NFL

Newmark was hired as the Commanders’ assistant GM last season after spending the previous 26 seasons with the Lions in a number of capacities. The long-time NFL vet now has the Commanders within one game of the Super Bowl in his first season with the team, but also has close relationships with Lions coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. Both Johnson and Glenn are on the Raiders’ coaching search radar, but it’s Johnson who has been picking up significant steam in recent weeks. Newmark is scheduled to meet with the Raiders on Sunday, while Johnson is now free to meet with any team in person after the Lions were eliminated from postseason contention on Saturday night.

Ertz also scooped up an onside kick attempt from the Lions, just about closing the door on Detroit. The veteran wideout left the game early for a concussion check but returned after being cleared by the independent evaluator. Ertz scored his eighth touchdown of the year on a short end zone strike from Jayden Daniels just before the end of the first half. While his yardage ceiling isn’t elite, Ertz has no issues stacking up PPR points and the more than occasional touchdown. He will be in the DFS mix for the Conference Championship Round slate.

Brown stepped up in a big way in the Wild Card Round, catching five balls for 89 yards and a score. That was a career-high in catches and a second-best mark in yards for him. The encore versus Detroit was even better. Brown came down with a missile from Jayden Daniels despite Lions defender Kerby Joseph covering Brown’s eyes as the ball approached his hands. With Olamide Zaccheaus a bit banged up, Brown appears to be the Commanders’ No. 2 receiver heading into the NFC Championship, making him an interesting stacking partner with Daniels.

Zaccheaus suffered a groin injury in the first half and was listed as questionable to return. He did so after halftime but was clearly hampered by the issue and did not garner a target in the final 30 minutes. With Dyami Brown stepping up over the past two weeks and Zaccheaus now banged up, the former should be treated as Washington’s No. 2 receiver heading into the Conference Championship Round.

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.

McNichols was initially stuffed at the goal line midway through the fourth quarter, but a push from the line and a quick reach toward the white line got the ball over the plane for his first career touchdown in the postseason. McNichols still played behind Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler, both of whom out-touched him. But, Washington scored enough points to get everyone involved. That isn’t likely to be the case next week, so DFS players don’t need to worry about McNichols for next week’s slate.

Ekeler watched Brian Robinson and Jeremy McNichols combine for three rushing touchdowns, all of which came at the goal line. The lack of touchdown upside or a touch ceiling makes Ekeler an underwhelming fantasy asset, but his efficiency can flip drives for Washington. Including the postseason, the former Charger is now averaging 6.6 yards per touch as a Commander. He will be a high-risk DFS play for the Conference Championship slate.

Raymond missed nearly two months late in the year after suffering a foot injury in Week 12. He returned for the Divisional Round and posted a better receiving line than either Jameson Williams or Tim Patrick. The speedy receiver was primarily deployed on special teams this year but did see a steady dose of routes as the team’s third or fourth receiver. Despite missing five games, he still led the league in punt return yards and was one of just a handful of players to house-call a punt. Raymond isn’t a name fantasy managers need to know for next year, but he does give the Lions’ special teams unit a boost on a weekly basis.

Patrick appeared to be a midseason revelation for the Lions after he caught 16 passes for 176 yards and three scores during a four-game stretch late in the season. That production quickly evaporated and he would go on to reel in a measly three passes over his final four games including the playoff loss. Patrick is a solid third receiver who adds some extra juice in the run game as a blocker, but two season-ending injuries have likely sapped enough of his athleticism to prevent him from ever running as a team’s second receiver again. He should still have no issues finding a roster spot on the open market once free agency opens.

The Lions matched a three-year, $12 million offer sheet from the 49ers on Wright in the offseason, keeping him in Detroit for the foreseeable future. While he’s a valuable blocker, Wright rarely saw the ball in his fourth season, catching 13 passes for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He is a valuable backup for the Lions but doesn’t bring anything to the table for fantasy purposes.