What We Saw: Week 15

Our final installment for the 2025 season!

Brett Ford
What We Saw 4 Weeks Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Falcons @ Buccaneers
Ravens @ Bengals
Cardinals @ Texans
Chargers @ Chiefs
Raiders @ Eagles
Bills @ Patriots
Jets @ Jaguars
Commanders @ Giants
Browns @ Bears
Panthers @ Saints
Lions @ Rams
Colts @ Seahawks
Packers @ Broncos
Titans @ 49ers
Vikings @ Cowboys

Washington Commanders @ New York Giants

Final Score: Commanders 29, Giants 21

Writer: Kyle McCarthy (@KyleStats1738 on X)

 

The battle between two mainstays at the bottom of the NFC East was surprisingly entertaining. Washington controlled the game for the most part, jumping out to a 13-0 lead in the first half and leaning on the ground against a bad Giants run defense. The Commanders nearly choked the game away in the fourth quarter after losing fumbles on consecutive possessions and giving the Giants a shot to tie the game at the end, but they turned it over on downs. We saw standout performances from both teams’ RB1s and WR1s, with Commanders rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt totaling 96 yards and a touchdown, and the Giants’ Tyrone Tracy Jr. finishing with 97 total yards and two touchdowns. Then, Washington’s Terry McLaurin and New York’s Wan’Dale Robinson found the end zone in the fourth quarter. Washington finally ends its dreadful eight-game losing streak while the Giants maintain their hold of the No. 1 overall pick.

Two Up

  • Jacory Croskey-Merritt — Bill had his most carries since Week 6 and scored his first touchdown since Week 5 with Chris Rodriguez Jr. out of the lineup. Ran hard with decisive cuts all day long, which was great to see after many wrote him off.
  • Tyrone Tracy Jr. — First two-touchdown game of his career. Had an outstanding touchdown reception.

Two Down

  • Deebo Samuel Sr. — Deebo had a couple more drops in this game. Fewest catches since Week 8.
  • Devin Singletary — Took a clear backseat to Tracy. Only six touches, his first game with single-digit touches since Cam Skattebo (ankle) got injured in Week 8.

 

Washington Commanders

 

Quarterback

 

Marcus Mariota: 10/19, 211 Yards, 1 TD, 1 FUM (Lost) | 10 Carries, 43 Yards

Marcus Mariota only attempted 19 passes, the fewest in a game this season for Washington, as the Commanders went very run-heavy against a weak Giants run defense. But he was slinging it downfield and finished with an aDOT of 14.7. The veteran found Terry McLaurin for a 51-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to essentially ice the game with a 29-14 lead. However, Mariota had his typical one bad turnover per game and was strip-sacked on the next possession.

 

Running Back

 

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 18 Carries, 96 Yards, 1 TD

Bill saw a bump in opportunities with Chris Rodriguez Jr. out with a groin injury. It looked shaky at first for fantasy managers who plugged him into their lineups as Jeremy McNichols earned the start and recorded every RB touch on the first drive of the game. But the rookie came in on the next drive and immediately showed more juice as a runner than McNichols. He consistently picked up positive yardage and ran violently. He finally found the end zone after not scoring since Week 5 against the Chargers, also the last time Washington won a game.

Jeremy McNichols: 9 Carries, 6 Yards, 1 FUM (Lost) | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 16 Yards

Jeremy McNichols started the game for Washington, but conceded most of the rushing work to Jacory Croskey-Merritt, as expected. He played primarily on pass downs for the majority of the game, but did see more work than usual with Rodriguez out. He also lost a fumble directly after the Mariota fumble in the fourth quarter, but the Giants couldn’t capitalize.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Terry McLaurin: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 69 Yards, 1 TD

Terry McLaurin has scored in two of three games since returning from his quad injury. He caught Washington’s first third-down conversion of the game on a slant, then added a nice 15-yard gain on the Commanders’ first drive of the second half. The veteran then scored on a 51-yard catch and run up the seam in the fourth, his longest reception since Week 3’s 56-yard catch against the Raiders, which was also the play in which he injured his quad.

Deebo Samuel Sr.: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 43 Yards

Deebo Samuel Sr. had a couple of drops again, but still led the team in targets on a day with minimal pass volume. He entered the game questionable with an illness, but played his usual number of snaps. Washington has trended more run-heavy with Mariota at QB, but Samuel should see better days.

Ben Sinnott: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 36 Yards

This was disappointing usage for Ben Sinnott in the first game without Zach Ertz (knee). His lone target came on Washington’s second-to-last drive of the game, and the young TE ran an impressive route to create separation on Giants safety Jevon Holland, then picked up some YAC for a 36-yard gain. It would’ve been cool to see the second-year TE be more involved on a few layup targets to get the ball in his hands.

Noah Brown: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 28 Yards

Noah Brown returned last week from a 10-game absence, and then left Sunday with a rib injury. He made a nice contested grab for a 28-yard gain in the first quarter, but Brown continues to struggle to stay healthy.

Treylon Burks: 2 Targets

Treylon Burks wasn’t involved, but will see an uptick in opportunities with Brown out again.

Jaylin Lane: 1 Target

Jaylin Lane had an end-zone target, but also scored his second touchdown of the season on a punt return.

 

John Bates: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 19 Yards

New York Giants

 

Quarterback

 

Jaxson Dart: 20/36, 246 Yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 1 Fumble (Recovered) | 9 Carries, 63 Yards

This wasn’t Jaxon Dart‘s sharpest game despite a solid final line. He was spraying balls inaccurately in the first half and threw a bad interception right before the half, gifting Washington three points. The rookie remains a dangerous threat with his legs and took off running instantly when rush lanes opened up. Dart settled down in the second half and delivered two beautiful touchdown balls to Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Wan’Dale Robinson. Dart briefly exited the game for one play and was checked for a concussion. He’s now been evaluated for a concussion in 50% of the games he’s played in his rookie season.

Jameis Winston: 0/1, 0 Yards

Jameis Winston entered for one play in the fourth and threw an incompletion after Dart got banged up after a run on the goal line.

 

Running Back

 

Tyrone Tracy Jr.: 15 Carries, 70 Yards, 1 TD | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 27 Yards, 1 TD

Tyrone Tracy Jr. ran effectively against Washington’s gettable run defense, notching a career high in total yards and his first career two-touchdown game. He became the first Giant with a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game since Saquon Barkley in 2023. Tracy separated from Devin Singletary in this game and remains the clear lead back.

Devin Singletary: 5 Carries, 13 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 1 Yard

Devin Singletary wasn’t efficient on his few touches, recording his fewest yards in a game since Week 7.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Theo Johnson: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 72 Yards

Theo Johnson has been an explosive threat at tight end for the Giants this season, highlighted by a beautiful 42-yard catch up the seam from Dart. The second-year TE now leads the league with three games of at least three receptions and 20 or more yards per catch.

Wan’Dale Robinson: 10 Targets, 5 Receptions, 54 Yards, 1 TD

Wan’Dale Robinson led the way in targets again for the Giants. He did his standard work on routes underneath, and then he made a sensational diving touchdown grab on fourth down to keep the Giants’ hopes alive in the fourth quarter. It was a pretty good ball from Dart as he faded away from pressure, but Robinson showed incredible concentration and strong hands to not let the ball budge as he scooped it off the ground. He remains a high-floor WR2 option moving forward.

Darius Slayton: 10 Targets, 4 Receptions, 53 Yards

Darius Slayton posted a season high in targets and the sixth double-digit target game of his career. It was a decent day for the veteran, but he dropped what should have been a touchdown on a great throw from Dart. Slayton is a boom-or-bust type of WR who needs these splash plays to return legitimate fantasy value.

Daniel Bellinger: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 35 Yards

Daniel Bellinger recorded his most catches and yards in a game since Week 7. The 25-year-old tight end came up big in the fourth quarter, converting a fourth-and-1 with a 12-yard catch and run after releasing into a route following an initial block while Jaxson Dart extended the play.

Isaiah Hodgins: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 4 Yards

Jalin Hyatt: 1 Target

Series Navigation
Introduction
Falcons @ Buccaneers
Ravens @ Bengals
Cardinals @ Texans
Chargers @ Chiefs
Raiders @ Eagles
Bills @ Patriots
Jets @ Jaguars
Commanders @ Giants
Browns @ Bears
Panthers @ Saints
Lions @ Rams
Colts @ Seahawks
Packers @ Broncos
Titans @ 49ers
Vikings @ Cowboys