December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. has been held under 50 yards in three straight games and hasn't found the end zone since Week 11. Samuel has exceeded 50 receiving yards only twice over the past nine games. The former San Francisco 49er draws a potential get-right spot on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys, who have struggled to defend the pass. Dallas has allowed the most passing yards per game and the most PPR points per game to wide receivers this season. Washington's pass-catchers could take a hit for fantasy with quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) uncertain to play after missing consecutive practices to begin the week, opening the door for journeyman
Josh Johnson to make his first start since 2021. Samuel currently ranks as RotoBaller's WR29 in PPR leagues in Week 17.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin has provided a major lift to the passing game since returning in Week 13. McLaurin has compiled 16 catches on 26 targets for 259 receiving yards and two touchdowns, ranking 16th among wide receivers in yards over that span. The 30-year-old wideout has a golden matchup on Christmas Day against a Dallas Cowboys defense that is allowing a league-high 8.8 yards per pass attempt over the last five games. However, the Ohio State product could be catching passes from journeyman quarterback
Josh Johnson, with
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) uncertain to play after missing two straight practices to open the week. McLaurin still profiles as a solid start with upside in Week 17 as Washington's clear top target, ranking as RotoBaller's WR14 in PPR leagues.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Jeremy McNichols has had a solid season as the team's primary third-down back, recording 42 carries for 220 yards and a touchdown to go with 21 catches (27 targets) for 176 yards in 15 games. The veteran handled a season-high 10 touches in Week 15 with
Chris Rodriguez Jr. inactive, but he had only three touches with Rodriguez back last week against the Eagles. It will likely be a similar situation for McNichols on Christmas Day against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys, where the Commanders could be starting journeyman quarterback
Josh Johnson with the status of
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) in doubt. McNichols shouldn't be considered as a fantasy option in Week 17.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt has scored in back-to-back weeks for the first time this season. Croskey-Merritt, aka Bill, played only 11 snaps in last week's loss to the Eagles, but handled eight carries for 25 yards and a score. The rookie seventh-rounder was still firmly behind
Chris Rodriguez Jr. in snaps and touches, but he earned more work on the goal line, outcarrying Rodriguez four to three inside the 10. The Commanders could be starting
Josh Johnson at QB this week, with
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) uncertain to play on a short week. That would limit the fantasy appeal for Croskey-Merritt. Plus, he has a tough matchup against a Dallas Cowboys defense that is allowing the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game since acquiring Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline. JCM projects as a desperation flex option for Week 17.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 24, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been productive since taking on a bigger workload in Week 9. The third-year back has totalled 69 carries for 316 yards and four touchdowns while adding two catches (three targets) for 12 yards as a receiver. Rodriguez has been the head of a three-man committee in Washington's backfield, playing 43.1% of the snaps, with rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (31.7%) staying involved on early downs and
Jeremy McNichols (33.3%) handling passing-down duties. Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt both found the end zone last week against the Eagles, but the Commanders' offense could be starting
Josh Johnson at QB on Thursday against the Cowboys, with
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) injured and uncertain to play. That downgrades the status of all Washington players in fantasy. Facing a Dallas defense that is allowing the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game since acquiring Quinnen Williams, Rodriguez profiles as a low-upside flex option in Week 17.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 23, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Josh Johnson could be in line to make his first start since Week 16 of the 2021 season if
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) can't play on Thursday against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. Johnson filled in for Mariota after exiting last week's game against the Eagles, completing five of nine passes for 43 yards and a horrible interception. The 39-year-old journeyman will draw the best matchup he could ask for in Week 17 against the Cowboys and their 32nd-ranked pass defense coming to town on Christmas Day. Even with the favorable matchup, it's tough to trust Johnson as anything more than a desperation QB2 play in superflex and two-QB leagues if he starts.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 23, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) was absent from Tuesday's practice and is trending in the wrong direction to play on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys. He's now missed two straight practices after being forced to exit early during Washington's Week 16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. If he's able to play, the 32-year-old profiles as a quality streaming option against Dallas' 32nd-ranked pass defense, though there is real uncertainty that he plays. Dallas' defense continues to struggle against the pass and just allowed Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert to have his best fantasy performance of the season. If Mariota can't go, Washington is likely to turn to journeyman
Josh Johnson to make his first start since 2021.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
December 23, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) was a non-participant during Tuesday's practice. Mariota has missed two straight practices after he was forced to exit early during Saturday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles due to injury. Mariota is trending in the wrong direction ahead of Thursday's Christmas matchup versus the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. If he sits out,
Josh Johnson figures to make his first start of the season. The Commanders have also signed
Jeff Driskel off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad to add depth at the position. The fantasy value of the Commanders' pass-catchers would be downgraded if Johnson is forced to start in Week 17. As of right now, fantasy managers shouldn't be planning on having Mariota available on a short turnaround in Week 17.
--Andy WebbSource: Jeremy Fowler
December 23, 2025
Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury told Commanders beat writer Ben Standig, "We'll see how that plays out," when asked by Standig about his possible head-coaching opportunities. Kingsbury has been the play-caller in Washington for each of the last two seasons after previously serving as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 2019 through 2022. Kingsbury went 28-37-1 at the helm in Arizona, leading the Cardinals to one playoff birth. He led Washington to the number five scoring offense and number seven offense in total yardage in 2024 while working with then-rookie quarterback
Jayden Daniels (elbow). With Daniels injured for much of 2025, the Commanders have regressed to 24th in scoring offense and 20th in yardage heading into Week 17. Kingsbury also has extensive experience in the college ranks, serving as head coach at Texas Tech for six seasons from 2013 through 2018. While nothing is guaranteed, it appears he could be looking to move on from Washington at the end of the 2025 season.
--Will BradySource: Ben Standig
December 23, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) is dealing with multiple injuries and is considered day-to-day ahead of Thursday's matchup against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. He left early during the Week 16 loss to the Eagles and didn't return. Mariota has been a quality backup for the Commanders this season, completing 61.2% of his passes for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while adding 50 carries for 297 yards and a score on the ground in 11 games (eight starts). The 32-year-old would be set up with a prime matchup on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys' 32nd-ranked pass defense if he can play. As of now, it appears the most likely option to start for Washington is journeyman
Josh Johnson, who completed five of nine passes for 43 yards and an interception in relief of Mariota against the Eagles. Mariota is worth adding and profiles as a solid streamer in deeper leagues for Thursday if he can play, but fantasy managers should keep a close eye on this week's injury report. If he is unable to play, Johnson wouldn't be a streaming option to consider despite the great matchup.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 22, 2025
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that quarterback
Josh Johnson will get the "lion's share" of the starter's reps at practice this week, according to JP Finley of NBC Sports Washington. Johnson was forced into action on Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles when fellow quarterback
Marcus Mariota (hand) exited early with a hand injury. The 39-year-old went five-for-nine for 43 yards with one interception. Entering the 2025 season, Johnson earned the QB3 job in Washington after outperforming
Sam Hartman during the preseason. After an injury-riddled season, Johnson is trending toward being the Commanders' starting quarterback on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys. On a short turnaround, Mariota's availability remains unclear for Week 17, and
Jayden Daniels has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. It is worth noting that Washington recently signed quarterback
Jeff Driskel off the Cardinals' practice squad to add depth to their quarterback room.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: JP Finlay
December 22, 2025
The Washington Commanders are signing quarterback
Jeff Driskel off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. Driskel served as Washington's QB3 last season and knows how to operate in Kliff Kingsbury's offense. This move adds much-needed depth to an injury-plagued quarterback room in Washington. With
Marcus Mariota's (hand) availability unclear and
Jayden Daniels being sidelined for the rest of the season, Driskel could be forced to slide into the QB2 role. Washington is playing on a short week and will be facing off against division rival Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day. On a quick turnaround, Washington likely wanted to bring in someone who has been around their offense to back up
Josh Johnson.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: Ben Standig
December 22, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt saw a decreased workload in Week 16 with the return of teammate
Chris Rodriguez Jr., but was still productive, scoring his second touchdown in as many games. Croskey-Merritt toted the rock just eight times (25 yards) in Washington's 29-18 loss to the Eagles on Saturday -- ten fewer carries than he sported a week ago in Rodriguez's absence. However, he still played clearly ahead of
Jeremy McNichols in the rushing attack, despite the latter pacing him in snaps 15-11. The 24-year-old may not garner the same upside he did at the beginning of the campaign, but fantasy managers in a pinch can turn to him for low-end flex production when Washington squares off with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 22, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. seems to have secured the top spot in the backfield coming down the stretch, and he should be fantasy relevant in the closing weeks of the season. He makes a solid waiver wire add if you need a running back after picking up 63 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries on Saturday against the Eagles, and adding a six-yard catch as well. He played 28 snaps (52%) this week, compared to just 15 snaps (28%) for
Jeremy McNichols and 11 snaps for
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (20%). Rodriguez and the Commanders face the Cowboys on Christmas Day after a short week, and he'll have touchdown-dependent flex upside in a favorable matchup against Dallas this coming week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN.com
December 21, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota (right hand, quad) is day-to-day ahead of Thursday's Week 17 contest against the Dallas Cowboys, head coach Dan Quinn told the media. Mariota's right hand injury, which forced him out of Saturday's Week 16 loss to the Eagles, required stitches. He is also dealing with a quad ailment.
Josh Johnson relieved Mariota on Saturday and finished the game. Now, it appears that the veteran journeyman has a chance to become the Commanders' third different quarterback to start a game this season. Managers invested in Mariota's availability should closely monitor the Commanders' injury reports from Monday through Wednesday.
--Andersen PickardSource: Zach Selby
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