Kevin Szafraniec explains why the Commanders’ moves this offseason have them in win-now mode, but the fragility of their offense could be cause for concern for their Super Bowl aspirations and fantasy managers alike.
Washington caught lightning in a bottle in 2024, as Jayden Daniels and a new coaching staff transformed one of the worst teams in the league from the year prior into a squad that came one win short of a Super Bowl appearance. It has long been understood that having a franchise signal caller on a rookie contract is a cheat code for NFL franchises. After hitting on Daniels in last year’s draft, this idea was not lost on the Commanders, and their moves during the 2025 offseason prove it.
Heading into the offseason with one of the largest reservoirs of cap space in the league and a full complement of picks, the Commanders were intentional about adding established talent who could help take them to the next level. However, acquiring assets to help Washington achieve their goal of winning now may have resulted in the team reducing the overall length of their championship window. Apart from Daniels, most of the Commanders’ best players were already entering the twilight of their careers, and the same could be said for many of Washington’s additions this offseason.
With the Commanders having their eyes focused on bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to D.C., can they thread the needle and reach the mountaintop in Daniels’ second year, or will their full commitment to a win-now philosophy hurt not only their chances at a championship but also Daniels’ fantasy managers’ chances to do the same?
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens: There Is No End in Sight for Lamar Jackson’s Fantasy Domination
- Cleveland Browns: There Are Gems to Be Found on Kevin Stefanski’s Offense If You Know Where to Look
- Cincinnati Bengals: Poor Real-Life Roster Construction Creates Elite Fantasy Pathways for the Bengals’ Stars
AFC South
- Houston Texans: Why New Weapons and a New Scheme Will Lead to a C.J. Stroud Bounceback
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2025 Represents Trevor Lawrence’s Best Chance Yet to Reach His Ceiling
- Tennessee Titans: Will an Abundance of Garbage Time Result in Tennessee’s Late-Round Skill-Position Players Returning Big-Time Fantasy Value?
AFC East
- Miami Dolphins: Whose Fantasy Arrows Are Pointing Up on a Miami Offense Heading in the Opposite Direction?
- New York Jets: A Shift in Offensive Philosophy Could Result in Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis Forming the Best Backfield in the AFC
- New England Patriots: Drake Maye Still Finds Himself Surrounded by Lackluster Weapons, But He May Thrive Anyways
AFC West
- Denver Broncos: Bo Nix Is About to Join the Ranks of the NFL’s Elite QBs
- Los Angeles Chargers: Has Justin Herbert Forced Greg Roman to Rethink His Offensive Approach?
- Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty Could Emerge to Become the Top Player at Their Position
NFC North
- Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy Finds Himself in the Middle of the Perfect Storm for Fantasy Production
- Green Bay Packers: Why the NFL’s Most Complete Roster Is Finally About to Get the Attention It Deserves
- Detroit Lions: Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Discounted ADP Has Him Poised to Be 2025’s Most Undervalued Superstar
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons: Which Players Are Primed to Help Take the Atlanta Offense to the Next Level?
- Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young Is Finally Ready to Deliver on His College Potential
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Despite Yet Another New Offensive Coordinator, Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving Are Still Set Up to Deliver in 2025
NFC East
- Philadelphia Eagles: Why Small Changes Could Lead to Even Bigger Fantasy Scoring in 2025
- Dallas Cowboys: A New Offensive Direction Is Exactly What Dak Prescott Needs to Get Back on Track
NFC West
- San Francisco 49ers: Make Sure You Are Rostering the Next Wave of Stars in Kyle Shanahan’s Offense
- Arizona Cardinals: Why Kyler Murray Will Overcome His Doubters and Return to His Elite Ways
- Los Angeles Rams: History Is Getting Ready to Repeat Itself in L.A. as Puka Nacua Eyes 2025’s Overall WR1 Spot
Is Jayden Daniels Washington’s Glass Slipper?
Washington experienced a Cinderella season in 2024, going from being tied for the second-worst record in the league to tying for the sixth best. While Daniels and the offense get most of the credit for the Commanders’ turnaround, it was not a one-sided affair. After finishing dead last in scoring defense and total defense in 2023, Dan Quinn got the defense up to 18th in scoring and 13th in total yards in the matter of a year, while surrendering one full touchdown less per game compared to the year prior. Still, for as impressive as the defense was last year, the offense was even better, averaging 9.18 more points per game, resulting in ranks of fifth in scoring and seventh in yards.
