Kinlaw and Goldman anchored Washington's front, delivering a career-day run-stuffing effort while teeing off Russell Wilson with steady pressure. The Commanders’ four-man disruptors flashed depth, and Miller contributed in the run game as Washington topped the Week 1 charts on run defense. In Houston, Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter and Sheldon Rankins formed a menacing pass rush that piled up pressures and kept Matthew Stafford on edge. Minnesota’s night was highlighted by a flood of quarterback pressure, and Dallas’ front held the Eagles’ run game in check, even with Parsons sidelined.

Week 1 underscored how elite fronts can swing game tempo: Washington’s interior duo and their edge mates set a physical tone in both run and pass, while the Texans’ trio showed the rest-of-season fantasy upside for hedge defenses. The Vikings and Cowboys also showed the value of relentless pressure and stout run defense, signaling which lines to monitor for streaming and matchup plays as the season unfolds.

Packers host Washington in Week 2 Thursday Night Football, aiming for a 2-0 start after Week 1. Green Bay’s edge rush and team speed should pressure Jayden Daniels, while Washington’s new additions—Laremy Tunsil, Deebo Samuel, Javon Kinlaw—could test Green Bay’s front. The night sets up the clash as a playoff-hopeful mismatch with fantasy implications across both sides, especially for edge defenders and backfield producers.

Packers are favored at home, with Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker anchoring a fast, aggressive defense and Aaron Jones remaining a fantasy staple in a run-pass-balanced attack. Washington’s weaponry elevates the ceiling if Daniels can improvise outside the pocket. The Week 2 outcome could influence ownership and lineup decisions well into Week 3.

Washington’s Week 1 win over New York shifted the NFL spotlight to a defense that appears rebuilt and dangerous. Javon Kinlaw and Daron Payne anchored Washington’s run defense, stifling the Giants to 231 total yards and 74 on the ground, signaling a potential fantasy-friendly front for Week 2 and beyond. Nine-pressure outings from Dorance Armstrong underscore a disruptive front, though penalties remain a concern to monitor.

Public chatter swelled as Packers and Bills opened with strong performances, with Kinlaw’s crew drawing praise even as Dan Quinn cautioned about clean-up work. The Packers’ surge and the Bills’ dramatic finish helped shift early-season odds and confidence for fantasy playoff runs. Look for Kinlaw and Payne to anchor interior pressure and for Washington’s line to remain a favorable streaming option against less aggressive offenses.

No team dominated the headlines more than Buffalo after the Allen-Ravens thriller, lifting Bills to favorite status for many bettors. Meanwhile, chatter around Micah Parsons’ hypothetical Packers trade fed the narrative that elite pass-pressure is the currency that unlocks deep fantasy and playoff optimism for teams riding stout defensive fronts.

Washington's defense owned the opener, holding the Giants to 6 points and a non-stop pressure barrage that kept New York out of the end zone. The Commanders’ run defense pressed Giants runners to 3.2 yards per carry, a marked improvement after finishing 30th in that category last year. Javon Kinlaw’s debut as a Commander stood out with 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 run stops, 2 pressures, a QB hit, and an 86.9 run-defense mark, while the unit totaled 22 pressures on 45 Giants dropbacks, five more than Washington managed in any game last season. Dorance Armstrong led the rush with 9 pressures, signaling a dangerous interior-exterior duo early in the year. It’s only Week 1, but those numbers suggest Washington’s new-look line could be a fantasy boost on the IDP side and a practical headache for opposing offenses. The Packers loom as a stiffer test on Thursday, given their ground game and any improvements up front, making Week 2 a real gauge of the unit’s ceiling.

Six quick takeaways from Commanders' 2025 defensive depth chart: 12 starters listed, with Von Miller tagged as an outside linebacker in a likely situational role. New starters Deatrich Wise Jr., Javon Kinlaw, Marshon Lattimore, Trey Amos and Will Harris anchor the unit. Jer'Zhan Newton starts behind Payne and Kinlaw; Noah Igbinoghene backs up inside/slot behind Mike Sainristil. LB depth is thin behind Jordan Magee and Nick Bellore; rookies Kain Medrano and Ale Kaho may contribute later. Special teams: Matt Gay, Deebo Samuel, Jaylin Lane.