March 16, 2026
A second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Washington Commanders tight end
Ben Sinnott has had a tough time carving out a consistent role in his team's passing game through his first two NFL seasons. Across 33 career games, the 23-year-old has recorded 16 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets while stuck behind veteran tight end
Zach Ertz (knee) on the depth chart. Ertz suffered a torn ACL in Week 14 of 2025 and is also currently a free agent, so he is unlikely to stand in Sinnott's way for a third straight year in 2026. However, Washington signed former Tennessee Titans tight end
Chig Okonkwo to a three-year contract in free agency, all but assuring that Sinnott will remain siloed to a reserve role. Based on his lack of production and his team's roster management around him, Sinnott's value in dynasty formats should be at an all-time low heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 16, 2026
Free-agent running back
Jeremy McNichols is re-signing with the Washington Nationals on an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Washington's current backfield includes McNichols,
Jacory Croskey-Merritt,
Rachaad White, and
Jerome Ford. In his second year with Washington in 2025, McNichols saw 44 carries for 221 yards and one rushing touchdown in 17 games (one start), adding 25 receptions on 31 targets for 196 yards through the air. The 30-year-old veteran was also a key special teams contributor in addition to his depth role in the Commanders' backfield. The offseason additions of both White and Ford, who are both capable pass-catchers, is bad news for McNichols as he heads into his third year in D.C. At best, the former fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017 out of Boise State will be a deep-league stash at RB. McNichols had a career-high 261 rushing yards and four touchdowns for the Commanders in his first year with the team in 2024.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 15, 2026
Following a historically great rookie season in 2024, Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels went into Year 2 firmly in the conversation for both dynasty QB1 and the first overall pick in superflex startup leagues. Following an injury-plagued sophomore season, Daniels is now being drafted around the 1/2-turn in 2026 startups. While his long-term durability becomes an unavoidable concern after missing time with three separate injuries (knee, hamstring, elbow), his fantasy upside is still rare, making him an obvious buy-low candidate for risk-averse managers. His 891 rushing yards as a rookie were the ninth-highest single-season output by a quarterback in NFL history, joining
Lamar Jackson and Randall Cunningham as the only players to rush for more than 850 yards while topping 3,000 passing yards.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
March 14, 2026
The Washington Commanders agreed with former Cleveland Browns running back
Jerome Ford on an undisclosed one-year deal on Saturday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Ford will head to the NFC East after spending the first four years of his career playing in Cleveland, where he averaged 4.3 yards per carry for 1,463 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 340 carries over 57 games (18 starts). The 26-year-old played in a career-low 13 games for the Browns in 2025 and had just 24 rushing attempts for 73 yards and no touchdowns while adding 26 catches for 103 yards through the air on 32 targets. The former fifth-rounder in 2022 out of Cincinnati will now join a Washington backfield that also features
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and
Rachaad White. Ford is likely to serve in a rotational RB3 role yet again in 2026 behind JCM and White, leaving him very little fantasy appeal to those in very deep leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 13, 2026
The Washington Commanders are signing veteran free-agent wide receiver
Van Jefferson (forearm) to an undisclosed deal on Friday, a source told Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Even though it's wide open right now behind WR1
Terry McLaurin in D.C., the 29-year-old Jefferson will most likely serve as a depth option for the Commanders in 2026. The team also brought back
Dyami Brown on Friday after he spent his first four seasons with Washington. Jefferson ended last year on Injured Reserve due to a forearm injury. Before his injury, the former second-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 caught 29 of his 52 targets for 350 yards and one touchdown in 16 games (seven starts) with the Tennessee Titans. Jefferson's career year in 2021 with the Rams in his second year in the league has been the outlier, as he hasn't come anywhere close to the 802 receiving yards and six TDs he had that season. The Commanders are likely to bring in more receiving help via free agency and the draft, which would push Jefferson further down the WR depth chart.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
March 13, 2026
The Washington Commanders are bringing free-agent wide receiver
Dyami Brown back on an undisclosed one-year deal on Friday, a source told Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Brown will return to D.C. after he was drafted by Washington in the third round (82nd overall) in 2021 out of North Carolina. He had 59 catches on 102 targets for 784 yards and four touchdowns in 63 games (10 starts) in his first four years in the league with the Commanders before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025. In 14 regular-season contests (six starts) with the Jags last year, the 26-year-old pass-catcher had a 20-227-1 line on 37 targets. The Commanders are pretty desperate for WR options at the moment behind
Terry McLaurin, with
Deebo Samuel Sr.,
Noah Brown, and
Chris Moore all on the open market. The team also signed veteran
Van Jefferson on Friday, but Brown is better suited to potentially become Washington's No. 2 receiver in 2026, barring more additions in free agency or the draft.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
March 12, 2026
The Washington Commanders are signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
Rachaad White to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Washington non-tendered former RB
Chris Rodriguez Jr. on Wednesday, and he quickly latched on with the Jacksonville Jaguars. To give the team more depth in the backfield alongside second-year back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, the Commanders have now added White to the mix. The 27-year-old former third-round pick in 2022 out of Arizona State had 2,656 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 677 carries (3.9 yards per attempt) while adding 205 catches, 1,450 yards, and 11 touchdowns through the air in his four years in Tampa. Depending on what else Washington does at the RB position this offseason, White figures to operate as more of a third-down back in D.C. in 2026, with JCM operating as the early-down option. It's a similar role to what he had with the Bucs when
Bucky Irving was healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
March 12, 2026
Washington Commanders running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt currently sits atop the depth chart as the new league year gets underway. With
Chris Rodriguez Jr.,
Austin Ekeler, and
Jeremy McNichols all departing for free agency, Croskey-Merritt remains the lone holdover from Washington's 2025 backfield. That could change via free agency, the NFL Draft, or even a trade, but for now, it appears that Croskey-Merritt has an early leg up on the backfield competition for 2026. He's coming off a solid rookie season in which he amassed 873 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns. We should also note that it's not like Washington is just waiting to bring back some of its familiar faces, either. Rodriguez has already signed with Jacksonville, and it seems unlikely that Ekeler will return to Washington following his Achilles injury. Dynasty managers should hold Croskey-Merritt for now. Although he could be a buy-low candidate, there's also the risk of his value slipping if Washington does make a running back splash in the next month or so.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 11, 2026
The Washington Commanders have signed free agent defensive lineman Charles Omenihu to a one-year, $4 million deal that has a maximum value of $7 million, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. A former fifth-round pick out of Texas, Omenihu has spent time in the NFL with the Texans, 49ers, and Chiefs. Across 17 games (zero starts) in Kansas City last year, he amassed 3.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and 28 tackles. The Commanders and defensive-minded head coach Dan Quinn had been in search of pass-rush reinforcements on the defensive line, so the Omenihu signing makes plenty of sense. He projects as a rotational piece alongside fellow free agent additions K'Lavon Chaisson and Odafe Oweh.
--Andersen PickardSource: Cameron Wolfe
March 11, 2026
The Jacksonville Jaguars are signing former Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. to an undisclosed two-year deal on Wednesday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Rodriguez will head to the AFC South after three years in Washington. The 25-year-old former sixth-round pick by the Commanders in 2023 out of Kentucky had his best year in 2025, carrying the ball 112 times for 500 yards and six touchdowns, which were all career-highs. He also caught three passes for 30 yards in 13 games played (seven starts) in D.C. In his three years with Washington, C-Rod had 10 rushing touchdowns while averaging a healthy 4.6 yards per tote. Jacksonville lost
Travis Etienne Jr. to the New Orleans Saints in free agency and will now go into the 2026 campaign with Rodriguez,
Bhayshul Tuten, and
LeQuint Allen Jr. as their backfield options, barring another RB addition in the upcoming draft. Tuten figures to be the Jags' RB1, but Rodriguez could easily have flex appeal in a complementary role in a rising offense.
UPDATE: Rodriguez will make $10 million on his two-year deal, and the deal includes $6.2 million in guarantees.--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
March 11, 2026
The Washington Commanders agreed to an undisclosed three-year deal with free-agent tight end
Chig Okonkwo on Wednesday, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Okonkwo led the Titans with 560 receiving yards on 56 catches (79 targets) last year, but he caught just two touchdowns and lost a lot of valuable targets and playing time to rookie
Gunnar Helm. The 26-year-old tight end finished as only the No. 22 player at his position in half-PPR scoring.
Zach Ertz is a free agent and probably won't return to Washington, so Okonkwo has an opportunity to become the Commanders' top pass-catching TE going into next season. It could be a huge boost to his fantasy value as long as starting quarterback
Jayden Daniels can remain healthy in his third year in the league. Okonkwo will definitely become at least a more attractive TE2 with upside for more in D.C.
UPDATE: Okonkwo's three-year deal is worth up to $30 million.--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
March 11, 2026
Former New England Patriots edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson is signing a one-year deal for $12 million on Wednesday with the Washington Commanders, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Chaisson will give Washington more edge-rushing help in 2026 after he had a career-high 7.5 sacks in 16 regular-season games (10 starts) with the Patriots in his lone season with the team. In addition to his 7.5 sacks, the 26-year-old outside linebacker had 31 tackles (18 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. In his new home in D.C., Chaisson should be a starter on the edge opposite another newcomer in Odafe Oweh. The additions of both Chaisson and Oweh are significant for the Commanders' defensive line going into 2026. They finished tied for 12th in sacks (42) last year.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 10, 2026
The Washington Commanders have signed linebacker Leo Chenal to a three-year deal, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. The former third-round pick hit free agency for the first time in his career this offseason, following a four-year stint in Kansas City. Across 14 games (12 starts) with the Chiefs last season, he totaled one interception, two passes defended, two sacks, five quarterback hits, and 58 tackles. The University of Wisconsin product played a key role in Kansas City, and he should have similar responsibilities in a Washington defense looking to make key improvements from last season. He should start opposite Frankie Luvu and is presumably the Commanders' preferred choice to replace free agent Bobby Wagner on defense.
--Andersen PickardSource: Nicki Jhabvala
March 9, 2026
The Washington Commanders have signed free-agent edge rusher Odafe Oweh to a four-year, $100 million contract that includes $68 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Oweh spent his first 4.5 NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before being acquired by the Los Angeles Chargers during the 2025 regular season. He appeared in 17 games last year, amassing 7.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, and 38 tackles. Over the last two seasons combined, he has recorded 17.5 sacks. Oweh will provide a key pass-rushing presence within a Commanders' defense that previously lacked starpower. He'll be tasked with slowing down some of the talented quarterbacks in Washington's division, including
Dak Prescott,
Jalen Hurts, and
Jaxson Dart.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
The Washington Commanders re-signed backup quarterback
Marcus Mariota to a one-year, $7 million deal on Monday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Mariota can make up to $11 million with performance-based incentives. In terms of experience and ability, the 32-year-old veteran is one of the top backup QB options in the NFL. Starter
Jayden Daniels battled multiple injuries and missed significant time in 2025, leading to Mariota playing in 11 games (eight starts). The former second overall pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2015 out of Oregon completed 61.2% of his passes for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also had 297 rushing yards and another score on the ground. The Commanders are hoping that Mariota won't see as much of the field in 2026, though, which would mean Daniels has been able to stay healthy in his third NFL campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
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