September 15, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels (knee) underwent an MRI following Thursday's loss to the Green Bay Packers and has been diagnosed with a sprained knee. While the injury isn't believed to be long-term, Daniels' status for Week 3 against the Raiders is now in doubt. After turning in arguably the most successful season ever seen by a rookie quarterback, Daniels and the Commanders' offense have yet to hit their stride in 2025, scoring only 39 total points through their 1-1 start. Should Daniels miss Sunday's game, backup
Marcus Mariota would be in line to face one of his former teams. One of the better backups in the league, Mariota saw extended time in two games last season and was able to keep Kliff Kingsbury's offense on track. While any missed time by Daniels isn't necessarily a death knell for Commander's pass catchers
Terry McLaurin,
Deebo Samuel Sr., and
Zach Ertz, it's far from ideal for a unit already struck hard by injury this early into the season.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Ian Rapoport
September 15, 2025
Free-agent running back
Chase Edmonds, who last played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, is signing a deal to join the Washington Commanders' practice squad, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Edmonds will join a young Washington backfield in 2025 after they just lost
Austin Ekeler to a torn Achilles tendon last Thursday night in the loss to the Green Bay Packers. For now, the Commanders will roll with rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt as their lead back, with
Jeremy McNichols and
Chris Rodriguez Jr. serving in change-of-pace roles. Rodriguez had a strong training camp and preseason, but he was a healthy scratch in the first two weeks of the regular season. While we wouldn't recommend starting him in Week 3, he's definitely on the radar for a waiver-wire pickup this week, especially if you just lost Ekeler for the year.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
September 15, 2025
Washington Commanders tight end
Zach Ertz hauled in six of eight targets for 64 yards and a touchdown in his team's Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The 34-year-old now has nine catches on 13 targets for 90 yards and two scores across his first two games of the season. Dating back to Week 11 of 2024, Ertz has caught eight touchdown passes in his last nine regular-season games, establishing himself as a favorite end-zone target of Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels. The veteran tight end lacks big-play ability, but he's a fairly consistent target-earner and should have a chance to score most weeks while playing with Daniels. Ertz is worth adding in fantasy leagues where he's available as a low-end TE1/high-end TE2.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
September 14, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels (knee) is considered day-to-day with a knee injury, per Josh Taylor of A to Z Sports. Daniels reportedly received an MRI on the affected knee after getting banged up in his team's Thursday night loss to the Green Bay Packers. The 24-year-old has thrown for 433 yards and three touchdowns through the first two games of the season. Still, he brings a significant amount of value with his legs, rushing for 891 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie last season and 85 yards so far in 2025. If Daniels is forced to miss time, veteran quarterback
Marcus Mariota would likely step in as the Washington starter in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Even if Daniels can play, his rushing ability could be significantly impacted, depending on the severity of this knee injury.
--Will BradySource: A to Z Sports - Josh Taylor
September 13, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Austin Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles during Thursday night's loss to the Green Bay Packers. Ekeler injured his ankle on the game's final drive while stepping back awkwardly. The lead back for Washington through the first two weeks, Ekeler totaled 14 carries for 43 yards and added five receptions for 38 yards. With 2024 starter
Brian Robinson Jr. already traded, rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt will now step into the starting role. Ekeler's contract expires after this season, making the injury an even bigger blow for the former star running back.
--Nathan HarveySource: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
September 12, 2025
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that rookie running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt is expected to step in as the Washington Commanders' starter following the devastating Achilles injury to
Austin Ekeler in Thursday night's 27-18 loss to Green Bay. Croskey-Merritt has flashed efficiency early, posting 14 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown through two games despite playing fewer than 33% of the snaps. With only
Jeremy McNichols currently active alongside him, the rookie should handle the bulk of early-down rushing duties, while McNichols sees work in passing situations.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., a healthy scratch in the first two games, is also a candidate to be active moving forward. While Croskey-Merritt entered the season as a deep sleeper, he suddenly finds himself in line for a heavy workload. He's now an important fantasy asset with starting potential for the remainder of the 2025 season.
--Nathan HarveySource: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
September 12, 2025
Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan says that he heard that Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels (knee) got an MRI exam done on his knee on Friday after getting banged up in the Thursday night loss to the Green Bay Packers. Daniels never left the 27-18 loss, but he was limping "pretty good" at the end of the game, and Paulsen suggests it's something worth keeping an eye on. The good news is that the Commanders have a long layoff until their Week 3 clash against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 21. The 24-year-old second-year QB threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns on 24-for-42 passing on Thursday night, adding seven rushes for 17 yards. Washington's offense looked sluggish on a short week against a strong Packers D. If his knee isn't an issue, Daniels will have a prime chance to bounce back in Week 3 as a high-end QB1 in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: 106.7 The Fan - Grant Paulsen
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt was barely utilized in Week 2, recording four carries for 17 yards in his team's 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers. However, Croskey-Merritt could be in line for significantly more touches going forward, given the unfortunate news that veteran running back
Austin Ekeler (Achilles) may have suffered a torn Achilles. Even in Week 2, Croskey-Merritt's struggles could be attributed mostly to game script and Washington's overall inability to run the ball (51 yards on 19 rush attempts). Without Ekeler, the Commanders' backfield consists of three largely unproven backs in Croskey-Merritt,
Jeremy McNichols, and
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Croskey-Merritt could reasonably lock down a true lead role at some point in the next few weeks and should be held by fantasy managers in all league formats despite the poor Week 2 performance.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. was heavily involved in the offense for the second straight week in his team's 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. Samuel Sr. was targeted eight times, hauling in seven catches for 44 yards and a touchdown. It was not an efficient night for Washington overall, and Samuel Sr. was no different, averaging just 6.3 yards per reception. Still, it's an encouraging sign for fantasy managers that Samuel Sr. has been targeted 18 times and logged 15 total touches through Washington's first two games. Early on, the 29-year-old profiles as a high-end flex option going into a much easier Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders tight end
Zach Ertz was busy on the field during Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers. He finished with 26 yards and a touchdown in the season opener, but was able to top that here. Ertz hauled in six of his eight targets for 64 yards and a score in the loss on Thursday. It was his second straight game with a touchdown as he hauled in a 20-yard score in the fourth quarter. The veteran tight end appears to be a safety blanket for
Jayden Daniels. That being said, Ertz should be viewed as a high-end TE2 for the Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Andy WebbSource: ESPN
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Noah Brown (groin) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers. Brown exited in the third quarter with a groin injury and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game. He finished with one catch on four targets for nine yards in the loss. It's unclear at the moment if Brown will be ready to go for the Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. The absence of Brown would likely lead to increased roles for
Deebo Samuel Sr.,
Terry McLaurin, and possibly
Luke McCaffrey.
--Andy WebbSource: Washington Commanders
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels was unable to have much success early during Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers. Daniels was held in check for a majority of the first half, but was able to do some damage after halftime. He completed 24-of-42 passing attempts for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the loss. Daniels also added a two-point conversation and rushed seven times for an additional 17 yards in the defeat. It was a nice performance from a fantasy perspective, but the Commanders are hopeful for a better game during next week's matchup versus the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Andy WebbSource: ESPN
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. could handle a larger workload after the team lost
Austin Ekeler to a suspected torn Achilles on Thursday. Rodriguez has been a healthy scratch through the first two weeks of the season, but he'll likely be active going forward as the Commanders' No. 3 running back behind
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and
Jeremy McNichols. Although he'll likely be third on the depth chart, Rodriguez could still carve out a significant, fantasy-relevant workload. Backfield roles in Washington have been quite fluid to start the year. For example, Croskey-Merritt went from 10 touches in Week 1 to just four in Week 2. The door is wide open for any of the three running backs to establish themselves in a higher-volume role, so don't close the book on Rodriguez just yet. He's an intriguing waiver wire option ahead of Week 3.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
September 12, 2025
The Washington Commanders fear that running back
Austin Ekeler tore his Achilles during Thursday's loss to the Green Bay Packers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He will undergo an MRI. Ekeler suffered the injury on a non-contact play late in the fourth quarter. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the veteran running back will be shut down for the remainder of his age-30 season. Such an outcome would shake up the depth chart in Washington, D.C.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt would remain the lead back while
Jeremy McNichols and
Chris Rodriguez Jr. handle larger roles behind him.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Jeremy McNichols could be headed for an increased workload after teammate
Austin Ekeler suffered a serious Achilles injury on Thursday night. Ekeler suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter and was quickly ruled out, indicating that the severity is serious. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport echoed these concerns postgame, telling the Amazon Prime broadcasters that the Commanders' front office is concerned about Ekeler's status. If the veteran running back misses extended time, McNichols could step into a much larger role. He didn't register an offensive touch Thursday night but should enter Week 3 as the Commanders' No. 2 running back behind
Jacory Croskey-Merritt. With more snaps on the way, McNichols immediately becomes an intriguing waiver wire option in fantasy football.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
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