Okay, so I’ve been diving deep into fantasy football prep, as one does, and I’ve been really focused on the rookie quarterbacks. Jayden Daniels, the new Washington Commanders QB, has been a big point of interest, so I wanted to share my whole process of figuring out his fantasy outlook.
Digging into the College Stats
First thing I did was pull up his college stats. I mean, you gotta start there, right? I spent a good chunk of time just scrolling through game logs, season totals, all that good stuff. I wasn’t just looking at the big numbers like passing yards and touchdowns (though those are important!), but I was also paying close attention to his rushing stats. That dual-threat ability is what really gets you excited in fantasy.
Watching the Tape (and Tweeting About It)
Then, because I’m a visual learner (and a bit of a show-off), I started watching game film. Highlight reels, full game replays, anything I could find. I even clipped a few of his best plays and threw them up on Twitter, just to get some other opinions and see if I was missing anything. It’s always good to get a second, third, or tenth pair of eyes on this stuff.
The Combine and Pro Day Stuff
After the game film, I went down the rabbit hole of Combine and Pro Day results. Now, I’m not saying these drills are the be-all and end-all, but they do give you a sense of a player’s athleticism. I was specifically looking at his 40-yard dash time, his agility scores, anything that could tell me how he might translate to the NFL level. It is just a piece of the whole process.
The Mock Draft Marathon
Next up, I started consuming mock drafts like they were going out of style. Seriously, I probably read at least twenty different ones. I was trying to get a feel for where experts thought he’d land, what kind of offensive system he might be walking into, and who his potential teammates would be. This is like a puzzle game, but is fun to play.
Team Situation Deep Dive
Once he was drafted by the Commanders, that’s when the real work began. I researched their offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, to understand his play-calling tendencies. I looked at the Commanders’ existing roster – who are the receivers, how good is the offensive line? All of this impacts how a rookie QB will perform.
Fantasy Projections and Community Chatter
Finally, I started comparing my own thoughts to what the fantasy “experts” were saying. I checked out projection sites, listened to podcasts, and scrolled through fantasy football forums. It’s not about blindly following the crowd, but it is helpful to see where the consensus is and identify any potential blind spots in my own analysis. Also I would consider myself a “experts” as well.
Putting It All Together
So, after all of that… what’s the verdict?
- I looked at his college stats.
- I watched a ton of film.
- I got into the numbers of Combine.
- I read the MOCK drafts.
- I figured out about the Commanders.
- I checked out those professional projections.
I’m feeling pretty good about Jayden Daniels’ fantasy potential. He’s got the rushing upside, he’s in a system that could be QB-friendly, and he’s got some decent weapons around him. I’m not saying he’s going to be an instant QB1, but I think he’s got a real shot to be a valuable fantasy asset, especially in leagues that reward rushing yards for quarterbacks. I’m definitely targeting him in my drafts!
