The NFL preseason is underway with the regular season right around the corner. As fantasy football managers gear up for the heart of fantasy draft season, it’s important to stay informed on the latest news.
Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin made waves earlier this summer in holding out after a career year in 2024. What is his current status and outlook for the start of the season? Should you draft him in your fantasy football league?
Terry McLaurin Status Update
McLaurin was one of the breakout stars of 2024, and that’s being reflected in his ADP. Despite missing time this summer due to a holdout, Washington’s WR1 is coming off of draft boards in the fourth round.
He is entering the final year of his deal and seems to be past an ankle injury that resulted in a PUP stint. On July 31, McLaurin requested to be dealt, but the Commanders have yet to show interest in doing so.
QB Jayden Daniels recently said he was “confident” that his top playmaker would be back in the fold sooner than later, but the contract talks seem to have stalled.
Any extension wouldn’t kick in until next season, and thus, the franchise lacks motivation to act urgently right now. That said, Washington is right where every team wants to be: they are a competitive team with a high-level quarterback on a rookie contract.
Given the number of question marks, is McLaurin worth his current asking price?
Terry McLaurin Fantasy Outlook
I think so. This is the deepest position in the sport, and that makes the replacement-level production high enough to roll the dice.
Daniels has positioned himself to be considered a Tier 1 fantasy option. If you’re buying him as that, his top weapon is a comfortable click at his current ADP (44th overall, 19th among receivers).
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The Commanders ranked 22nd in dropback rate and 25th in pass attempts during Daniels’s rookie campaign, factors that lower the ceiling of all pass catchers in this offense. Still, with McLaurin’s role as the alpha not in question, his elevated floor makes him a weekly lineup lock.
Last season, he produced 32.2% over fantasy expectations, just a year after checking in 4% below his expected number in 2023.
Terry McLaurin is the most underrated player in the NFL pic.twitter.com/jvQHbpDk7D
— Casual Sports Fan (@bigsportscasual) August 16, 2025
Amazing what a viable QB does, isn’t it?
The spike in production was tied to his usage rate in scoring situations. In addition to an increase in raw snaps in such spots, McLaurin saw the ball thrown his direction on 17.9% of his red zone routes, an impactful change from the 12.7% rate he posted on a lesser offense in 2023.
Receivers who excel at one area on the field have upside, but the ones who can win in a multitude of ways have truly special potential. For his career, one-third of McLaurin’s targets have come deep down the field, but when defenses look to shade coverage and limit the splash plays, he can dice them up in other ways.
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With Daniels calling the shots last year, he hauled in 49 of 57 short targets (under 10 air yards) and scored six touchdowns. We have enough sample to say that McLaurin is a well-above-average receiver at the professional level, and this offense is trending in the right direction.
Due to this offense’s stability, some regression in the touchdown department can be survived, as McLaurin’s weekly involvement projects as safe.
His current ADP sits just behind Mike Evans/Marvin Harrison Jr. and ahead of DJ Moore/DK Metcalf. That’s the right tier for him, and I’d be more likely to bump him to the top of it than to slide him down at all.
