Jayden Daniels — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

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Daniels began his college career at Arizona State, posting an 18-11 record over three seasons and 29 games. He threw for 6,025 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, 10 of those picks coming in 2021 alone. On the ground, he carried the ball 296 times for 1,288 yards and 13 touchdowns.

A transfer to LSU proved transformative. After a strong 2022 (3,798 combined yards, 28 touchdowns, and three interceptions), Daniels elevated his game in 2023 to claim the Heisman Trophy. Through the air, he completed passes at 11.7 yards per attempt (3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and four interceptions) and added 1,134 rushing yards and 10 scores on 135 carries (8.4 per carry). He went 19-7 as a Tiger.

The 2023 LSU offense was one of college football's most explosive, with Daniels operating behind a loaded receiver room: Malik Nabers (89/1,569/14), Brian Thomas Jr. (68/1,177/17), and Kyren Lacy (30/558/7) combined for 17.7 yards per catch. Daniels excelled in manipulating defenses from the pocket while using his speed and elusiveness to punish soft coverages on the ground. Improving accuracy on the move was the next area of development in his passing game.

Heading into his rookie season, Daniels drew comparisons to Lamar Jackson as a fantasy starting point, with arguably better straight-line speed and a higher passing ceiling. The key variable was whether Washington could surround him with enough receiving talent to stretch the field, open running lanes, and create big-play opportunities. The Commanders made him the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

In his first five NFL games, Daniels leaned on his legs (57 carries, 300 yards, and four touchdowns), which accounted for 42.6% of his fantasy production. His passing (1,135 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions) was efficient rather than explosive. Over this span, he posted an elite 77.1% completion rate and 8.7 yards per attempt while operating more as a game manager.

Following an early exit in Week 7, Daniels delivered his first 300-yard passing performance (326 yards and one touchdown). Scoring through the air picked up considerably from Week 12 through Week 17, but on smaller plays (6.9 yards per attempt). He saved his best passing for the postseason, going 268/2, 299/2, and 255/1 across three games, with tighter rush lanes (35 carries, 135 yards, and one touchdown — 3.9 per carry).

Daniels finished fifth among quarterbacks in four-point passing touchdown leagues (400.50 points) despite missing significant time in two games. He closed the season as a reliable rushing contributor (148 carries, 891 yards, and six touchdowns) while averaging 31.2 pass attempts per game.

In his sophomore season in the NFL, Daniels offered four playable fantasy days (22.45, 21.70, 25.75, and 20.20) over his seven starts. He had a sharp decline in his completion rate (60.6% - 69.0% in 2024) and yards per pass attempt (6.7 – 7.4 in 2024), along with a pullback in his rushing value (58/278/2). Daniels never passed for more than 231 yards in a game.

His demise was tied to multiple injuries. A knee issue cost him Weeks 3 and 4, followed by a hamstring issue, pushing him to the sidelines in Week 8. One game later, Daniels was out of action again with a left arm injury that ultimately cost him most of the remainder of the year.

When at his best, he brings a special quality that shines through in the biggest moments of games. His ceiling looks untapped while having a winning foundation season on his resume (4,459 combined yards with 31 touchdowns). I prefer to draft him at a discount just in case his health card lingers again this year.