Jayden Daniels Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

Production & Fantasy Finishes

Daniels stunned the league with 3,568 yards, 25 TDs, and nine INTs across 17 games. He dominated on the ground with 891 rushing yards and six additional scores -- both top-three marks among QBs.

The rookie finished as a top-12 fantasy QB in 12 weeks. Aside from the Week 7 game he left early, Daniels finished worse than QB20 only twice.

At season’s end, Daniels ranked fifth in total fantasy points and sixth in points per game.

Usage & Role

Daniels’ ground game usage propelled him to an excellent campaign.

Among QBs, he ranked:

• 2nd in carries
• 2nd in rush yards
• 3rd in designed carries
• 3rd in rush TDs

Daniels also led the position with 595 yards on scrambles, per Pro Football Focus. He sat third with 296 yards on designed runs.

Efficiency Metrics

Among 32 QBs with 300+ dropbacks last year, Daniels ranked:

• 5th in adjusted completion rate
• 6th in PFF passing grade
• 14th in yards per attempt

His rushing output stemmed from excellent efficiency, too.

In a sample of 18 QBs with 50+ rushes, Daniels ranked third in EPA per rush and fourth in success rate. His explosive rush rate ranked seventh.

Offensive Context

Daniels quickly mastered OC Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

The unit finished fifth in plays, seventh in yards, and fifth in points. The Commanders ranked just 20th in pass rate, jumping to tenth in pass rate over expected.

Daniels didn’t enjoy the luxury of a fully formed supporting cast, either.

His top target earners behind Terry McLaurin:

• Zach Ertz
• Olamide Zaccheaus
• Noah Brown
• Austin Ekeler

This O-line ranked 22nd in PFF’s pass blocking grades. Daniels took 47 sacks — sixth-most league-wide.

Injury History

Daniels sustained a rib injury in Week 7 vs. Carolina. He missed practice the following Wednesday and Thursday before suiting up for Week 8.

Across five college seasons, Daniels missed only one game (ankle, 2019).

2025 Expectations

Supporting Cast

Washington made it a priority to upgrade the talent around Daniels this offseason.

First, Deebo Samuel arrived in a March trade. Samuel encountered more injury trouble in 2024, while he also tallied his lowest career yards per route run (1.60). There’s bounce-back potential at 29 years old, but it’s no guarantee.

The Commanders also swung a deal for LT Laremy Tunsil. He supplies a massive upgrade on Washington’s 2024 situation.

The newcomers join an offense that returns WR Terry McLaurin, WR Noah Brown, and TE Zach Ertz. McLaurin remains squarely in his prime, but we’ll see if Ertz, now 34, can assemble another healthy season.

Depth pieces like WR Luke McCaffrey, rookie WR Jaylin Lane, and TE Ben Sinnott are major unknowns.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

Kliff Kingsbury drew HC interest this cycle, but he ultimately returned for his second season as play-caller.

Since 2020, his offenses have ranked fourth, eighth, third, and fifth in plays.

He really leaned into Daniels' rushing strength, helping the rookie finish fifth in run-pass option throws and third in RPO runs.

Here’s Kingsbury reflecting back on the season:

"The first game we didn't know what we were or who we were, what he was. And so even me calling plays and understanding how to put him in better situations to be successful (has evolved). But I think you just watch his game and the way he played that first game. I mean, the very first pass he threw for like minus-20, like a backwards pass (that was officially ruled a fumbled pitch that lost 15 yards). And he's just come a long way."

The article also shows how close of a relationship they’ve formed in just one season. We’ll see how much longer Kingsbury sticks around, but his return for 2025 should be considered a huge win.

QB coach Tavita Pritchard also returns. He garnered an interview for Jacksonville’s OC job before returning to Washington.