Jayden Daniels Is Worth The Injury Risk In Fantasy Football

Injuries played a key role in the Washington Commanders' recording a disappointing 5-12 record in 2025. Their most notable absence was Jayden Daniels, who only appeared in seven games. While his rushing prowess gives him tremendous fantasy upside, it also comes with injury risk. The question is: can Daniels stay healthy and finish as a top-five quarterback?

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Rookie Sensation

Daniels appeared in all 17 games during his rookie season in 2024. He completed 69.0% of his passes, throwing for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions. The lack of interceptions was impressive for a rookie, and his final numbers could have been even better had he not been forced out of one game after the first drive because of a rib injury that he suffered on a run.

What really put Daniels over the top were his contributions on the ground. He ran the ball 148 times, racking up 891 yards and six touchdowns. That helped him finish the season as QB5 in fantasy. Quarterbacks that he outproduced included big names like Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, and Justin Herbert.

Injury-Plagued Sophomore Campaign

Given how often Daniels ran the ball as a rookie, there were questions regarding his ability to stay healthy. He only lasted two games into last season before going down with a knee injury. After returning, he then missed time with a hamstring ailment. Finally, it was an elbow injury in Week 9 that ultimately did him in. He tried to play through it, but only appeared in one more game before being shut down for the season.

With injuries bothering him, Daniels saw his production suffer. He averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt, compared to 7.4 yards per pass attempt during his rookie season. His completion rate also dropped to 60.6%. He was busy on the ground when he was healthy, though, turning 58 carries into 278 yards and two touchdowns.

Offensive Changes For 2026

Following the Commanders’ disappointing season, they parted ways with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Replacing him is David Blough, who was an assistant quarterbacks coach with the team. Given that he has been on the Commanders’ staff the last two seasons, Daniels should at least have some sense of being comfortable with his new OC.

Blough might have his hands full making the Commanders one of the more potent offenses in the league. They don’t have a top-tier running back, leaving Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White to handle the bulk of the work out of the backfield. White is a new addition after playing the first four seasons of his career with the Buccaneers. While he hasn’t exactly racked up a ton of yards on the ground, he can be an asset in the passing game. He has finished with at least 40 receptions in all four seasons of his career.

Behind Terry McLaurin, the Commanders have question marks at wide receiver. Fighting for the WR2 spot will likely be Luke McCaffrey and third-round rookie Antonio Williams. There are still some veterans available on the free agent market, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Commanders added at least one more wide receiver before the season gets underway.

Tight end Zach Ertz has been a key security blanket for Daniels, but he is coming off a torn ACL and is currently a free agent. The Commanders have replaced him with Chigoziem Okonkwo, who posted career highs in targets (79), receptions (56), and receiving yards (560) for the Titans last season. He also averaged 6.2 yards after the catch. That’s noteworthy because Ertz only averaged 3.1 and 2.7 yards after the catch the last two seasons. That added explosiveness out of the tight end spot could provide a boost for Daniels.

Even though the Commanders could use more help at wide receiver, it’s Daniels’ rushing upside that has left him with an ADP of 64, according to 4for4’s Multi-Site ADP. That puts him at QB5 behind Josh Allen (ADP 29), Lamar Jackson (ADP 48), Drake Maye (ADP 57), and Joe Burrow (ADP 59). Burrow is an interesting comparison because, even though he’s not a rushing quarterback, he has a checkered injury history. In two of the last three seasons, he played 10 or fewer games.

Daniels comes with injury risk, but he has already shown that he can be a top-five QB in fantasy. He doesn’t turn 26 years old until December, so he can be even better as he continues to adjust to life in the NFL. If the Commanders can add a veteran wide receiver to the fold, it could help unlock their passing attack more. If they can’t add one, Daniels can make up for their lack of talent at the position with his contributions on the ground. There is injury risk here, but given his upside, he is well worth the risk at his current ADP.

The Bottom Line

• Jayden Daniels showed his versatility during his rookie season, using his arms and his legs to finish as a top-five quarterback in fantasy.
• The combination of knee, hamstring, and elbow injuries limited Daniels to only seven games in 2025.
• The young quarterback will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026, as well as a new tight end in Okonkwo, who could provide more explosive plays. However, the Commanders have underwhelming depth at wide receiver.
• According to 4for4’s Multi-Site ADP, Daniels has an ADP of 64 and is QB5.
• Daniels comes with injury risk, but his upside makes him worth the risk at his current ADP.