Fantasy football start or sit Week 1: Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs

The Washington Commanders will need great performances from quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs if they're going to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1.

The Commanders are coming off a terribly disappointing season, and things are also set up for the 2026 campaign to be a tough one, as Washington has several question marks on both sides of the ball.

With a tough opponent on the docket for Week 1, can we trust Daniels, Diggs and/or McLaurin in our fantasy football lineups?

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) on the bench against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter at Ford Field. Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Daniels catches a bit of a break with Jonathan Greenard ruled out, but he's still got a tough matchup against an elite defensive line and secondary, and there are major concerns with Washington's offensive line.

That said, the Commanders defense is awful and that could leave Washington chasing points and throwing a ton early and often.

Combined with Daniels' rushing ability, I like his chances to produce a quality fantasy outing despite a less-than ideal opponent.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) on the sidelines during their game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Going up against cornerbacks like Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen on the boundary is not a promising situation, but McLaurin might see some soft coverage if the Eagles are playing from ahead like I think they will be.

As Daniels' No. 1 target, McLaurin should get peppered with targets in a play-from-behind scenario and should see ample opportunities to return at least flex value in this tough matchup.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (R) shakes hands with Miami Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson (25) after their game at Northwest Stadium. Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

After a 1,000-yard season in 2025, Diggs showed he's still got something left in the tank at his age and there's no reason to believe he won't be effective once again in 2026.

However, I'm less confident in him than I normally would be because this is his first game with a new quarterback and in a new offense.

Let's wait to see how things play out before putting Diggs in a starting lineup.