Washington

Commanders

Forbes didn’t practice in the short week leading up to Week 12’s game against the Cowboys and was held out of the contest. According to Rivera, the team will consult doctors to see when Forbes could return. The rookie first-round pick has had a well-documented season for all the wrong reasons, having been repeatedly torched by opposing receivers — most notably AJ Brown in Weeks 4 and 8. We’ll see if Forbes winds up being an IR candidate or if he’s able to return in a week or two.

Del Rio was on a short leash heading into Thursday’s prime time matchup. A blowout loss to the Bears in Week 5, plus two losses to a three-win Giants team, which included a Week 11 loss to Tommy DeVito, left little hope of Del Rio sticking out the season. The Thanksgiving Day beat down against the Cowboys was simply the final straw. In what is sure to be one of several coaching changes in Washington over the next few months, Del Rio’s firing is the first domino to fall, as head coach Ron Rivera will now take over defensive play calling duties. The Commanders ranked as a top-10 unit in several defensive categories last season, but are now allowing the most points per game (29.2) and the fourth most yards per game (377.7). They’ve become the “get right” defense for every opposing quarterback and fantasy manager this season. While we’d expect that to continue, whatever happens from here on out will take place with Rivera calling the plays. In addition to Del Rio, the Commanders also fired defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer.

The Commanders tight end totaled just 15 yards in a blowout loss to the Cowboys. He has seen usage to make him a fringe TE1 in weeks past, but the dismal Commanders offense did not use him as much in Week 12. Once the game was out of hand in the fourth quarter, Cole Turner entered the lineup over Thomas. Thomas is still the primary Commanders tight end and will be a back-end TE1 against the Dolphins in Week 13.

Operating as the Commanders’ third receiving option, Dotson caught five passes for no scores. Sam Howell is one of the highest-volume passers in the league, which will lead to opportunity for Dotson, though not much as Curtis Samuel has established himself as a consistent option and Terry McLaurin is the alpha. He will have a boom-or-bust rest of the season, making him a shaky WR4 against the Dolphins in Week 13.

Samuel was Sam Howell’s security blanket, seeing targets all over the field and gaining 100 yards receiving. He was tackled at the one-yard line on a reception over the middle, coming close to an even bigger day. The Commanders’ receiving distribution is a head-scratcher for fantasy managers, though Samuel’s emergence as a consistent target is not to be ignored. Samuel is a WR4 in Week 13 against the Dolphins.

McLaurin saw a whopping 11 targets, catching just four of them as Sam Howell could not connect with the veteran. He saw a few deep targets, but could not reel any of them in, ending with 12.5 yards per reception. McLaurin is technically the Commanders’ alpha, but in a dismal offense, he is a WR3 against the Dolphins in Week 13.

Gibson slotted back into his role as the passing-down back for the Commanders. He was in on third-and-long situations, as well as late in the fourth quarter with the Cowboys up big in a blowout. Chris Rodriguez got a few garbage time touches, but Gibson remains the Commanders’ RB2. His role as a pass-catcher elevates him to a upside FLEX play for Week 13 against the Dolphins.

Robinson saw 15 carries despite a negative game script against the Cowboys, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. With Antonio Gibson back in the lineup, Robinson still started, but lost out on third down plays and passing game usage. He briefly left the game for a concussion check, getting cleared and re-entering the same drive. The Commanders continue to give Robinson a high volume of opportunities, making him an RB2 against the Dolphins for Week 12.

The Commanders were the clear worse team to the Cowboys, leading to a high passing volume for Howell. He showcased his mobility, escaping pass rushers multiple times and scoring a rushing touchdown, but still taking four sacks. DaRon Bland reeled in a record-breaking pick six in the fourth quarter against Howell, who failed to connect with anyone but Curtis Samuel on a consistent basis. Sacks and turnovers continue to be an issue for Howell, but his passing volume makes him a back-end QB1 for Week 13 against the Dolphins.

Gibson will be ready for passing-down/comeback-mode snaps in a game where there should be plenty of them. Brian Robinson has been drawing more targets of late, rendering a banged up Gibson an uninspiring FLEX option for a week where all 32 teams are active. Inactive for the Commanders are CB Emmanuel Forbes, DL James Smith-Williams, RB Jonathan Williams, FB Alex Armah, OG Julian Good-Jones, WR Mitchell Tinsley and TE Curtis Hodges.