Terry

McLaurin

McLaurin is entering the final year of a three-year extension signed in 2022. Entering his age-30 season in 2025, there’s no doubting McLaurin’s credentials on the field even as he creeps closer to the inevitable decline phase. An extension could get McLaurin’s guaranteed cash flow going again and lower his $25.25 million cap figure for 2025. It seems like as obvious place as any to start as the Commanders look to keep last year’s momentum going with what Over The Cap has as $87 million in cap space lined up for this offseason.

McLaurin’s touchdown was a second quarter slant he turned into a 36-yard score. Beyond that, it was a quiet ending to a new career-best campaign fueled by the arrival of Jayden Daniels. Finally gifted competent quarterback play for the first time in six years, McLaurin caught his most passes (82) since 2020, and nearly doubled his previous best touchdown total as he found the end zone 13 times. It’s still a bit surprising McLaurin couldn’t even reach 1,100 yards in 17 games. It wasn’t quite a 2023 DJ Moore style breakout. It was still confirmation McLaurin can be a genuine WR1 if only his QB would give him a chance. Although the Commanders are all but certain to add receiving help, McLaurin will remain a higher-end WR2 for 2025. 29-year-old McLaurin is a short extension candidate heading into the final year of his contract.

McLaurin did most of his damage on a 58-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter. He caught a screen pass from Jayden Daniels, burst through a mass of occupied blockers, and never looked back, giving Washington a lead they would go on to hold for the remaining 36 minutes and change. McLaurin has at least 60 yards and a touchdown in three straight games. They will need another heroic performance from him next week when Washington takes on the winner of the Eagles/Rams game for the NFC title. Per usual, McLaurin will be a high-ceiling fantasy bet as the Commanders look to continue their magical run.

McLaurin hauled in a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch for 35 yards on Washington’s first drive and seemed in for a huge game, but he and Bucs’ cornerback Jamel Dean were locked in a pretty good battle for much of the day. When Dean hurt his knee in the third quarter, McLaurin capitalized and burned Dean’s backup for a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown. The Commanders will need plenty of big plays from McLaurin next week if they hope to go into Detroit and upset the Lions.

McLaurin had a slow start, seeing minimal looks in the first half with Jayden Daniels under center. He came on quickly in the second half as Marcus Mariota’s top target, tallying 12 total targets on the day. McLaurin caught the game-winning touchdown as time expired on a jump ball from Mariota to award the Commanders the sixth seed in the playoffs. Finishing the regular season as a 1,000-yard receiver and Pro-Bowler, he also set the Commanders’ single-season record for most receiving touchdowns. McLaurin is the Commanders’ top target heading into the postseason.

McLaurin missed Wednesday’s practice, but it appears to just have been a maintenance day for the 29-year-old. He should be good to go for Week 18 against the Cowboys and in fantasy lineups.

McLaurin was listed as a DNP on Wednesday’s report last week as well and never appeared to be at much risk of missing Week 17’s game. We’ll assume its a similar situation this week. McLaurin is a safe bet to be out there for Washington’s finale game of tthe regular season. They can secure the No. 6 seed with a win but already have a playoff berth locked up. For now, fantasy managers can pencil McLaurin in as a WR2.

His Week 17 performance goes down as his second consecutive modest-output game after being confined to a 5-60-1 line against the Eagles a week ago, with both games paving the way for Olamide Zaccheaus to be featured through the air. We can’t fault McLaurin for either performance considering the matchups he had to overcome, this time in the face of one of the true lockdown corners remaining in the league. It is unclear how the Commanders will handle personnel decisions in what now amounts to a meaningless game against the Cowboys in Week 18.

With no practices being held on Christmas, it’s hard to say how much this phantom DNP means. McLaurin has not been listed on the injury report because of the ankle issue before this week, so it appears to be a new injury. It’s a waiting game for fantasy managers counting on Washington’s top receiver this week. Should he miss Sunday’s game, Olamide Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown, and Jamison Crowder would serve as Jayden Daniels’ top receivers for Week 17.

It was McLaurin’s sixth receiving score over his past four games in the run-heavy Commanders offense. He was somehow behind Olamide Zaccheaus in receiving yards and touchdowns on the day but had a nice day nonetheless. Jayden Daniels, who dropped back 48 times, spread the ball fairly evenly among his pass catchers during the Commanders’ second half comeback. He was only targeted on 15 percent of his routes against Philly. McLaurin will profile as a WR2 option in Week 17 against the Falcons.