December 18, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (hip) was a full participant in both Tuesday's and Wednesday's practice sessions and is expected to return in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rodriguez missed Week 15's game against the New York Giants with a hip injury but was reportedly close to playing last week. Even if the third-year back is fully healthy entering Week 16, rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a big game on the ground in Week 15 and may have cut into Rodriguez's workload. Rodriguez has played only 30% of the snaps this season, and with Washington's offensive struggles with quarterback
Jayden Daniels, it's hard to trust any back on this team. Assuming he's good to go for their divisional showdown against the Eagles, Rodriguez offers low-end FLEX value in Week 16.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 17, 2025
Overall, it's been a disappointing 2025 season for Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin and his fantasy managers. A quadriceps injury has limited him to only seven games, and it hasn't helped that starting quarterback
Jayden Daniels (elbow) has already been ruled out for the final three games of the season. On the bright side, the 30-year-old has 13 catches on 24 targets for 206 yards and two touchdowns in three games since his return from a lengthy absence due to his quad injury. All three of his touchdown passes on the year have come from veteran backup quarterback
Marcus Mariota as well. Scary Terry played 75% of the offensive snaps in last week's win over the New York Giants, his second-highest snap share of 2025. Although McLaurin has a bad Week 16 matchup against the Eagles, he will continue to be Mariota's top aerial option, giving him weekly WR2 upside in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
December 17, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt operated as the team's lead runner in Week 15, with
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) ruled out with a groin injury. Croskey-Merritt delivered a strong performance, handling 18 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown in Washington's win over the New York Giants.
Jeremy McNichols actually drew the start for Washington, but JCM ended up doubling him in carries. The rookie seventh-rounder found the end zone for the first time since his breakout performance in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers, where he totalled 150 yards and two touchdowns. JCM looked decisive and explosive against the Giants, who notably have one of the worst run defenses in the league, but it was great to see the rookie deliver for fantasy managers who plugged him into their lineups for the first round of the fantasy playoffs. Croskey-Merritt could potentially work himself back into a more significant timeshare with McNichols and Rodriguez upon his return, creating a messy situation to sort through. He remains worth rostering and would project favorably again on Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles if Rodriguez is out again on a short week.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 16, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a full participant in practice on Tuesday. Rodriguez was limited twice in practice last week before being ruled out for Sunday's win over the New York Giants. He appears to be trending in the right direction with a full session to begin Week 16 preparation. In his absence on Sunday, rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries during Sunday's victory. The return of Rodriguez would likely reduce Croskey-Merritt's role for the upcoming matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. If healthy, Rodriguez should offer low-end flex appeal in deep leagues this weekend in a bad matchup.
--Andy WebbSource: Ben Standig
December 16, 2025
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said he doesn't expect wide receiver
Luke McCaffrey (collarbone) to be activated from Injured Reserve for the final three weeks of the season, according to Ben Standig. McCaffrey suffered a broken collarbone in the Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and won't be back in 2025. The 24-year-old former third-round pick in 2024 out of Rice will finish his second year in the NFL with 11 catches on 15 targets for 203 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. McCaffrey averaged a healthy 18.5 yards per reception as a deep threat down the field for quarterbacks
Jayden Daniels (elbow) and
Marcus Mariota, but for fantasy purposes, he was much too inconsistent to trust in starting lineups in most leagues. McCaffrey will be looking to become a more consistent part of Washington's offense in his third year in the league in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Ben Standig
December 16, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Noah Brown (ribs) has been placed on Injured Reserve, per JP Finlay of NBC 4 Sports. The team has also signed veteran wideout
Chris Moore from the practice squad to the active roster as the corresponding move. The IR placement ends what has been an injury-ravaged season for Brown. He appeared in just four games this season for Washington, recording five receptions for 83 yards on 10 targets. The 29-year-old has had a difficult time staying healthy in recent years, playing in just 25 games over the past three seasons. With Brown sidelined, Commanders wideouts
Treylon Burks and
Jaylin Lane should see more opportunities alongside Washington's star wide receiver duo of
Terry McLaurin and
Deebo Samuel Sr.--Will BradySource: NBC 4 Sports - JP Finlay
December 15, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota will remain under center for the rest of the regular season after the team officially shut down
Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the final three games. Mariota has started seven games this season and has posted top-10 fantasy value in three of them. The 32-year-old had a less-than-ideal outing versus the New York Giants on Sunday, throwing for 211 yards with a touchdown while rushing the ball 10 times for 43 yards on the ground. He doesn't have the strongest arm, but his dual-threat ability gives Mariota streaming appeal the rest of the way. He'll head into a challenging matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16. Mariota should still offer superflex value as a QB2 in a difficult home matchup.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
December 15, 2025
The Washington Commanders have decided to shut down quarterback
Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the final three games of the 2025 season, sources tell Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Daniels was re-evaluated on Monday and was not cleared, so the Commanders have decided to sit the second-year signal-caller for the rest of the year since they are eliminated from postseason contention. Veteran
Marcus Mariota will close out the year running Washington's offense. The 24-year-old missed his seventh game of the year in Sunday's win over the New York Giants. Daniels suffered a gruesome dislocation of his left elbow in Week 9 and didn't return until Week 14, when he aggravated the injury. The former second overall pick had an amazing rookie campaign, but he'll end 2025 with only 1,262 passing yards, eight TDs, and three interceptions in seven games. Daniels could easily bounce back in 2026, but there are some serious concerns about his durability now after he missed time with elbow, hamstring, and knee injuries this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
December 15, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a late scratch before his team's Week 15 win over the New York Giants due to a groin injury. In his absence, Commanders back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the way with 18 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. However, Rodriguez Jr. had emerged as the lead rusher in Washington before getting hurt. Across three games leading into Week 15, the 25-year-old racked up 172 rushing yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. Croskey-Merritt's stellar performance against the Giants may lead to more of a split backfield in Washington going forward. Still, in fantasy leagues where Rodriguez Jr. is available on the waiver wire, he should be targeted heading into his team's Week 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 15, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie running back out of Arizona,
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, is officially back on the fantasy football radar as
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a game-time decision in Week 15 and was eventually ruled out shortly before the game. Croskey-Merritt, aka Bill, earned 18 carries, which he turned into 98 yards (5.33 yards per tote) and a touchdown in the Commanders' 29-21 win over the New York Giants. JCM looked good running the football, and his score came from 16 yards out. All of a sudden, this Commanders backfield gets a bit shaky after it had finally cleared up for us the past few weeks, with Rodriguez being the only one worth rostering. After JCM's performance in Week 15, the Commanders may want to give JCM some more run after an impressive performance, so if Rodriguez Jr., who had been playing well, returns in Week 16, all of a sudden, we are back to the three-running-back committee of Rodriguez, JCM, and
Jeremy McNichols. All of which would become desperate plays in Week 16 of the fantasy football season. Regardless, JCM would be worth a waiver-wire pickup in case Rodriguez can't suit up in Week 16.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 14, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Noah Brown (ribs) has been ruled out for the remainder of his team's Week 15 matchup against the New York Giants due to a rib injury. Brown suffered a back injury earlier in the game that he was able to return from, but his day is now done due to a rib ailment. The 29-year-old recorded one catch for 28 yards on one target before exiting the game. It's been an injury-marred 2025 for Brown, as he's appeared in just four games for Washington this season. Without him, Commanders wideouts
Jaylin Lane and
Treylon Burks could both see more playing time alongside star wide receivers
Terry McLaurin and
Deebo Samuel Sr.--Will BradySource: Washington Commanders
December 14, 2025
Washington Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil (shoulder) is officially questionable to return to his team's Week 15 matchup against the New York Giants due to a shoulder injury. The 31-year-old has started all 14 of Washington's games to this point in 2025. Tunsil is generally considered one of the best left tackles in the NFL and is in the midst of another excellent season. Entering Week 15, Pro Football Focus graded Tunsil as the third-best pass-blocking tackle and eighth-best player overall at the position out of 81 qualified players. If he's unable to return, Brandon Coleman would likely handle left tackle duties for Washington for the remainder of Week 15.
--Will BradySource: Washington Commanders
December 14, 2025
The Washington Commanders deemed wide receiver
Noah Brown (back) questionable to return to their Week 15 game against the New York Giants. The 29-year-old receiver has been used sparingly this season, but did connect with backup quarterback
Marcus Mariota for a 28-yard gain on Sunday. Fellow receiver
Luke McCaffrey (collarbone) remains on injured reserve, opening the door for midseason addition
Treylon Burks to step into a larger role. For fantasy purposes, Brown is already in a depth role that doesn't warrant a roster spot in the majority of formats.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Washington Commanders
December 14, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) is inactive for Sunday's Week 15 contest against the New York Giants. He had been listed as questionable and was believed to be a true game-time decision. After Rodriguez tested his injury in pregame workouts, the team decided he wasn't healthy enough to suit up. The 26-year-old had been leading Washington's backfield lately with 37 touches and 4.8 yards per carry over his last three games.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and
Jeremy McNichols should split touches in his absence, with McNichols likely getting more involved on passing downs. Neither back is a surefire top-36 fantasy option for Week 15, despite a favorable matchup against New York's bottom-tier run defense.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ben Standig
December 14, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness) is officially active for Sunday's Week 15 contest against the New York Giants. He had been listed as questionable after missing Friday's practice. Samuel has played in 12 games this year, amassing 62 catches, 561 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns. He filled in admirably as one of Washington's top targets with
Terry McLaurin sidelined. Although McLaurin is back, the Commanders lost
Zach Ertz (knee) to a season-ending ACL tear last week, which means Samuel should earn more targets where he excels most: in the short to intermediate passing game. The 29-year-old ranks as a low-end fantasy WR2 and should remain involved while catching passes from
Marcus Mariota on Sunday.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ben Standig
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