What We Saw: Week 1

Commanders @ Buccaneers

Final Score: Buccaneers 37, Commanders 20

Writer: Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan)

This game went the way that most prognosticated, with the Buccaneers outmatching the Commanders on both sides of the football. Tampa Bay took an early lead and never relented, while Jayden Daniels and the Washington football team scored a couple of touchdowns in garbage time to make the score look closer than the game truly was. Fantasy managers who started Daniels in his debut are pretty pleased, while anyone who started his pass-catchers are not. The Bucs were about as good as they could have been in all facets. Let’s dig in.

Three Up

• Jayden Daniels – This was basically the best-case scenario for Daniels’ fantasy managers, scoring twice on the ground in garbage time.
• Baker Mayfield – Confident and competitive, Baker showed his ceiling against a bad defense.
• Chris Godwin – The Bucs’ top pass-catcher looked sharp in the season opener after a lukewarm draft season.

Two Down

• Terry McLaurin– As good as Daniels was from a fantasy standpoint, he wasn’t great in real life and his pass-catcher paid the price.
• Austin Ekeler – Even though he made the most of his opportunities, he only had six touches.

Washington Commanders

Quarterback

Jayden Daniels: 17/24, 184 Yards | 16 Carries, 88 Yards, 2 TDs

Daniels was relatively timid throwing the ball and did not look confident in his arm as much as most would have hoped. He seemed quick to tuck and run, although to be fair that was the Commanders’ most effective form of offense. Daniels is Lamar Jackson fast, but with a porous offensive line in front of him is too quick to pull the ball down. His pass-catchers will suffer from his run-happy tendencies, but it won’t matter to his fantasy managers who loved his 20-point rushing performance.

Jayden Daniels’ legs are such an X-factor. Keeps drives alive and separates him from the other rookie QBs as they all take their lumps early. He’s already on pace for over 120 rushing yards pic.twitter.com/Vwikhapzd3

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) September 8, 2024

Running Back

Brian Robinson Jr.: 12 Carries, 40 Yards, TD | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 49 Yards

It was a pretty encouraging showing from Robinson, who earned the lion’s share of running back touches for the Commanders, even in a negative game script. The most encouraging thing we saw from Robinson in the season opener was the involvement in the passing game. Once upon a time, it was claimed that he wasn’t a pass-catching back. He’s done enough to refute that and looked perfectly competent out of the backfield running routes.

Brian Robinson Jr IS JUST TOO STRONG 💪
pic.twitter.com/4KOFqmfg7Y

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) September 8, 2024

Austin Ekeler: 2 Carries, 10 Yards | 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 52 Yards

He seemed to have his spark back, especially when he caught the ball out of the backfield, but he only had six opportunities as the clear backup to Robinson. Ekeler split time nearly evenly, with 31 snaps to Robinson’s 33, but he isn’t going to be a high-usage guy in Washington.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Zach Ertz: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 28 Yards

Safety valve 1.0. With no time to get the ball out before the defense is on top of him, Daniels was looking to his reliable tight end pretty regularly.

Luke McCaffrey: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 18 Yards

Safety valve 2.0. McCaffrey caught all of his passes within just a few yards of the line of scrimmage as Daniels looked to get the ball out quickly.

Terry McLaurin: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 17 Yards

Oh no. It turns out that the reason that the Commanders felt comfortable getting rid of one of their wide receivers is because Daniels isn’t throwing to them. McLaurin was targeted just four times

Jamison Crowder: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards

Olamide Zaccheaus: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 15 Yards 

Crowder was in the game for just three snaps, while Zaccheaus was on the field for 26 snaps and Brown led the way with 33. McCaffrey posted 36 snaps and ran 24 routes, and clearly seems to be at the top of the wide receiver rotation. Note that Dyami Brown was near even in snaps with McCaffrey but was not targeted at all in this game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Quarterback

Baker Mayfield: 24/30, 289 Yards, 4 TDs | 3 Carries, 21 Yards

You know, Mayfield is a former top overall draft pick. He certainly played like it this Sunday, torching what will likely end up as a very bad Commanders defense to the tune of 289 yards and four touchdowns. Mayfield was relatively well-protected, only taking one sack, and looked pretty comfortable distributing footballs from a clean pocket.

Running Back

Rachaad White: 15 Carries, 31 Yards | 6 Targets, 6 Receptions, 75 Yards

White was relatively ineffective on the ground, similar to what we saw most of last year, but made his mark in the passing game, pulling in all six of his targets and gaining significant yards after the catch.

Bucky Irving: 9 Carries, 62 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 14 Yards

Irving looked like the more explosive back when he did get carries, hitting holes with speed and power, and showing a burst after reaching the second level. He looks like he could be the better back if given the opportunity. I’m buying.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Chris Godwin: 8 Targets, 8 Receptions, 83 Yards, TD

Godwin didn’t get the love that most other receivers of his caliber deserved during draft season due to some touchdown regression in 2023. He quickly reminded us how good he truly is with crisp routes and good hands, pulling in all eight targets for a nice stat line. The Bucs got away with borderline OPI on his touchdown, but it was a play specifically designed for Godwin to score.

Chris Godwin having a day! He’s up to 18.9 fantasy points after this TD 👏 pic.twitter.com/VpKJAIytZy

— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) September 8, 2024

Mike Evans: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 51 Yards, 2 TDs

Old Reliable found the end zone twice as Mayfield’s favorite red zone target. He caught an amazing contested touchdown up the sideline and then added a goal-line fade reception touchdown to cap his day with two scores. He’s the most consistent red zone receiver in the NFL and continues to do his thing on a regular basis.

Year 11 for Mike Evans. He continues to be awesome. pic.twitter.com/6HDNP9h9Yj

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 8, 2024

Jalen McMillan: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 32 Yards, TD

McMillan had a big day, but it could have been even bigger if he hadn’t dropped a sure touchdown that hit him in the hands on a wheel route out of the slot on the Bucs’ first drive. Later in the game, he capitalized on a busted coverage in the Commanders’ secondary, pulling in a wide open touchdown catch.

Trey Palmer: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 19 Yards

Palmer ran just 20 routes while McMillan ran 59, making it crystal clear who ranks higher on the depth chart.

Cade Otton: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 5 Yards

Otton was on the field for 54 snaps, ran 30 routes, but was targeted just twice. It looks like Tampa Bay just isn’t planning to incorporate the tight end into its receiving game this season.