In a highly anticipated NFC East showdown, the Washington Commanders are set to host the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday night in Week 16. Fans can look forward to the return of key players, including wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, along with quarterback Marcus Mariota, who steps into the starting role for the remainder of the season.
Mariota will lead the Commanders after Jayden Daniels’ elbow injury forced the team to shut him down. This marks another opportunity for Mariota, who has played in seven games this season with fluctuating success, including impressive finishes ranging from QB3 to QB6.
Terry McLaurin has rebounded well since coming back from injury in Week 13, accumulating 13 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns, effectively ranking as WR14 during this period. His performance against the Eagles’ formidable defense should be intriguing, given that Philadelphia has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wideouts. Nevertheless, McLaurin’s recent stats against strong defenses leave optimism that he can still deliver valuable points, especially if the Commanders find themselves in a position where they need to catch up.
For Deebo Samuel, the situation appears less promising. Despite previously being a reliable flex option, Samuel’s productivity has declined notably since McLaurin’s return, positioning him as WR41 over the last three weeks. With the Eagles also boasting a tough defensive line against wide receivers, this could be a week to hold Samuel out of fantasy lineups.
As for Mariota, the matchup against the Eagles presents a challenge; they permit the sixth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Given this information, it may be wise to keep Mariota on the bench, as his varied performance this season does not inspire confidence in a competitive matchup against a strong defense.
In summary, McLaurin presents a start-worthy option despite the challenging opposition, while Samuel and Mariota may best serve fantasy managers by remaining on the sidelines this week. Fans are eager to see how these matchups unfold as the regular season nears its conclusion.