December 14, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin will look to bounce back following last week's underwhelming fantasy performance against the Minnesota Vikings. He's trending in the right direction with a more favorable matchup in Week 15 against the New York Giants. The Giants have allowed the fourth-most receiving yards and fifth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2025. McLaurin has played in just six games this season, averaging 3.8 catches, 56.7 yards, and 0.3 touchdowns per contest. He'll be dealing with a change in quarterback this week as
Marcus Mariota starts in place of
Jayden Daniels (elbow), but that shouldn't have a significant effect on his fantasy value. McLaurin's best fantasy performance of the year came in Week 13 with Mariota under center, when the 30-year-old pass catcher had seven catches, 96 yards, and a touchdown in the Commanders' upset win over the Broncos. With a favorable matchup on tap, McLaurin should be viewed as a high-end WR2 in most leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 14, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's Week 15 contest against the New York Giants. Rodriguez is listed as questionable after logging back-to-back limited practices. The 26-year-old has taken on a much larger role lately, amassing 37 touches over his last three games. During that span, he's averaging an impressive 4.8 yards per carry and has also scored a touchdown. If Rodriguez is active, he'll rank as a low-end RB2 against a Giants defense that has allowed the second-most rushing yards and second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025. However, if he doesn't suit up, the Commanders would give increased snaps to
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and
Jeremy McNichols out of the backfield.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
December 14, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt has taken a back seat in the rushing attack recently, causing his value to slide ahead of the fantasy playoffs. The rookie garnered a ton of hype this summer and began the season as the clear leader of Washington's backfield. However, a significant dip in efficiency starting back in Week 6 has been a death knell for the 24-year-old's workload. Over that time frame, Croskey-Merritt has eclipsed 3.5 yards per carry in a given game on just three occasions. Conversely, teammate
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) has boasted double-digit carries in four of the last five games, marking a shift in the team's game plan. With Rodriguez Jr. questionable for Sunday's outing with the Giants, Croskey-Merritt may see a modest uptick in touch load. Still, he's clearly fallen out of favor with the coaching staff and can be avoided outside of a stash in dynasty formats.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 13, 2025
Washington Commanders tight end
Colson Yankoff should slide up to No. 3 on the TE depth chart with
Zach Ertz (knee) suffering a torn ACL last week against the Minnesota Vikings. Yankoff has played predominantly as a special-teamer in his two seasons in the league, and he's posted an 11.7% snap share on offense this season. The 25-year-old has earned a target in each of the past three games, recording two receptions for 18 yards. Yankoff and fellow second-year tight end
Ben Sinnott profile better than
John Bates to step into Ertz's role as the primary receiving tight end, but it remains to be seen who will see the most opportunities on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. The former undrafted free agent has some intriguing athletic traits as a former highly-touted, dual-threat quarterback in high school, and he could be a name to monitor as a potential player to fill Ertz's void in Washington's passing game the rest of the season.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 13, 2025
Washington Commanders tight end
Ben Sinnott is expected to see an uptick in snaps after
Zach Ertz (knee) tore his ACL in last week's blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The 2024 second-round pick hasn't seen many opportunities as a receiver since being drafted, with Ertz locking down that role and not missing any games. But the door has opened for Sinnott to earn more opportunities and potentially establish himself as Washington's tight end of the future. The Kansas State product has caught all nine of his career targets for 69 yards and two touchdowns in 29 games. It will be interesting to see if Sinnott sees the bulk of the snaps as the receiving tight end, or if Washington opts to split the reps between Sinnott,
John Bates, and
Colson Yankoff. For the season, Sinnott ranks firmly behind Bates as the TE3 in snaps and routes, with a 27.6% snap share and a 10.9% route share. Bates is used primarily as a blocker, and with Sinott being a high second-round pick last year, it seems like a great opportunity for the Commanders to see what they have in the athletic tight end. It remains to be seen what Sinnott's role will look like on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. Sinnott is a solid speculative addition off the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues, but he profiles as a desperation TE streamer in Week 15.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 13, 2025
Washington Commanders tight end
John Bates has served as the team's No. 2 option behind
Zach Ertz this season, primarily as a blocker. With Ertz now out for the season with a torn ACL, Bates could be in line to take on more responsibility as a receiver. However, Washington could look to keep Bates in his normal role as one of the league's best blocking tight ends, a strength that earned him a three-year, $21 million contract extension this offseason. The Commanders could rely more on 2024 second-round pick
Ben Sinnott as a receiver, who has the athletic traits and yards-after-the-catch ability to step into Ertz's role as the primary receiving option at tight end. The 28-year-old Bates has played more snaps and run more routes than Sinnott and fourth-string tight end
Colson Yankoff, but he's not considered a legitimate receiving threat. He's collected eight catches for 71 yards on 12 targets in 11 games this season. With Washington's tight end situation murky in the wake of Ertz's injury, Bates shouldn't be considered as a fantasy option in Week 15 against the New York Giants.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 13, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Treylon Burks saw his playing time crater in Week 14's game against the Minnesota Vikings with the return of
Noah Brown from Injured Reserve. The former 2022 first-round pick played a season-high 65.9% of the snaps in Week 13 against the Broncos, recording one catch for five yards and a touchdown on four targets. With Brown back in the lineup for the first time since Week 2, Burks only drew one target, and his snap share slid to 34.7% against the Vikings last week, ranking fourth among Washington's receivers. The 25-year-old will likely be limited to a depth role again on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. Burks hasn't shown enough in his first games in Washington to be considered as a fantasy option just yet, and that probably won't change before the year is over.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 13, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Noah Brown returned from his 10-game absence in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings, hauling in one of his two targets for 19 yards. The 29-year-old wideout posted his highest snap share in the three games he's suited up for this season, leading all Commanders wide receivers at 63.3%. Brown doesn't carry much upside as the No. 3 receiver behind
Terry McLaurin and
Deebo Samuel Sr., (illness) but he should run a decent number of routes every week now that he is healthy. He has a favorable matchup on Sunday against the New York Giants, who have allowed the fourth-most PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers. However, Brown is tough to trust as anything more than a deep league flex option for Week 15.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 13, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness) has posted at least four receptions in five straight games, averaging 12.7 PPR points per game over that stretch. Samuel was added to the injury report on Friday after missing practice with an illness, and he's currently listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional game against the New York Giants. The veteran should be considered likely to suit up on Sunday, barring something changing. The former San Francisco 49er had an excellent fantasy outing in his Week 1 matchup against the Giants, hauling in seven of 10 targets for 77 yards while adding one carry for a 19-yard touchdown. If he's active, Samuel profiles as a solid WR3 option in Week 15 against a Giants defense that has allowed the fourth most PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 13, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin recorded three catches for 41 yards on six targets in last week's blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The 30-year-old wideout was unable to build on his season-best performance in Week 13 against a stout Denver Broncos secondary, where he hauled in seven of 14 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown with
Marcus Mariota at the helm. McLaurin will be catching passes from Mariota again in Week 15's divisional matchup against the New York Giants after
Jayden Daniels (elbow) aggravated his elbow injury in last week's loss. The veteran collected just two catches (four targets) for 27 yards in Week 1 against the Giants, but snagged two touchdowns against them last season in their Week 9 meeting. The Giants' defense has struggled in all areas this season and has allowed the fourth-most PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers this season. McLaurin ranks as RotoBaller's WR15 in PPR leagues in Week 15.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 13, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Jeremy McNichols recorded only one reception for two yards in last week's blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings. It marked the third game this season where he's had fewer than two touches in a game. The 29-year-old had compiled 20 total touches for 88 yards in the three games leading up to Week 14, and even in a negative game script, McNichols didn't see much work. The veteran has held down the pass-down duties in Washington's backfield for most of the season since
Austin Ekeler (Achilles) went down in Week 2. McNichols should see similar usage on Sunday against the New York Giants with the possibility for more touches if
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin), who is listed as questionable, is unable to play. He profiles as a deep league flex option at best in Week 15.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 13, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt has faded into a depth role in the team's backfield in recent weeks.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) has handled the bulk of the touches for the Commanders since Week 9, with Croskey-Merritt mixing in on early downs and
Jeremy McNichols working primarily on passing downs. The rookie seventh-rounder has played just 19.6% of the snaps on offense over the last three weeks, his lowest in a three-game stretch this season, and has recorded 20 carries for 80 yards. Rodriguez is currently listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New York Giants with a groin injury, so Croskey-Merritt may see an uptick in opportunities if he's unable to go. However, the rookie will likely be limited to a handful of touches if Rodriguez plays—Croskey-Merritt profiles as a desperation deep league option in Week 15.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 12, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) is listed as questionable heading into Week 15 against the New York Giants. Rodriguez ran well again during Washington's 31-0 shutout loss last week against the Minnesota Vikings, compiling 52 yards on 10 carries. However, the Commanders had only seven total drives and were forced to pass as they played from behind all game. The 25-year-old has operated as Washington's primary early-down back with
Jeremy McNichols handling passing-down responsibilities. He's recorded double-digit carries in four of the past five games, and he and
Kyren Williams are the only two running backs with at least 25 carries to post a 70% rushing success rate or higher over that span. If he's active, Rodriguez will look to take advantage of a favorable matchup on Sunday against the division-rival Giants, who have the 31st-ranked rushing defense, allowing 154.2 rushing yards per game. C-Rod ranks as RotoBaller's RB26 in PPR leagues.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 12, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota is set to make his seventh start of the season, with
Jayden Daniels (elbow) aggravating his elbow injury during last week's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Mariota has been solid all season in place of Daniels, completing 62.9% of his passes for 1,389 yards, nine touchdowns, and seven interceptions while adding 39 carries for 255 yards and another score on the ground in nine games (six starts). He attempted a career-high 50 passes in his most recent start against the vaunted Denver Broncos defense in Week 13, throwing for 294 yards and two touchdowns with one interception to go with 55 yards on 10 carries. The 32-year-old signal-caller draws a favorable matchup on Sunday against a New York Giants defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Mariota profiles as a strong QB2 streamer in Week 15, ranking as RotoBaller's QB13.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 12, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness) missed Friday's practice with an illness and is listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional matchup against the New York Giants. It's not ideal that Samuel was added to the injury report late in the week, but it'd be a surprise if his illness ultimately prevents him from suiting up in Week 15. Fantasy managers will want to keep tabs on the injury report come Sunday morning. The former San Francisco 49ers wideout is coming off a quiet game against the Minnesota Vikings, with four catches for 27 yards on six targets. He's had a solid first season overall in Washington, hauling in 62 of his 81 targets for 561 yards and five touchdowns to go with 13 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown in 12 games. Samuel will profile as a solid WR3/flex option on Sunday if he's active, but
Terry McLaurin's presence certainly lowers his fantasy ceiling and floor.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Washington Commanders
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