Jayden Daniels (hamstring) is out in Week 8 at Kansas City, which means Mariota will start against the Chiefs on Monday night. And he will get Deebo Samuel (heel) and Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) back for this matchup, and that only increases Mariota's value as a low-end starter in deeper leagues. Mariota has gotten significant playing time in four games for the Commanders in the past two seasons, and he scored at least 20.2 Fantasy points in each outing. The Chiefs are a tough matchup, but two quarterbacks in the past three games have scored at least 20.8 Fantasy points with Trevor Lawrence in Week 5 and Jared Goff in Week 6. Also, five quarterbacks this season have scored at least three Fantasy points against Kansas City with just their rushing totals alone, and Mariota has eight carries for 60 yards and a touchdown in the two previous starts he made this year.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Pair of picks in Week 8 spot start
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Mariota completed 21 of 30 passes for 213 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions while adding eight rushes for 28 yards in the Commanders' 28-7 loss to the Chiefs on Monday night. He also committed a fumble that was recovered by Washington.
Mariota put together another respectable stat line while filling in for Jayden Daniels (hamstring) for the third time this season, but he ultimately couldn't consistently move the Commanders down the field and short-circuited a pair of drives himself with interceptions. Mariota's first pick came on the opening possession on a pass that deflected off Deebo Samuel and landed in the hands of Mike Danna at the Chiefs' 22-yard line, while the second turnover unfolded at midfield with only 22 seconds remaining and the game well in hand for Kansas City. The veteran backup did connect with Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) from 11 yards out just before halftime for his one scoring toss, and Mariota would get the call against a second consecutive tough defense Week 9 if Daniels isn't healthy enough to suit up for a Sunday night home matchup against the Seahawks.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Another spot start in place of Daniels
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Mariota will start Monday's game in Kansas City after coach Dan Quinn ruled out Jayden Daniels (hamstring) on Thursday.
Mariota entered in place of Daniels early in the second half of this past Sunday's eventual loss at Dallas, and the latter's low-grade right hamstring strain will keep him out at least one contest. In two starts plus roughly one more half of play this season, Mariota has completed 35 of 58 passes for 426 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, turned 10 carries into 94 yards and one more TD and lost his only fumble.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: On track to start Monday
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Mariota is in line to start Monday's game against the Chiefs, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Per Jhabvala, Jayden Daniels is dealing with a low-grade hamstring strain and is not on track to play this week, positioning Mariota for his third start of the season. Mariota thus represents a Week 8 fantasy lineup option for those who roster Daniels or who are otherwise in need of quarterback help, with six teams on bye this week. In his previous two starts against the Raiders and Falcons in Weeks 3 and 4, respectively, Mariota went 1-1 while completing 31 of 48 pass attempts for 363 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while adding 60 yards and another score on eight carries.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Adds/Streamers (QB Preview)
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Marcus Mariota has started two games this year and scored 20 Fantasy points against both. He was very productive when called into duty in 2024 as well. His status is at least partially dependent on the health of Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, but as of Tuesday, I am hopeful at least one of them will return. Mariota is not a top-12 QB like Flacco, but he is still a fine bye-week replacement.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Week 8 Waiver Priority List
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Jayden Daniels (hamstring) left Week 7 at Dallas, and we'll see if he's going to miss any time. Mariota already started two games for Daniels earlier this season, and he scored at least 20 Fantasy points in each outing. We'll see if the Commanders will get Deebo Samuel (foot) and Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) back for Week 8 at Kansas City, which would be ideal for Mariota. But given his rushing ability (he had eight carries for 60 yards and a touchdown in the two previous starts), he can be a low-end starter in all leagues, even in a tough matchup against the Chiefs. In one-quarterback leagues, Mariota is worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB. And in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, Mariota should be added for at least 15 percent.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Steps in for injured starter
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Mariota completed four of 10 pass attempts for 63 yards and an interception while rushing twice for 34 yards in Sunday's 44-22 loss to Dallas.
Mariota stepped in for Jayden Daniels (hamstring) in the third quarter after Washington's starter exited the contest with an apparent hamstring injury. The 31-year-old Mariota flashed his mobility on a team-high 25-yard scramble, but he didn't do much else after entering the contest in the second half of a blowout loss. Daniels is set to undergo an MRI on his injured hamstring Monday, which should shed more light on the starter's availability for Week 8. If Daniels is unable to go, Mariota would become an enticing stream option against the Chiefs next Monday.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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Mariota scored 20.2 Fantasy points at Atlanta in Week 4, and he's now reached at least that total in all four appearances with the Commanders over the past two seasons. We don't know if Jayden Daniels (knee) will return in Week 5 at the Chargers, so take that into account, but Mariota will be considered a low-end starter in all leagues if he starts again in Washington. He's worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Tosses two TDs in Week 4 loss
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Mariota completed 16 of 27 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in Sunday's 34-27 loss to the Falcons. He added 20 rushing yards on two carries. He also threw a two-point conversion to Zach Ertz.
Making his second straight start in place of Jayden Daniels (knee), Mariota and the Commanders' offense started slowly but eventually caught fire, only for the team's defense to be unable to come up with a stop when it needed one. Mariota tossed a five-yard TD to Luke McCaffrey late in the second quarter and a 24-yard score to Deebo Samuel in the fourth, while also leading three drives that ended in field goals in the second half. Daniels appears to be on track to return in Week 5, but if Mariota needs to take the reins again, he'll get a tough road matchup against the Chargers.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Sleeper QBs
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Jayden Daniels (knee) is out for Week 4 at Atlanta after he missed Week 3 against Las Vegas. With Daniels out against the Raiders, Mariota stepped up with 207 passing yards and a touchdown and 40 rushing yards and a touchdown. He's now scored at least 22 Fantasy points in three appearances with the Commanders over the past two years. This would be the second revenge game in a row for Mariota, who spent 2022 in Atlanta, and hopefully he stays hot with another chance to start for the Commanders this week.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Adds/Streamers (QB Preview)
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For the second straight week Mariota looks like maybe the best streamer of the week but also has the risk of not even starting if Jayden Daniels recovers. If you have Daniels and streamed someone else last week, make sure to add Mariota. He has now scored over 20 Fantasy points in three straight appearances for the Commanders. He is still a very efficient rusher, even at 31 years old, he's averaged 5.8 yards per rush attempt over the last three years.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Week 4 Waiver Priority List
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We don't know when Jayden Daniels (knee) will return, but he missed Week 3 against Las Vegas, which allowed Mariota the chance to excel with 207 passing yards and a touchdown and 40 rushing yards and a touchdown. He's now scored at least 22 Fantasy points in three appearances with the Commanders over the past two years, and he would be a No. 1 quarterback in all leagues if he starts again in Week 4 at Atlanta. Mariota is worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB in one-quarterback leagues and up to 20 percent in Superflex and two-quarterback formats.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Produces two TDs in big win
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Mariota completed 15 of 21 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 41-24 win over the Raiders. He added 40 rushing yards and a TD on six carries.
He did lose a fumble, but otherwise Mariota has a very efficient performance under center in place of Jayden Daniels (knee). Mariota opened the scoring by running in a two-yard TD on the Commanders' first possession, then he iced the big win by connecting with Luke McCaffrey on a 43-yard catch-and-run late in the fourth quarter. Daniels may miss only the one game, but if Mariota is helming the offense again in Week 4, he'll be facing a Falcons defense stinging from a 30-0 loss to the Panthers.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Filling in for Daniels this week
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Mariota will replace Jayden Daniels (knee) as Washington's starting quarterback Sunday against the Raiders, Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com reports.
Daniel returned to practice Friday as a limited participant, suggesting he may be ready for Week 4 at Atlanta on Sun., Sept. 28. In the meantime, Mariota will try to replicate his level of play from last season, when he completed 34 of 44 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns, with 92 yards and another TD on the ground. While unlikely to maintain that type of efficiency, Mariota does seem to be a good fit in Kliff Kingsbury's offense, and with enough running ability to offer fantasy value even if his passing stats are merely average.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Week 3 Waiver Priority List
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Jayden Daniels (knee) was injured in Week 2 at Green Bay, and he could be out for Week 3 against Las Vegas. Mariota would start for the Commanders, and he would be a low-end starting option in all leagues. Mariota played the majority of Week 7 in 2024 for an injured Daniels and passed for 205 yards and two touchdowns, and ran four times for 11 yards and scored 23.6 Fantasy points. Mariota is worth 1 percent of your remaining FAB in one-quarterback leagues and at least 10 percent of your remaining FAB in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: May start Sunday
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Mariota may be tasked with leading the Commanders offense Sunday versus the Raiders as Jayden Daniels deals with a knee sprain, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Daniels was seen limping in the final minutes of Thursday's loss in Green Bay, and an MRI revealed the sprain. DNPs from the starting QB could signal that Mariota is in line for a Week 3 spot start, but Daniels' injury isn't thought to be too serious. In parts of three games last season with the Commanders, Mariota completed 34 of 44 passes for 364 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions and had 18 carries for 92 yards and one TD.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Practices fully
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Mariota (Achilles) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Mariota spent much of training camp and the preseason managing Achilles tendinitis, but as expected, he's ready to rock for Week 1. The veteran signal-caller will operate as Jayden Daniels' backup versus the Giants on Sunday, while Josh Johnson handles emergency quarterback duties.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Managing Achilles tendinitis
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Mariota said Thursday that he's dealing with Achilles tendinitis but expects to be ready for Week 1, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports.
Mariota made his return to the practice field Wednesday, per Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site, but his activity level still appears to be limited. The veteran backup quarterback has already missed both Washington's preseason affairs to date, and it looks like he could again be held out of Saturday's exhibition finale against Baltimore even if the expectation is that he'll be fully healthy in time for Week 1.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Won't play vs. Cincinnati
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Mariota (lower leg) has been ruled out for Monday's preseason game against the Bengals, Commanders writer Ben Standig reports.
Mariota will miss a second preseason game while working through a lower leg strain. Per Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site, Jayden Daniels and most of the other offensive starters will play "a few series" during Monday's game, but with Mariota sidelined, Josh Johnson and Sam Hartman should handle most of the snaps following Daniels' exit.
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Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Excellent in relief
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Mariota completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 40-7 win over the Panthers. He added 11 rushes for 34 yards.
Mariota was forced into the game after just one offensive possession after Jayden Daniels (ribs) departed. He led the Commanders' offense effectively, highlighted by a pair of touchdown drives to close the first half and begin the second half. On those two possessions, Mariota combined to complete 10 of 11 passes for 119 yards and a pair of touchdown throws. While he benefitted from a very favorable matchup, Mariota showed a surprising command of the offense in relief. However, he'll face a much tougher test if called upon for a Week 8 matchup against the Bears.
