Jayden

Daniels

Though a 21-point performance certainly looks like a three-touchdown day from the Commanders, they did anything but find the end zone in Week 2. Austin Siebert knocked seven field goals through the uprights, three of which came in the red zone. Aside from a quick kneel-down to end the first half, the Commanders scored on every one of their seven real drives while inexplicably failing to find the end zone. Daniels’ pre-draft flaws also became more prevalent in this game. He was sacked five times and took a hard shot to the ribs on a rush attempt in the second quarter. Daniels was visibly in pain and briefly left the field but only missed one play before returning. Despite the injury scare, Daniels seemed unphased by the hit for the remainder of the game. Even after a quiet game, Daniels will still rank as a low-end QB1 for Week 3. He will look to get back in the end zone versus the Bengals next week.

The fantasy numbers are tremendous, and you have no complaint about them if you’re rostering Daniels, other than the fact that he doesn’t seem to know how to slide, preferring to take hits or barrel roll into defenders. However, from a real-life football perspective, this was a bit of a troubling game. Despite the Bucs being down to one healthy cornerback (yes, one) Daniels only completed six passes to wide receivers and most of them happened on the final drive. He overthrew Terry McLaurin on a walk-in 75-yard touchdown and appears to have real limitations as a passer. He also fumbled three times on Sunday, but none of them were recovered by the Bucs. You’ll mostly enjoy having Daniels on your team, but there could be some tough weeks ahead.

Hall suffered a gruesome injury on a tackle where his ankle bent in a way it shouldn’t have, and it was clear right away that he was in major pain. His ankle was put in an air cast and he was carted off the field, and we wouldn’t be surprised if he was out for a while. The Bucs cornerback depth is a major concern right now with Tyrek Funderburk inactive and both Zyon McCollum and Josh Hayes out with injuries. If Jayden Daniels can’t beat this secondary through the air in the second half, there may be some concerns about his passing ability.

The next we’ll see of Daniels will come in Week 1 in Tampa Bay. The No. 2 overall pick and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner played on just three drives in the preseason, completing 12-of-15 passes for 123 scoreless yards while rushing for 16 yards and one score. Daniels is carrying all the hype one would expect with a player of his pedigree and resumé. Currently going outside of the top 10 quarterbacks in most fantasy drafts, Daniels could have top-five fantasy upside if he’s able to put everything together in his first season as a starter.

Daniels was in a “competition” with Marcus Mariota to be named the Commanders’ Week 1 starter, but the No. 2 overall pick was always expected to get the ball, barring a catastrophic camp and preseason. Daniels has received high praise throughout the offseason. The reports of him looking sharp and in command at camp have rung true throughout the preseason. Daniels has completed 12-of-15 passes for 123 yards on the three drives he’s played on, and put the offense in position to score on every drive. Whether or not he plays in the final preseason game is to be determined, but the real test for Daniels and the Commanders will come on Week 1 at the Buccaneers.

Daniels played two drives in this one but saw far more passing work. The No. 2 overall pick played it relatively safe, finishing the day with a 5.0 ADOT per PFF on his 12 attempts, but did connect on passes of 16 and 20 yards to tight end John Bates and Terry McLaurin. He also ran for a 13-yard gain. Penalties along the offensive line stalled a promising second drive for Daniels and the Commanders, whose preseason will conclude next Sunday against the Patriots.

If there were a legitimate quarterback battle brewing in Commanders camp, this would be more newsworthy. Mariota is expected to be the backup to No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels once the regular season officially gets underway, and it doesn’t sound like the injury he’s dealing with is too severe at this time. Daniels and the starters are expected to play a few more series in their second preseason game before turning things over to Jeff Driskel and system-knower Trace McSorley, who they signed earlier this week.

Daniels played on just one series against a Jets defense that sat all of its starters, but it was a good debut for the rookie. After sailing a screen pass over Austin Ekeler’s head, Daniels tossed a patented deep ball to Dyami Brown, which turned into a 42-yard-reception to convert a third down. He would later find the end zone on a three-year run off the read option to give the Commanders their first points of the day. It’s just one drive, but Daniels was as advertised in his limited debut.

According to Quinn, Daniels has “surpassed” the high expectations he entered camp with, earning the right to sit atop the depth chart to open the preseason. The apparent frontrunner in the “quarterback competition” being run by the Commanders, Daniels, will take the first reps for the team this weekend against a stout Jets defense that ranked 12th in points allowed and third in yards allowed. Daniels is all but a lock to open as the Commanders’ starter in Week 1 when they visit the Buccaneers and has top-10 fantasy upside thanks to elite rushing abilities.

This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but it’s a clear message nonetheless. The No. 2 overall pick of this year’s draft will see his first taste of NFL action next weekend as he prepares to take the mantle as Washington’s franchise quarterback. Daniels enters 2024 with high expectations, coming off a Heisman campaign in which he threw for 3,812-40-4 while adding another 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. The Commanders haven’t rushed to officially name Daniels the starter, as he and Marcus Mariota have both seen snaps with the first-team offense this offseason. With that said, if Daniels isn’t named the starter for Week 1, it would be a surprise.