Croskey-Merritt exploded for 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns, boosting Washington’s ground attack and fueling the late surge that capped Daniels’ return, signaling breakout potential in a growing Commanders backfield.

Mariota, Daniels’ recent fallback, managed a prior strong performance against the Raiders but offered a more modest showing vs the Falcons, reinforcing his role as a contingency plan rather than a weekly fantasy staple.

Daniels returned from a knee injury to post 231 passing yards with a TD, add 39 rushing yards, and pilot a late 99-yard drive to seal the 27-10 win. His performance reinforced his status as a true game-changer for Washington and highlighted his dual-threat upside in fantasy lineups.

Washington represents a functional benchmark for O’Connell’s system; the potential rookie quarterback Jaden Daniels could add a dynamic element, testing the Vikings’ defense and the QB decision in a meaningful way.

<p>Washington was the Week 5 opponent when the Chargers pulled their starters, a context that influenced who carried and when. The backfield’s evolving usage post-injury will be tested against Washington’s defense and game flow, shaping weekly fantasy expectations.</p>