his five games played, and Quinn appears content to keep him in that range, telling the media that others in the wide receiver room will be tasked with more responsibility, specifically highlighting rookie Antonio Williams. Diggs leads the team with four receiving touchdowns and has been a go-to option in the red zone, keeping him well in the flex conversation moving forward, but fantasy managers should not expect a significant value jump following McLaurin's injury.
Source: Zach Selby
Source: Zach Selby
Antonio Williams Expected to Have More Responsibility Moving Forward
When last seen, Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams was helping to pick up the slack following the devastating knee injury suffered by Terry McLaurin (knee). With the veteran exiting early from the team's Week 6 loss to the 49ers, Williams caught all three of his targets for 50 yards, and with the team now coming out of the bye week, head coach Dan Quinn specifically highlighted the 2026 third-rounder as a player who will have more responsibility in McLaurin's absence. Through six games, Williams has made 18 catches for 205 yards and a touchdown, and with the Commanders coming off their Week 7 bye, he is readily available in many redraft leagues.
Source: Zach Selby
Source: Zach Selby
Antonio Williams a Week 8 PPR Waiver Target With WR2 Opportunity
Washington Commanders wide receiver Antonio Williams is worth adding in 10-team and deeper PPR leagues as a bench add, not an immediate starter, against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8, with Terry McLaurin's (knee) season-ending injury creating an opportunity for a larger receiving role. McLaurin exited Washington's Week 6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers after just seven snaps, and Williams led the team's wide receivers with 45, ahead of Stefon Diggs (41) and Treylon Burks (37). However, the rookie drew only four targets despite Jayden Daniels attempting 40 passes, finishing with three receptions for 50 yards. Diggs received seven targets and Burks six, highlighting the competition for opportunities in Washington's passing attack. Williams has caught 18 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown through six games, recording three receptions in each of his last three appearances. He has a legitimate chance to emerge as Washington's No. 2 receiver, though his target volume remains limited.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rookie Wideout Antonio Williams has Big Opportunity Going Forward
Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams will have an elevated role in his team's passing attack for the rest of the 2026 season with fellow wideout Terry McLaurin (knee) expected to miss the rest of the year after he injured his knee in Monday night's loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. The 22-year-old 71st overall pick in the third round from Clemson has caught 18 of his 26 targets for 205 yards and one touchdown in his first six NFL games with the Commanders. The demand for Williams remains low with the Commanders on their bye in Week 7, but starting in Week 8 against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, the young pass-catcher will be much more intriguing as a waiver-wire pickup for WR depth, as he will have a chance to become Washington's WR2 behind veteran Stefon Diggs. Most of Williams' competition for targets will come from former first-rounder Treylon Burks. In Monday's loss to the 49ers, Williams caught three passes for the third straight game for 50 yards, which was his second-highest receiving total through six contests. He has been a steady contributor early on, but his fantasy ceiling will be raised for the rest of the season with McLaurin out.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Rachaad White an Intriguing Waiver-Wire Stash While on Bye Week
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White is a very appealing waiver wire target, even though he's currently on his bye week. The Commanders recently placed Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) on injured reserve, leaving White as the team's primary running back. While he won't offer a boost to lineups this week, White will consistently find himself in the low-end RB2 or high-end RB3 range for the duration of Croskey-Merritt's absence. In his last outing, the game script limited him to just seven rushing attempts, but he made up for it with four catches, 30 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown. Managers could wait until the Week 8 waiver process and try to compete with other managers for the opportunity to add White, or they could add him now with minimal competition. He can be a weekly flex (or better) option going forward, so managers in need of running back help should consider adding White right now, even though he doesn't play this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylin Lane has Ankle Surgery, Should be Cleared for OTAs Next Year
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane (ankle) had surgery to fix his fractured and dislocated ankle that he suffered on Oct. 9, a source told Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. The surgery was deemed a success, and Lane is expected to be cleared for football activities just before organized team activities in the spring next year. With the 24-year-old out for the season after his ankle injury in the loss to the Indianapolis Colts in London, receiver Luke McCaffrey has become the Commanders' primary kick returner on special teams. Lane, a fourth-rounder from Virginia Tech in 2025, caught 16 passes for 225 yards and no touchdowns on 32 targets in 15 games played (four starts) as a rookie. He had two catches on his two targets for 25 yards, and no scores in four games played this year before suffering his season-ending ankle injury. With Terry McLaurin (knee) also now out for the rest of the year, the Commanders will ask Treylon Burks and rookie Antonio Williams to step up alongside veteran Stefon Diggs. The good news for Lane is that he should be a full-go for training camp and the preseason next summer as he looks for a bigger role on offense in 2027.
Source: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed
Source: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed
Austin Ekeler a Short-Term, Deep-League Stash at RB in Washington
The Washington Commanders will be on their bye in Week 7, so the next time veteran running back Austin Ekeler will take the field will be in Week 8 against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. The 31-year-old running back does not have much fantasy upside now that he is on the wrong side of 30, but he is on the waiver-wire radar in deep fantasy football leagues this week after the Commanders placed Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) on Injured Reserve. With Croskey-Merritt out in the Monday night loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Ekeler played only 10% of the offensive snaps for the second straight week and had just one carry for three yards. He added two catches on two targets for four yards. In three games played so far in 2026, Ekeler has only eight rushing attempts for 31 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and four receptions for 30 yards through the air. There could be some more opportunities for Ekeler as long as JCM is out, but Jeremy McNichols just returned from an IR stint and will also battle for touches behind Rachaad White. Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 3 of last year and is no longer the slippery and elusive RB in space that he once was.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Treylon Burks an Interesting Waiver Target After Teammate's Injury
Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks had his best game of the season in the Monday night loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and it was not a coincidence that it came in the same game in which Terry McLaurin suffered a season-ending knee injury. Burks played 55% of the offensive snaps and caught four of his six targets for 66 yards in the 23-17 loss on the road in the Bay Area. The 26-year-old former 18th overall pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 from Arkansas now has nine grabs on the year in five games for 152 yards and two touchdowns, and with McLaurin now out for the rest of the season, he should have a regular role in three-wide sets alongside Stefon Diggs and rookie Antonio Williams. Burks ended up being a massive bust for the Titans, but he looked better in his limited time (eight games) with Washington last year and is definitely on pace for a career year in D.C. in 2026 now that McLaurin is done for the season. He is more of a deep-league waiver-wire target and is not currently rostered in any Yahoo leagues. In Burks' first year in the NFL with the Titans, he had 33 catches for 444 yards and one touchdown in 11 games (six starts).
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
