Join the Footballguys Daily Update
Start your morning with our roundup of the most important stories in football - with the fantasy insight you need to make league-winning decisions. Delivered straight to your inbox, 100% free.
Jayden Daniels was drafted by the Washington Commanders with the second pick of Round 1, according to Adam Schefter.
Fantasy Football Impact for Jayden Daniels Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels is an athletic quarterback with a statistical rushing fingerprint similar to Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson. Full Stop. As a fantasy commodity, he is worthy of those comparisons due to his ability to make plays with his feet and quickness on the fly. He was a production freight train at LSU which led to him winning the Heisman Trophy in 2023. The better the team he has assembled in front of him, the more potent he'll be as a fantasy threat. He thrived at LSU with a standout offensive line and quality receivers to throw to, namely, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.. The Commanders have a decently graded offensive line, and their receiving corps, led by Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, is a serviceable unit that can be a catalyst to Daniels' passing game. On the downside, at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds (at his pro day), his frame doesn't compare to either the aforementioned Jackson or Watson. A more accurate comparison might resemble more of Robert Griffin III, who unfortunately succumbed to career-ending injuries with his slight frame. The concern with Daniels is, that what was successful in college may not translate to the NFL, and if it does, there is a high concern for injury. That's the downside. The upside is that he can develop into a dual-threat fantasy juggernaut who has quality receivers at his disposal as early as year one.
The Fantasy Football Fallout
Ground game - Daniels scored 21 rushing touchdowns in his two years at LSU, along with 2,000+ yards rushing. Even if a fraction of that translates to the NFL, it will likely have a noticeable reductive impact on the Commanders' rushing game, which now includes Austin Ekeler as well as Brian Robinson.
Receiving game - Washington is looking for a capable and consistent down-field arm that will help elevate the receiving unit. They saw some glimpses of hope with Sam Howell in 2023 with his 3,900-yard passing performance, but he also had troubles with sacks and turnovers. Washington, knowing they wanted to target a quarterback in the draft, traded to him, a fourth, and sixth-round pick to Seattle for a third and fifth-round pick. A new quarterback with an athletic profile and an arm that can make plays could help this team, but the passing numbers and gunslinger tendencies observed from Howell may drop due to Daniels' run-heavy instincts. The hope is that the new offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, will help Daniels become an offensive weapon who can also distribute passes in an offense that caters to his skill set.
Stock Watch
Risers
Austin Ekeler, RB (as a receiver) - We know Ekeler is an outstanding receiving weapon. Look for Kliff Kingsbury to infuse him into Daniels' offensive progressions immediately. If Daniels can control his tendencies to take off running and utilize Ekeler as his hot-read, then we could see similar Ekeler-like stats that we've seen from him in past years.
Terry McLaurin, WR - McLaurin is a constant offensive producer who has thrived with all levels of quarterback play. He may not rise above the top 20 but if Daniels can adapt quickly and thrive in Kingsbury's offense, McLaurin has the chance to see a rise from his 29th ranking last season.
Fallers
Austin Ekeler as a rusher - Ekeler has long been a successful receiving back in the league, but he has never had a 1,000-yard season in his career. With the combination of Daniels and Brian Robinson running the ball, Ekeler stands to see a drop-off in rushing production.
Overview
Jayden Daniels has an exciting and productive college resume that was worthy of the 2023 Heisman Trophy. He possesses a fantasy-friendly athletic quarterback skill set that fantasy managers drool over. His lesser build and frame could cause concerning struggles if his talents and rushing prowess do not translate to the NFL.
For more information on the 2024 NFL Draft, check out the Footballguys Rookie Draft Guide, where you can read about Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders, and other rookie team fits.
