Player Outlook
The Commanders DST should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy option coming into the season, and the unit is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues. In 2022, the Commanders defense did a good job of limiting opponents from scoring, as Washington was one of 10 teams to allow fewer than 20 points per game (19.4). But the Commanders struggled in sacks (43), interceptions (nine) and fumble recoveries (nine). A healthy Chase Young should help the pass rush, and Washington committed to improving the secondary with rookie cornerbacks Emmanuel Forbes in the first round of the NFL Draft and Jartavius Martin in Round 2. At best, let the Commanders DST start off the season playing well, and then you can add it during the year.

Fantasy News

  • Commanders' Jartavius Martin: Logs full practice Thursday

    Rotowire
    Martin (concussion) was a full participant at practice Thursday. It's still not clear whether Martin has passed through all five phases of the concussion protocol, but he appears to be headed in the right direction for Week 3. He still has two full days to clear protocol before Sunday's game versus Buffalo, that is if he hasn't already.
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  • Commanders' Daron Payne: Back practicing in limited capacity

    Rotowire
    Payne (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Thursday. It's a step in the right direction towards being available to play in Week 3 after Payne sustained a minor ankle injury during Sunday's 35-33 win at Denver. He'll still probably need to log a full practice Friday in order to avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend.
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  • Commanders' Daron Payne: Nursing ankle injury

    Rotowire
    Payne missed practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury. In Washington's first injury report of the week, the lower leg injury Payne sustained during Sunday's 35-33 win at Denver was specified as an ankle issue. He'll get two more chances to practice before the Commanders' final injury report of the week is released Friday.
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  • Commanders' Daron Payne: Absent Wednesday

    Rotowire
    Payne (lower leg) is not practicing Wednesday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports. Payne briefly left Sunday's win over the Broncos due to an apparent lower leg injury, but he was able to retake the field in that contest. That could bode well for Payne's chances of suiting up Week 3 versus the Bills, but his participation in practice Thursday and Friday will need to be monitored.
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  • Commanders' Emmanuel Forbes: Grabs first career interception

    Rotowire
    Forbes compiled three solo tackles, an interception and two pass deflections in Washington's 35-33 win over Denver in Week 2. Forbes snatched his first career interception Sunday, picking off Russell Wilson early in the third quarter. The rookie has also deflected three passes over his first two games with the Commanders after being selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft in April.
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  • Commanders' Montez Sweat: Four tackles, including 1.5 sacks

    Rotowire
    Sweat recorded four tackles (two solo), including one and a half sacks, in Sunday's 35-33 win over the Broncos. Sweat was once again able to bring down the opposing quarterback in Week 2, raising his season sack total to three after just two games. The defensive end posted a career-high nine sacks in 2020, which he will easily surpass if he remains as disruptive as he's been to this point moving forward.
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  • Commanders' Cody Barton: Double-digit tackles in win

    Rotowire
    Barton recorded 10 tackles (four solo) and recovered a fumble in Sunday's 35-33 win over the Broncos. Barton led the team in takedowns and recovered a fumble for the first time since his rookie campaign in 2019. The linebacker has compiled 15 tackles over his first two contests with Washington after signing with the team in the offseason.
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  • Commanders' Chase Young: Makes impact in return

    Rotowire
    Young returned from a neck injury, played in his first game of the season and recorded 1.5 sacks and three tackles in Washington's 35-33 win over Denver on Sunday. Young also played on 71 percent of the defensive snaps after his coach, Ron Rivera, said he would "most likely be on a pitch count." It's an encouraging sign for the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, who has started just 11 games since that season. Young tore his ACL and patellar tendon in Week 10 of the 2021 campaign and missed most of 2022 before injuring his neck in the preseason this year.
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  • Commanders' Jartavius Martin: Out for Week 2 against Denver

    Rotowire
    Martin (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 2 game against the Broncos, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports. The second-round rookie played 18 snaps on special teams in his NFL debut last week against the Cardinals but didn't see any action on defense.
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  • Commanders' Chase Young: Will play Week 2

    Rotowire
    Young (neck) has been cleared to play Sunday against the Broncos, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Young suffered a neck stinger during the preseason and missed the Commanders' Week 1 win over the Cardinals. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Young has played in just three games since Week 10 of the 2021 season. Though Young is likely to start at defensive end opposite Montez Sweat, head coach Ron Rivera said that Young will "most likely be on a pitch count" in his 2023 debut, per Josina Anderson of CBS Sports.
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  • Commanders' Chase Young: Ramps up activity

    Rotowire
    Young (neck) was a full participant in practice Thursday. Young has been limited in his participation since suffering a stinger in a preseason game Aug. 11. His ability to log a full practice is certainly a big step in his recovery and a sign that he should be able to suit up soon. However, it was previously reported on Saturday by Ben Standig of The Athletic that Young was unlikely to return until Week 3, so despite the positive step taken Thursday, his status for Sunday appears to still be up in the air. Ultimately, the decision on whether he plays Sunday against the Broncos will be up to the team's doctors, according to John Keim of ESPN.com.
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  • Commanders' Chase Young: Limited once again

    Rotowire
    Young (neck) logged a limited practice Wednesday, per the team's Week 2 injury report. Young isn't expected to be back until Week 3 at the earliest, but he continues to log limited practices as he ramps up his activity and the team gradually increases his ability to take contact again. According to head coach Ron Rivera, as reported by John Keim of ESPN.com, "Chase was able to take the reps he was supposed to take. We'll continue to go by what the doctor's plans are and go from there."
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  • Commanders' Jamin Davis: Six tackles in victory

    Rotowire
    Davis compiled six tackles (four solo) in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cardinals. Davis was busy in Week 1, finishing second to only to Kamren Curl (10) for the team lead in tackles. The linebacker increased his production across the board in 2022 after his rookie campaign in 2021 and he'll look to do the same now in year three.
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  • Commanders' Daron Payne: Helps defense in win

    Rotowire
    Payne played 50 snaps and finished with two tackles in Washington's 20-16 win over Arizona on Sunday. The defensive tackle who signed a four-year, $90-million contract in the offseason started alongside Jonathan Allen and helped anchor a defense that allowed only 210 total yards. In Week 2, Payne and the Commanders get a Broncos team that only finished with 260 total yards against the Raiders on Sunday.
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  • Commanders' Montez Sweat: Causes two turnovers in win

    Rotowire
    Sweat registered five tackles (four solo and two for a loss), 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cardinals. Sweat picked up where he left off last season as he was responsible for two fumbles by quarterback Joshua Dobbs, the second of which came off a crucial strip that allowed the Commanders to gain possession and extend their lead. Sweat is part of a formidable defensive line alongside Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen that will only get stronger once 2020 first-round pick Chase Young (neck) returns. The Commanders will hit the road for Week 2 against the Broncos on Sunday.
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  • Commanders' Jonathan Allen: Records sack in win

    Rotowire
    Allen had three tackles, including a sack and an additional tackle for loss, in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cardinals. Allen played in 51 of the team's 58 defensive snaps, a good sign that he is over the plantar fasciitis injury that limited him during training camp. The 2017 first-round pick has recorded at least six sacks in four of the past five seasons and is a key piece for Washington's defensive front. Allen and the Commanders will hit the road for Week 2 to face the Broncos on Sunday.
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  • Commanders' Kamren Curl: Leads defense in tackles

    Rotowire
    Curl recorded 10 tackles (eight solo, one for a loss) and a pass deflection in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cardinals. He also played on all 58 defensive snaps on Sunday. Curl played in just 12 games last season due to injuries but managed to finish third on the team with 88 total tackles. The 2020 seventh-round pick out of Arkansas emerged as a leader in his rookie year and will be a key piece for the Commanders' defense. They'll hit the road for Week 2 to take on the Broncos.
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  • Commanders' Jartavius Martin: Now in concussion protocol

    Rotowire
    Martin is in concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's game at Denver, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports. Martin played exclusively on special teams during his pro debut, but he wasn't spared from the injury bug, as he apparently came out of Washington's win in Week 1 with a concussion. Look for the Commanders' injury reports in Week 2 to shed some light on his availability for Sunday.
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  • Commanders' James Smith-Williams: Active for Week 1

    Rotowire
    Smith-Williams (oblique) is active for Sunday's matchup against the Cardinals. Smith-Williams was considered questionable due to an oblique injury that popped up this week, but the injury isn't enough to sideline him for the season opener. The 2020 seventh-round pick has garnered a rotational role along Washington's defensive line the past two seasons, totaling 53 tackles and 5.5 sacks across 28 appearances. He'll likely take on a starting role at defensive end Sunday with Chase Young (neck) sitting out.
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  • Commanders' Chase Young: Likely out until Week 3

    Rotowire
    Young (neck) has been ruled out for Sunday's season opener against the Cardinals and is not expected to make his debut until at least Week 3, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports. After Young spent most of the summer rehabbing the neck injury, the Commanders will ultimately err on the side of caution with the defensive end as the season kicks off. Team doctors have laid out a plan to gradually increase his contact at practice, putting Young in line to sit out again Week 2 at Denver before making his season debut Week 3 versus Buffalo. The 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year played only the final three games of last season after missing the previous 22 dating back to Week 10 of the 2021 season due to a significant knee injury. Washington declined his fifth-year option during the offseason, making Young a free agent following this year's campaign. Thus, the fourth-year pro will be in line for a crucial season.
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