In Week 5 on Sunday afternoon, the Washington Commanders host the Cleveland Browns. The spread currently stands at Commanders -3, with a game total of 44. The Browns’ implied points are 20.5, and the Commanders’ implied points are 23.5.
Here’s fantasy football start-sit advice for every Commanders skill player who has the potential to make an impact during the game.
Jayden Daniels, QB
What more is there to be said? I guess you could nitpick that he didn’t get credit for the 47-yard play (pass interference) that set up his rushing touchdown last week or that his interception was an unforced error, but the superlatives have been overwhelming through the first four weeks of Jayden Daniels’ career.
Highest comp pct in a 4-game span in a season since the merger
(min 100 attempts)2024 Jayden Daniels* 82.1%
2008 Peyton Manning^ 81.8%
2007 Tom Brady^ 79.2%*first 4 NFL starts
^won MVP this seasonThis is… INSANE pic.twitter.com/k2BD1SZtkt
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 29, 2024
Daniels is a top-five quarterback for me this week and, if he comes through on that optimism, he’ll officially be locked into the “matchup-proof” tier. The Browns have blitzed at the fourth-highest rate this season, something that figures to test if the kid’s ability to make quick and efficient reads is real.
We’ve seen nothing to suggest that it’s not.
Rostering Daniels has one drawback – you now need to deal with the pressure of making the most of your draft-day steal. Opportunities like this don’t come around often.
Brian Robinson Jr., RB
Jeremy McNichols racked up some production in the role vacated by Austin Ekeler, but Brian Robinson has clearly been tabbed as the leader of this backfield, and that role is increasing in scoring equity with each passing week.
Robinson had a wildcat snap on the first drive last week, something that shows the willingness of his team to be creative. Their lead back capped that drive with a touchdown (he’s scored in three of four games) and has done nothing but post top-25 finishes (two top-15 weeks).
We saw not one, not two, not three, not four, but five different Raiders have a 10+ yard rush against these Browns a week ago – Robinson is flirting with RB1 status this week (though you need to watch his status on Sunday morning to confirm he is good to go) and as long as this offense can produce at a top 10 level.
Austin Ekeler, RB
The veteran touched the ball in three of Washington’s first four plays from scrimmage in their Week 3 upset win in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, a concussion later in that game resulted in Ekeler missing Week 4.
Traditionally, players have been able to return to action after missing a game due to concussion protocol. But not all head injuries are created equally, and the fact that he was ruled out on Wednesday worries me a bit when it comes to his Week 5 status.
Ekeler looked as good as he has in over a calendar year to open that Bengals game (57 yards and a touchdown on five touches) and is seemingly closer to carving out a viable role than I gave him credit for entering the season.
That said, I’m operating as if this is still a 2:1 backfield in Robinson’s favor when it comes to touches projections, and that’s assuming reasonable health for Ekeler. The future fantasy Hall of Famer certainly should be rostered, but even if he clears protocol in this sub-optimal matchup, I’m not ranking Ekeler as a legitimate Flex option.
Terry McLaurin, WR
For the first time since Weeks 14-15 in 2019, Terry McLaurin has scored in consecutive weeks. He’s been a top-20 receiver in both of those games, nice growth for a player that wasn’t a top-35 option in either of the first two weeks and something I like to sustain moving forward.
Through four weeks, McLaurin is already halfway to matching his end-zone target count from last season and is producing 19.7% over expectation (2023: 4% below expectation).
Maybe the league will adjust to Daniels with time and slow down what is a historic pace, but until then, you’ll be able to find McLaurin inside of my top 20 consistently.
Luke McCaffrey, WR
I want to believe in Luke McCaffrey, especially given how efficient this offense currently is, but I completely forgot he was playing for three quarters in a game where Washington was marching up and down the field.
Olamide Zaccheaus led the Commanders in receiving yards last week while Noah Brown set a season-high in targets. After trading away Jahan Dotson, my theory on elevating McCaffrey in my ranks was that a rookie QB would be consuming the comfort targets that a player like him projected for.
I’m not sure I was wrong on McCaffrey’s evaluation — Daniels is simply too good to be limited in the ways that I assumed. McCaffrey doesn’t need to be held onto.
Zach Ertz, TE
The veteran has caught 15 of 16 targets this season, a level of efficiency that puts Ertz on the streaming radar, even if he’s cleared 40 receiving yards just once this season.
Zach Ertz was the TE18 last week, his worst ranking of the season (Weeks 1-3: TE11 average) and something that is at risk of happening with Daniels spreading the ball around (nine Commanders saw a target in Week 4’s demolition of the Cardinals).
For me, Ertz is who I had hoped Dalton Schultz would be in Houston — a reliable chain mover in a top-quarter-of-the-league offense. Ertz is not a must-roster player, and he’s my TE15 this week, but at a position that lacks stability, there’s a level of appeal in a player like him.