In 2024, the Washington Commanders took command by drafting Jayden Daniels, who touched it from the start. I will not lie that at first I had my skepticism about Daniels, but by the end of the year, I was rooting for him and the Commanders again. Placing second to the Eagles whose destiny awaits them in the Super Bowl, wasn’t easy. Even at 12-5, they actually led the NFC East in points scored, which says a lot after Barkley’s season. Going forward, they have nothing but progress to make, so let’s all step back and get ready for the show.
QB: Jayden Daniels
The lights are on, and the stage is set for the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Mister Showtime himself, Jayden Daniels, stepped into the league the same way he left college. That by being one of the most exciting players on the field at all times. This led to Daniels starting all 17 games and going 2-1 in the playoffs. Daniels also recorded 4,459 total yards with 31 total touchdowns and only nine interceptions to go with it. He has all the tools to be the next superstar, so grab some popcorn because the movie has just started.
RB: Ekeler and B-Rob
The combination of Austin Eckler and Brian Robinson Jr. worked out great for the Commanders. Even Jeremy McNichols was able to find touches in what was one of the NFL’s more dominant offensive lines. With everyone coming back next year, you can bet that the Commanders, especially the running game, will be ready to hit the gridiron again.
WR: Terry McLaurin
This season is exactly what we thought that Terry McLaurin could always do and in many fantasy football drafts, he was possibly the steal of the year. His receptions and yardage were right around what he always averages, but the 13 touchdowns were almost better than his previous three years combined. This is what it’s like to have a gamebreaking quarterback like Daniels and McLarin is finally getting his just deserves.
Defense:
After gutting the defensive line, the Commanders decided to bring in defensive leadership and raw talent that other teams had given up on for many reasons. However, a fresh start in Washington is good for anyone, and the Commanders defense flourished from it. Ranked 15th overall, they were middle of the pack in most everything except run defense, which was 29th. However, the Commanders were ranked third in passing defense, which shows they didn’t miss a beat. Next year, they’ll have to resign some key players or go a new direction through free agency.
Coaching: Dan Quinn
A lot of people felt that Dan Quinn got a bum deal in Atlanta, which led to his hard work in Dallas as their defensive coordinator. In his first year with the Commanders, he quickly instilled his defensive scheme and took a chance with Jayden Daniels. That chance has now made the Commanders a legitimate threat in the NFL. Also, if Daniels can maintain this pace, you’re going to see one of the NFL’s more historic teams take their place as the top hogs in the pen.
