(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
If you’re a fantasy football manager searching for some upside excitement in 2025, Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders are impossible to ignore. On the latest Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, Matt Harmon and Scott Pianowski dived into potential “carnival offenses” for next season — teams with explosive, bankable playmakers and questionable defenses that force their QBs into shootout scenarios every week. In that landscape, Daniels’ fantasy profile has never looked brighter.
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Both Harmon and Pianowski are bullish on the Commanders’ ability to rack up points. As Matt says, Washington’s offense is “too big to fail” — a top-five or top-six unit is well within reach, especially given the creative influence of OC Kliff Kingsbury and the arrival of Daniels’ dual-threat abilities.
Daniels’ rookie campaign in 2024 already teased fantasy stardom thanks to his dynamic rushing — Pianowski even predicted Daniels could run for 1,000 yards. For fantasy, that’s a solid floor, especially when you consider how well Kingsbury managed to scheme up success for him late last season.
While Harmon wishes they’d added one more pass catcher alongside Terry McLaurin (who is entering his age-30 season) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (age-29, with many miles already run), he’s still buying the overall Washington package thanks to Daniels’ talent. The backfield could use another playmaker, but the existing setup — combined with Daniels’ rushing upside — still projects a ton of weekly fantasy value.
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There’s some question about the pass-catcher depth for Daniels, but with Kingsbury’s ability to manufacture offense and a narrow concentration of targets, the Commanders should keep finding the end zone. Pianowski remarked, “They’re going to try to outscore everybody … there are going to be a lot of 30-27 games. Or they’re going to be 40-37. I don’t know. But there’s going to be a lot of fun in D.C.”
What makes Daniels especially appealing for fantasy isn’t just the offensive weapons or scheme — it’s the Washington defense. Both Harmon and Pianowski agree the Commanders’ defense doesn’t offer much resistance. Harmon notes there’s “not nearly enough juice up front from a pass-rushing standpoint” and “the secondary is questionable.” In other words, shootouts and high-volume scenarios will be the norm.
This is exactly what you want for a fantasy QB: forced volume, plenty of chances to rack up both passing and rushing stats and consistent comeback or high-scoring game scripts.
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While there’s plenty to love, both analysts wish the Commanders had added another playmaking receiver or running back to boost the ceiling further. They also note that while continuity at quarterback and coordinator helps, the receiver group’s age and durability raise some long-term questions. Still, this doesn’t really threaten Daniels’ weekly upside in 2025.
Based on Matt Harmon and Scott Pianowski’s discussion, Jayden Daniels is shaping up as a premier fantasy asset for 2025. He offers elite weekly upside, a packed schedule of shootouts and clear trust from his play-callers. If you’re looking for a quarterback who can vault into the very top tiers, especially outside of the Allen/Jackson tier, Jayden Daniels should absolutely be on your shortlist.
If you want fun, volume and fantasy gold at quarterback for 2025, target Jayden Daniels and enjoy the ride. Just be ready for the fireworks (and keep one eye on that Washington defense, praying it stays as leaky as ever).
