The days of pitiful passing in Washington are over. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels ($6,800) has taken the NFL by storm, leading the Commanders to a combined 80 points in upset wins over the Bengals and Cardinals.
Nobody is happier to play with Daniels than Terry McLaurin ($6,100). The wide receiver, long a symbol of D.C.’s offensive futility, is finally catching balls from a Pro Bowl-caliber QB. Despite a slow start, Scary Terry has put up a stellar 11-152-2 stat line over his last two contests.
Historically, McLaurin’s supporting cast has made him a high-risk fantasy football option. Still, his status as Washington’s clear top target also made it impossible to bench him in leagues of 12 teams or more. This season, the veteran wideout has a safer floor. Terry has been targeted a respectable 28 times over four games, but his target share of 26.4% is good enough for 9th in all of football.
Daniels isn’t the first Commanders signal caller to frequently look McLaurin’s way. The big difference is that far more of those passes should be in the end zone. The six-year veteran hasn’t scored more than five touchdowns in a season since 2019, when he was a rookie. With a pair of TDs already this year, a career-high in scoring is more likely than not. Taylor Heinicke and Sam Howell aren’t making this kind of throw:
Some of McLaurin’s old concerns are still valid; a dismal first two weeks (8-39-0) show that his high-ceiling, low-floor ways aren’t over. Daniels should get better over time, but it remains to be seen if he can consistently support a fantasy WR1.
In addition, the Commanders have a difficult schedule ahead. Over the next six weeks, they’ll face off against quality defensive units such as the Browns, Ravens, Bears and Steelers. The glass half-full mindset would be that if Washington’s running game struggles (3rd in rushing yards), it could lead to an increase in passes. That’s easier said than done.
The buy-low window for McLaurin is officially closed. For managers who held, the chance to sell high is tantalizing, but that doesn’t mean making a hasty move. The Commanders are legit, and a golden rule of fantasy is to roster players on good offenses. However, trading for a slightly underperforming receiver with higher upside could make some sense.
If you’re itching to swing a deal, I’d be looking to target names like Brandon Aiyuk ($6,300) and Garrett Wilson ($6,700), but there’s no shame in standing pat on Terry this early in the year.
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