RADIO
Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
The Washington Commanders are "mutually" parting ways with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, according to Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan. In addition to Kingsbury, the Commanders also fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt, so they will be looking for two new coordinators this offseason under head coach Dan Quinn. Kingsbury was with the Commanders the last two seasons. He was the head coach for the Arizona Cardinals from 2019-22 and will most likely be seeking another head-coaching opportunity going into the 2026 season, with six vacancies around the league. Kingsbury's departure from the nation's capital is a big deal, as quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow), who missed most of his sophomore season due to injuries, will have to learn a new offense going into Year 3.
Source: 106.7 The Fan - Grant Paulsen
Source: 106.7 The Fan - Grant Paulsen
Treylon Burks to Play Through Illness, Not Recommended in Fantasy Lineups
Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks (illness) was able to practice in full on Friday and was removed from the Week 18 injury report. Burks will play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles figure to be resting key starters on both sides of the ball with a playoff spot already locked up, but that still won't be enough to make Burks a fantasy recommendation for Week 18 lineups. Quarterback Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) will miss a second straight game due to multiple injuries, leaving journeyman signal-caller Josh Johnson to run the offense in just his second start all year. In last week's Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Burks caught just one of two targets from Johnson for 11 yards. There should be much better receiving options for fantasy managers still competing for a title.
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Josh Johnson to Start in Regular-Season Finale
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn officially named Josh Johnson as the team's starting quarterback for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Veteran Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) will miss a second straight game to close out the year. Even though the Eagles will be resting key starters this weekend, Johnson will be hard-pressed to help fantasy managers without left tackle Laremy Tunsil (oblique) available. The 39-year-old signal-caller made his first start of the year in last week's Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys and went 15-for-23 passing for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Even in two-QB leagues this weekend, fantasy managers should have better options to choose from than Johnson.
Source: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed
Source: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed
Marcus Mariota Won't Play Against Eagles
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (hand) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Mariota was a stretch to make it back to play in the final game of the year after injuring his hand in the Week 16 loss to the Eagles. The 32-year-old veteran was held out of the Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 and will now miss a second straight game to end the year. Journeyman QB Josh Johnson will make a second straight start for the Commanders. Mariota ended up playing in 11 games (eight starts) this year while filling in for the injured Jayden Daniels, and he held his own, throwing for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He added 297 yards on the ground and a TD.
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Facing Reduced Role in Washington?
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been a productive player across 12 games this season, recording 435 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 96 carries. However, the 25-year-old has been in-and-out of his team's lineup in recent weeks, missing Week 15 with a groin injury and Week 17 with an illness. In his absence, Rodriguez Jr. may have had his role in the Washington backfield usurped by rookie back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Over the last three weeks, Croskey-Merritt has racked up 224 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries. Rodriguez Jr. is expected to return for Washington's Week 18 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he'll likely still see some touches. However, the Commanders may opt to split touches between Rodriguez Jr. and Croskey-Merritt evenly, or ride the hot hand with the rookie.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Returns to Full Practice
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (illness) was able to practice in full on Thursday after he was held out due to illness on Wednesday. Croskey-Merritt had his second 100-yard game and two rushing touchdowns in last week's Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys, with Chris Rodriguez Jr. out due to illness. Rodriguez is back in the fold for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, though, so fantasy managers will want to lower expectations for Croskey-Merritt in the final game of his rookie season. The 24-year-old JCM could be Washington's lead back against the Eagles, but Rodriguez's presence will definitely cap the rookie's upside this weekend.
Source: Commanders.com
Source: Commanders.com
Jaylin Lane Finishing Up-and-Down Rookie Season on Injured Reserve
Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane (ankle) was placed on Injured Reserve ahead of his team's Week 17 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, ending his 2025 season. A fourth-round pick out of Virginia Tech, Lane flashed upside for brief stretches of his first NFL season but was ultimately unable to carve out a consistent role in the Washington offense when the team had top wideouts Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. healthy. Lane will finish the year with 16 catches for 225 yards on 32 targets across 15 games played. He did not record a reception over his final four games of 2025 and was targeted just four times across his final seven outings. Projecting forward to 2026, Lane profiles as a downfield threat whose ability to provide consistent fantasy production in Washington remains unclear.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Biadasz Unlikely to Play in Week 18
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Monday that center Tyler Biadasz (ankle, knee) doesn't need surgery for his injuries, but he's unlikely to play on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. In addition to Biadasz, quarterback Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) is expected to miss a second straight game to close out the year. It means that Nick Allegretti will most likely be snapping footballs to journeyman QB Josh Johnson to close out the season against an Eagles team that could be resting most of their starters this weekend. The 28-year-old Biadasz suffered ankle and knee injuries in last Thursday's Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Source: The Athletic - Ben Standig
Source: The Athletic - Ben Standig
Marcus Mariota Considered "a Stretch" to Play in Week 18
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Monday that it would be "a stretch" for quarterback Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. The Commanders aren't closing the door on Mariota playing, but with Washington eliminated from the playoffs, it's unlikely. It means that veteran journeyman QB Josh Johnson is lined up to make a second straight start to close out the 2025 season. The 39-year-old went 15-for-23 passing 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Thursday. Mariota is not moving at full speed yet after suffering multiple injuries in the Week 16 loss to the Eagles. He didn't practice at all last week and shouldn't be counted on for fantasy managers still playing for a title in Week 18.
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Chris Rodriguez Jr. a Name to Check for on Week 18 Waiver Wires
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness) was a late inactive for the team's Week 17 Christmas loss to the Cowboys, clearing the path for rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt to put up 105 yards and two scores on the ground. With roster crunches ratcheting up during the fantasy playoffs, there's a real chance that Rodriguez may be available on some waiver wires this week, making him a must-add in any league with a Week 18 championship game. While Croskey-Merritt has looked brilliant at times this year, Washington has repeatedly shown that, when healthy, they prefer Rodriguez to handle the majority of their groundwork. Rodriguez has cracked double-digit points in Half-PPR formats in three of his last six games played, and should slot in as a low-end RB2/flex in a plus matchup with the Eagles in Week 18.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Breaking Out in Washington?
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a big showing in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys, rushing for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. The 24-year-old has played some of his best football of late, logging 226 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries over his last three games. Croskey-Merritt has benefited from the absence of Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness), who has missed two out of the last three weeks with various ailments. Croskey-Merritt played 64% of Washington's offensive snaps in Week 17 with Rodriguez Jr. sidelined, but just 20% of the snaps in Week 16 with Rodriguez Jr. active. Still, Croskey-Merritt's improved performance of late could lead the team to shift more carries his way even if Rodriguez Jr. returns. Croskey-Merritt may be worth targeting in all fantasy leagues with 10 or more teams heading into his Week 18 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Sitting with Illness
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness) will not be available for the team's divisional clash with the visiting Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 26-year-old was a late addition to Washington's injury report, as he came down with an illness early on Thursday. Despite initially garnering a questionable tag, he'll now miss his second game in three weeks. With Rodriguez inactive, backfield mates Jeremy McNichols and Jacory Croskey-Merritt will each see a significant uptick in work. Notably, in the last game sans Rodriguez, Croskey-Merritt barely eked out McNichols in snaps (32-30). However, he handily out-touched the latter 18-10. With that in mind, McNichols appeared to be the preferred passing-down back, so game script may determine who sees more work against the visiting Cowboys.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
According to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic, Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness) was added to the injury report and is listed as questionable for Thursday's contest against the Dallas Cowboys. The 25-year-old missed their Week 15 contest due to a groin injury but quickly reclaimed the starting role last weekend, taking 15 carries for 63 yards and a score during their loss to the Eagles. Over his last four games, Rodriguez has logged at least 10 carries in each game and averaged a solid 9.7 PPR points, operating as the preferred option in the backfield. Managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to kickoff in case Rodriguez faces a setback and is unable to play. If he is ruled out, managers should view seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt as a viable FLEX play in deeper formats, facing a Dallas defense that is allowing the seventh-most PPR points to opposing running backs.
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Marcus Mariota Ruled Out for Week 17
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) has officially been ruled out for the Week 17 divisional game on Christmas Day on Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Mariota injured his hand and quad in Saturday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It's unclear if Mariota will be cleared to play in next week's regular-season finale against the Eagles. With Mariota out on Christmas Day, veteran journeyman Josh Johnson will make his first start in the NFL since late in the 2021 season. For what it's worth, head coach Dan Quinn said he's hoping that Mariota will be ready to return in Week 18 for the rematch against Philly. The 32-year-old has been serviceable as a QB2 in fantasy football in 11 games (eight starts) this year with Jayden Daniels injured, completing 61.2% of his passes for 1,695 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven picks.
Source: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed
Source: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed
Josh Johnson to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson will make the start on Christmas Day on Thursday versus the division-rival Dallas Cowboys, according to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala. Jeff Driskel will serve as the backup with Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) unable to play following his injury on Saturday night in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Normal starter Jayden Daniels (elbow) has already been shut down for the rest of the year. This will be Johnson's first NFL start since Week 17 of the 2021 season with the Baltimore Ravens. The 39-year-old journeyman went 5-for-9 passing for 43 yards and an ugly interception in Week 16 after taking over for the injured Mariota. The matchup this week against Dallas' porous defense is friendly, but Johnson still won't be much more than a desperation QB2 option for fantasy managers in superflex leagues with everything on the line in championship matchups.
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
