Team news: Washington Commanders | Page 4

A rare in-division trade: Washington is sending former first-round pick Jahan Dotson and a fifth-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick and two seventh-round picks.

Related Players: Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown, Johnny Wilson

On paper, Dotson is now downgraded from a team's WR2 to a WR3, though we could see a similar amount of spike weeks in the Eagles passing attack.

One of McCaffrey or Brown should now have a shot at lining up in 2WR sets, which makes them interesting late-round dart throws in drafts. Zach Ertz and Ben Sinnott also both get slight boosts, as they may be more involved in the receiving game, while rookie Johnny Wilson's bid for a WR3 designation definitely seems out the window.

Ja’Lynn Polk likely will be one of the starting wide receivers when Week 1 arrives, at least until Kendrick Bourne returns from injury. Polk’s training camp hasn’t been spectacular or filled with other-worldly catches, but he has been consistent and done enough for the quarterbacks to trust him.

Demario Douglas probably has been the best wide receiver, but Polk isn’t far behind. He might start behind K.J. Osborn on the depth chart, but optimism is high around the second-round pick out of Washington.

Related players: Javon Baker

While optimism is high around Polk, it sounds like even if he doesn't get a starting job out of the gate, it should only be a matter of time. Meanwhile, fourth round pick Baker started strong, but looks to be further down the depth chart after a tough stretch, according to the rest of the story. Baker is dealing with drops in practice and running with the fourth-string QB at times. The story said he'll likely start as the team's WR4 or WR5.

Now official: The Commanders are rolling with No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels as their starting QB, coach Dan Quinn said.

Last year, Derrick Klassen of Reception Perception identified C.J. Stroud as the most accurate passer in last year's draft class. Guess who charted the best this year? That's right, the so-called "running quarterback" Daniels. Klassen does have some reservations about Daniels' willingness to throw over the middle of the field, but two things are true: 1) Daniels is an accurate passer, and 2) he's going to rack up the rushing yards. John Paulsen's rookie quarterback model predicts 43.9 rushing yards per game for Daniels, which is the third-highest expectation in the 97-player sample behind only Lamar Jackson and Cam Newton. Jackson didn't start until Week 11 of his rookie season, but he was the fantasy QB8 the rest of the way. Newton was the QB3 as a rookie. Rounding out the top five in expected rushing yards were Jalen Hurts (QB8 in his first season as the starter) and Vince Young (QB9 as a rookie). See where this is headed?

Kyle Shanahan is hopeful that Ricky Pearsall will be ready for Week 1 for 49ers.

Related Players: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings

With no movement yet —or possibly at all— on the Aiyuk front, it seems unlikely that the rookie will make much of a fantasy impact unless someone in the offense misses time. He's an interesting (very) late-round dart throw, but nothing more for now.

Someone in the set of wideouts has to emerge as an eventual No. 1. Right now, rookie Ja’Lynn Polk has as good a shot as anyone.

Related players: Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Javon Baker, K.J. Osborn, Kayshon Boutte

For what it's worth, we've already reflected this on our fantasy depth charts listing Polk as the top option. Robinson thinks Polk could step in and get a ton of targets immediately. In the preseason opener, Polk played limited snaps but caught three balls for 14 yards. Robinson expects those numbers to grow. Polk could be worth targeting in the later rounds of drafts given his very late ADP.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn announced rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will play in Washington’s preseason opener Saturday against the Jets.

This was more of a formal announcement. As a rookie, Daniels needs all the early reps he can get. Washington has just the three preseason games compared to the four for the Chicago Bears, which was why Caleb Williams did not play in the Hall of Fame Game. Daniels is currently our QB12.

First day of pads has some good news for the 49ers: Ricky Pearsall is in pads and practicing today.

Related players: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowing

It's good news Pearsall is back in the lineup for the 49ers. Aiyuk has been a hold-in so far at camp, so this is a chance for Pearsall to get some valuable work. The Aiyuk situation could be an interesting one as some say he could still be moved if the team can't get a deal done with him. If that happens, Pearsall's value could soar as a result. And that would also open the door a bit for Jennings and another rookie, Cowing. Assuming Aiyuk does return, Pearsall could be looking at a WR3 role.

While he’s still seeking a new contract and has requested a trade, receiver Brandon Aiyuk will not hold out.

Per a report from NFL Media, Aiyuk is reporting to training camp.

Related players: Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowing

Aiyuk, 26, is slated to make just $14.124 million in 2024 on his fifth-year option. The No. 25 overall pick of the 2020 draft, Aiyuk has demonstrated throughout the offseason that he would like to receive a new contract from San Francisco or be traded to another team willing to give him a new, lucrative deal. But to this point, the 49ers have not expressed a willingness to sign Aiyuk to the deal he desires or move him to another team, the story went on to say. The 49ers drafted Pearsall and Cowing this past spring, but Pearsall is starting camp on the NFI list, according to reports.

It is too early to know which direction it will head, but as the Patriots are currently on break before their first training camp practice July 24, one thing can be decisively stated about Polk's initial work: His toughness and relentless mentality reflected well on the culture Wolf and Mayo hope to create.

Related Players: DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Kendrick Bourne, Javon Baker

Reiss would later remark that Osborn, Douglas, and Polk could be the team's "top three targets if everyone is healthy." It's an interesting group to target, considering we have no way of knowing exactly how things will shape out. Douglas and Polk make for great late-round dart throws.

Daniel Bellinger will slide back into his pre- DarrenWaller role, and it appears more will be expected from Theo Johnson and former wide receiver Lawrence Cager in the pass-catching tight end role. Johnson and Cager are among the players who have received first-team offense opportunities this spring.

Bellinger was having a decent rookie season in 2022 before a freak injury forced him to miss some time. He then played second-fiddle to Waller last year but looks to be in the lead for pass-catching duties ahead of '24.

This will come at the expense of rookie Theo Johnson, who is nothing more than a deep flier in Giants stacks.