What looked like a shootout between the Eagles and Commanders has been stripped down by injuries, and that changes everything for Sunday Night Football DFS players. Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Terry McLaurin and Dontayvion Wicks are all out, leaving a thinner player pool and a slate that asks managers to be sharper with every lineup spot.
For Philadelphia, Tanner McKee is the quarterback to build around. His DFS track record in relief of Hurts hasn’t given players much reason to trust him yet, since he still doesn’t have a top-20 weekly finish in his two starts.
His best outing came a couple of weeks ago against the Carolina Panthers, when he posted 12.6 fantasy points. Still, this matchup gives him a real chance to top that number.
Washington has been vulnerable through the air, giving up the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks at 22.7 FPPG. That matters even more because the Commanders have been sturdier against the run, allowing just 16.5 FPPG to running backs. With the Eagles struggling to run the ball this season, McKee should have plenty of chances to throw, and that’s the path to the ceiling game DFS players are chasing.
On the Washington side, Diggs is a perfectly reasonable play, but the injury to McLaurin doesn’t automatically mean a massive target spike. Dan Quinn said Diggs’ workload won’t change and that the Commanders expect other wideouts to step up. That matters for lineup construction, because the obvious assumption would be a huge bump for Diggs, but the coach’s comments suggest the distribution may stay more balanced than many players expect.
That opens the door for Antonio Williams, Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown to become useful tournament pieces. Williams is the one who stands out most, since he ranks third on the Commanders in targets and receiving yards behind McLaurin and Diggs. DFS players can pair any of those pass catchers with Jayden Daniels, or they can leave Diggs out altogether to create a different build from the field.
Philadelphia’s passing game has also condensed with Smith and Wicks sidelined. Makai Lemon and Dallas Goedert now look like the main targets to focus on, and last week’s loss to the Cowboys backed that up.
Lemon led the way with eight targets, while the two combined for 15. That kind of usage makes them natural stacking partners in showdown formats.
Goedert’s profile is especially interesting here. He hasn’t found the end zone since Week 1, but over his last two games with Tanner McKee he has posted an 18.8% target share and a 25% first-read target share. Washington has also allowed eight touchdowns to tight ends this season, which keeps Goedert firmly in the mix for Sunday night.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Need Unproven Help In Their Biggest Test Yet
The Commanders are heading into their Week 8 matchup with Philadelphia in a far different spot than they expected, with injuries forcing the roster to absorb some serious losses on both sides of the ball. The absence of Daron Payne leaves a major hole up front, while the offense also has to move on without Terry McLaurin, a setback that changes the look of the passing game and puts even more pressure on the rest of the lineup.
Against the Eagles, Washington will need a handful of less-established contributors to take on bigger jobs than anyone likely planned a few weeks ago. Antonio Williams, Charles Omenihu, Sonny Styles, Sam Cosmi and Rachaad White are among the players now being asked to do more, and how they handle those expanded responsibilities could go a long way toward determining whether the Commanders can stay competitive in one of their toughest tests of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Be Forced Into A Deadline Move Fans Didn't Expect
Receiver help has become a familiar topic around the Commanders as the trade deadline nears, and the market may not offer many clean answers. Cleveland has no plans to move Jerry Jeudy right now, even with multiple teams circling, and Washington is among the clubs watching the situation because of its need at the position and the ripple effects of injuries around the league.
For a team trying to stay competitive, that kind of waiting game can be frustrating. The Rams and Chiefs are also in the mix, which only adds to the pressure if the Browns eventually soften their stance, but for now the whole thing remains speculative and could shift quickly as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Terry McLaurins Future In Washington Suddenly Feels Far Less Certain
Terry McLaurins long-term place in Washington looked secure when he signed a three-year extension in 2025 worth more than $96 million, with nearly $45 million guaranteed. But after a season-ending knee injury in 2026, the picture around the Commanders top receiver has changed in a hurry, and the team now has to weigh both his health and the realities of a contract built around availability and production.
McLaurin will miss out on some of the incentives and bonuses tied to playing time and performance, and that only adds another layer to a situation that already feels more complicated than it did a year ago. Washington could look at restructuring the deal, or it could make roster decisions with an eye toward where McLaurin stands physically and how the locker room looks as leadership continues to evolve. [Read more 🡒]