The Washington Commanders are heading into a Week 16 divisional game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Jayden Daniels aggravated his elbow injury two weeks ago and was unable to finish the game. He did not play last week. Will fantasy football managers have their starting quarterback available this week?
Jayden Daniels Injury Update
Daniels initially suffered a dislocated left elbow during Washington’s Week 9 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The injury happened when Daniels scrambled after faking a handoff while trailing 38-7 with just over seven minutes remaining in the game. When tackled, he braced his fall with his left elbow, which was bent backward.​
X-rays came back negative and an MRI revealed no structural damage, fueling hope for his return. Daniels was initially feared to need surgery on the dislocated elbow, but he did not and the team decided against putting him on injured reserve. Washington instead opted to re-evaluate him during their Week 12 bye week. He was able to return in Week 14.​
Unfortunately, Daniels aggravated the elbow injury during Washington’s Week 14 blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The injury occurred in the third quarter after he threw an interception. As linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel ran with the ball, Daniels hit the turf hard when Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers pushed him while making a block on the interception return.​
Daniels went tumbling to the ground and hit his left elbow on the turf. He briefly remained hunched over in pain on the field before making his way back to the sideline. The Commanders initially listed him as questionable to return, but he did not re-enter the game.​
Head coach Dan Quinn said after the game that Daniels could have returned to the contest, but it was a coaching decision to keep him on the sideline. Quinn noted Monday that Daniels is sore following Week 14 action, but added that there are no long-term concerns with the quarterback’s left elbow.​
Despite that assessment, Daniels did not play in Week 15. The Commanders ruled Daniels out before the team even held its first practice. Daniels did get in three limited practices, though.
This has been an unfortunate year for Daniels. The rookie quarterback has dealt with multiple injuries throughout the season. He has rarely been fully healthy. The Commanders are playing out a lost season after being eliminated from playoff contention.​
Washington brought Daniels back for a meaningless game two weeks ago and he aggravated his elbow. They will not make the same mistake twice.
The Commanders have no reason to risk further damage to their franchise quarterback in games that carry no playoff implications. Preserving Daniels’ health for 2026 has become the clear priority for Washington. With just two games remaining in the regular season, Daniels has officially been shut down. It will be Marcus Mariota the rest of the way.​
Daniels’ Fantasy Football Outlook
An elite QB1 as a rookie, Daniels has been no such thing as a sophomore. If this is indeed it for Daniels, he will finish the year averaging 16.8 fantasy points per game. Not terrible. But nowhere near the elite QB1 numbers he posted last year.
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Daniels should be fine long term. If anything, he may end up being a value in 2026 fantasy drafts.
The Commanders were never as good as reaching the NFC Championship Game made them seem in 2024. They are also not as bad as potentially failing to reach five wins in 2025.
Fantasy managers should expect Daniels to rebound in 2026. But for the final two weeks of the 2025 fantasy season, don’t count on Daniels for anything.
