The Washington Commanders‘ wide receiver depth chart looks a lot different after the departure of Jahan Dotson.
We already know that Terry McLaurin carries fantasy football value within the offense, but where else can we potentially find value this season? Could it be rookie WR Luke McCaffrey who is the WR2, and should you select him in fantasy drafts?
Terry McLaurin’s Fantasy Outlook and Projections
- PPR Fantasy Points: 227.5 (145.7 non-PPR)
- Receptions: 81.8
- Receiving Yards: 1140.0
- Receiving TDs: 4.9
McLaurin is now entering his sixth NFL season. Over the past five years, he’s been a solid yet unspectacular fantasy asset. Given his impressive 919 receiving yards as a rookie, it’s fair to say McLaurin didn’t quite turn into what he could have been.
The best way to describe McLaurin as a fantasy asset is “fine.” He’s never averaged lower than 12.3 fantasy points per game but never higher than 14.9. He’s never finished lower than WR34 but never higher than WR20.
Unfortunately, the downside scenario occurred last season. While McLaurin has been consistent, there’s no way to spin last year as anything other than a disappointment. His 12.3 points per game was the lowest mark of his career. He saw a career-low 21.6% target share. His 1.57 yards per route run ranked 57th in the league, and he only commanded a target on 20.3% of his routes run, 46th in the league.
I am cautiously optimistic that Daniels can be competent enough as a passer right away to support McLaurin’s fantasy value. Although Daniels will run more, resulting in fewer overall pass attempts, the Commanders will likely incorporate some RPOs into their offense. If Daniels opts to pass, who will be the first read? McLaurin.
It’s certainly unwise to project a 29-year-old WR to have the best season of his career. However, given McLaurin’s ADP, it doesn’t have to be the best — it just has to be better than last year.
McLaurin’s ADP is currently WR32, No. 74 overall. There are only two clear NFL WR1s with lower ADPs. Since 2017, 86.7% of fantasy WR1s have been their team’s primary target.
Fantasy managers obviously aren’t expecting McLaurin to be a WR1 in fantasy. Nevertheless, he’s the clear top target on his team with minimal competition. That sure seems like the type of player worth drafting outside the top 30 wide receivers.
– Jason Katz, Fantasy Football Analyst
Luke McCaffrey’s Fantasy Outlook and Projections
- PPR Fantasy Points: 123.3 (74.0 non-PPR)
- Receptions: 49.3
- Receiving Yards: 542.3
- Receiving TDs: 3.3
The trade of Jahan Dotson opens up consistent snaps for McCaffrey, and that has me at least interested at the very end of drafts.
It’s no lock that McCaffrey sees meaningful targets or that this offense is anything better than average, but I’ll embrace the unknown when filling out my roster. To be clear, this is a parlay – we need Jayden Daniels to burst on the scene and for McCaffrey’s YAC abilities to translate to the professional ranks.
I’m not calling it likely, but I’m comfortable betting cheap on a talent like Daniels, and that is what this amounts to (Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Jamison Crowder don’t scare me when it comes to holding off McCaffrey from seeing the field).
– Kyle Soppe, Fantasy Football Analyst