The Commanders don’t want to be known as a .500 team, they want to be known as the team to beat the NFC East. Ron has had chances to pick up good players in the draft, particularly a talented young QB. He has failed to do that, instead he has went after free agents such as Alex Smith and Carson Wentz, who weren’t the answer. Then we picked up Sam Howell in the 2022 draft. Sam has showed flashes of hope and then flashes of mediocrity. We do have to remember he is a young quarterback with only four starts.

As of right now the Commanders are 2-1, but don’t be deceived by that winning record. They could of easily lost the first game, and then had to storm back from 21-3 to beat a bad Denver Broncos team. This team has the makeup of being another .500 team this year. They could surprise us this week and beat the Eagles, just like they did last year. But if we were to lose by another blowout, I think we should consider firing both coaches. They have too much talent on both sides of the ball to consistently be mediocre.

Why not fire Rivera and put Eric Bieniemy in charge to see what he can do? If you do that, Jack Del Rio, who has four 1st round draft picks on the defensive line, needs to go too. There’s no reason their defense should not be dominant, and one of the best in the league. In addition, now would be a good time because they have a new owner and they can have that fresh start and build for the future. Typically, coaches are fired based on there record for the year. In this case, depending on how the Commanders do against the Eagles, I believe now is the time.

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On the field, the Commanders will turn to 2nd year quarterback Sam Howell who they selected in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Howell impressed in his one and only start in week 18 last year against the Dallas Cowboys. Is Howell the franchise quarterback Washington is hoping for? Let’s break that down further and offer a record prediction for the 2023-2024 season.

The Good

Jonathan Allen has been the anchor on Washington’s loaded defensive line for several years now. It’s hard to believe that the former Alabama DT is still underrated but somehow he is. Allen belongs in the conversation as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL today. He has always had a knack for rushing the passer but has also improved in the run game as well. Allen has a lethal combination of speed and power that most offensive linemen have trouble dealing with. Allen and Daron Payne have formed one of the best defensive tackle duos in the league.

On the offensive side of the ball wide receiver Terry McLaurin continues to get better despite below-average quarterback play. McLaurin has played with 10 starting quarterbacks in his first 4 years in Washington. Despite that McLaurin continues about his business and doesn’t use that as an excuse. McLaurin had a career-high 1,191 yards in 2022. The hope is Howell gets the full season to show what he can do. If that happens expect a big year for McLaurin.

The Bad

The Commanders offensive line is an area of concern heading into this season. I will be watching this line closely to see how well it can protect its young quarterback. Washington signed former Kansas City Chief Andrew Wylie to take over the RT position. Wylie struggled at times in the preseason but I will hold judgment on him until the season starts.

Elsewhere the Commanders will have a new center as Nick Gates will start at that position. Gates is a brawler who can bring attitude to this line but at times has struggled with the pass rush. Keep an eye on RG Saahdiq Charles. If he can take the next step in his development he has the tools to be a successful guard.

The Prediction

I have the Commanders as one of the surprise teams in the NFL this year. The ownership change will have a big impact on team morale as the fans are coming back in droves. Eric Bieniemy will get this offense to perform at a high level and Sam Howell looks to be the real deal.

2023 Record: (10-7 2nd in the Division)

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The Good

Outside of Mahomes, there are very few players in the NFL as valuable as Travis Kelce. The 33-year-old Kelce is already one of the best tight ends of all time and is showing no signs of slowing down. In 2022, Kelce had 1,338 receiving yards along with a career-high 12 touchdowns. Beyond those stats, he also had 648 YAC (Yards After Catch) which is impressive for an aging tight end. Kelce was the main reason the Chiefs were comfortable with trading Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins. It’s also the reason why the Chiefs don’t necessarily need a star wide receiver on offense. Kelce is their de facto WR1 and I don’t see that changing next season.

The Bad

Andy Reid is one of the best offensive minds the NFL has seen. Reid is one of the reasons Mahomes has been so successful in Kansas City. The other reason is Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy was the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs since 2018. He has now moved on to a bigger role with the Washington Commanders and will be the full-time play-caller there.

Don’t expect a drastic change to the Chiefs offense as Matt Nagy takes over as the new OC. With that said I could see a slight drop off in Kansas City’s offense with Bieniemy gone. Bieniemy is notorious for being a stickler for the little details. He also expects a lot from his offensive players and is not afraid to get on them. This will show up in critical points during a game and could be the difference between winning and losing. Make no mistake, the Chiefs offense will not be a weakness next season but it’s worth watching how this change will impact it.

The Prediction

In all, I expect the Kansas City Chiefs to once again be the AFC West champions. I do see a slight drop off in wins at 12 as they have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL next season. One thing to keep an eye on is the Chris Jones situation. Jones has yet to report to the team and if he misses time it will be a big blow to the Chiefs defense.

2023-2024 Record: 12-5 (First in the Division)

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Antonio Gibson took a step back in the Commanders offense last season. With rookie Brian Robinson Jr. taking touches away from him, Gibson had to settle for a backup type of role. Gibson was involved more in the passing game but never had a breakout type of moment. He finished the season with 142.9 fantasy points (Half PPR) and never was able to crack the top 10 in weekly finishes. Despite the down year, there is a buzz coming out of Washington for next season. With that said let’s take a closer look at what do if you’re a Antonio Gibson dynasty manager or interested in him.

2022

When the 2022 season started Antonio Gibson had the backfield to himself. Brian Robinson Jr. was recovering from 2 gunshot wounds to his leg and wouldn’t be available until week 5. Despite the majority of the touches, Gibson wasn’t able to produce much of anything in the running game. He was however able to offer some value in the passing game. In the season opener against Jaguars, Gibson had 7 receptions for 72 yards on 8 targets. Unfortunately, this was his highest output of the season as his targets dropped as the year went on.

As we’ve stated before Gibson, didn’t really offer many highlight reel plays throughout the 2022 season. His best play came in the week 7 win against the Green Bay Packers. Gibson caught a dart from Taylor Heinicke and toe tapped for the touchdown. This was Gibson once again showing off his receiving skills.

2023

As we now look ahead to the 2023-2024 NFL season there is some hope for Gibson. Eric Bieniemy’s offensive system in Washington will look to get Gibson more involved. It has been a talking point this offseason and it has caused Gibson’s value to steadily rise. How much more involved will Gibson be? We can only predict as it stands now and will have to wait and see heading into the Fall. One key factor to keep an eye on is if the Commanders sign Kareem Hunt. If that happens Gibson’s value will obviously take a hit.

Antonio Gibson’s Dynasty Value

What should be done with Anotonio Gibson dynasty shares going forward? Right now Gibson is a RB32 at KeepTradeCut, this has him higher than the likes of Dalvin Cook and AJ Dillon. The hype is building thanks to his potential in this new Commanders offense. My advice at this time is to SELL Antonio Gibson at this current value. His value may take a hit if Washington does indeed pull the trigger on Hunt.

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According to a recent report from Josina Anderson, Kareem Hunt is on the Washington Commanders radar. The free agent running back has yet to sign on with a team this offseason. In Cleveland, Hunt’s primary role was 3rd down back but his production dropped last year for the Browns. Hunt’s YPC (yards per carry) in 2022 was only 3.8 and despite being healthy all season he could only muster 678 all-purpose yards. At age 27, Hunt can still make an impact on the field if he goes to the right situation.

Familiar System in Washington

When Eric Bieniemy became the Washington Commanders Offensive Coordinator, I expected some ex-Chiefs to follow him. Washington did sign former Chiefs OL Andrew Wylie in free agency but no other former Kansas City players of note. It doesn’t shock me that Bieniemy would be interested in his former running back but is there room for him in DC?

The Commanders already have Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson in the running back room and they drafted Chris Rodriguez Jr. from Kentucky. Robinson and Gibson should carry a majority of the load and Rodriguez Jr. is a wild card. The Commanders likely want a veteran presence that knows Bieniemy’s system to mentor the young players. While the role would likely be minimal, adding Hunt as an additional weapon is not a bad idea. The key will be if they can get him at a reasonable price.

Fantasy Angle

In terms of fantasy, this would not be an ideal scenario. Robinson and Gibson’s overall value would take a hit if the Commanders signed Hunt. More so Gibson, as Robinson has carved out his role as the goal-line back. Gibson’s ADP has been steadily rising as his potential in this offense is exciting. The addition of Hunt would tamper that hype and he would take away some touches from Gibson. There are still unknowns with this offense and how these roles will be defined.

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There was a time when we didn’t know if Brian Robinson Jr. would be able to play football again. He was a victim of a carjacking attempt in Washington D.C. and was shot multiple times in the leg. In a miraculous turn of events, Robinson was able to return to football and make his NFL debut in week 5. A true testament to his physical and mental strength.

When the Washington Commanders drafted Brian Robinson in the 3rd round of the 2022 NFL Draft it was a bit of a surprise. Antonio Gibson was already on the roster and developing nicely yet the Commanders were looking for a true bruiser/red zone running back. The rookie out of Alabama showed he could handle a full-time role but would need to adjust in the NFL to complement Gibson. In the end, Robinson showed flashes but didn’t produce enough to be a top-tier running back.

Brian Robinson finished the season with 108.2 FP (Half PPR). He had 3 total touchdowns on the season, 2 rushing and 1 receiving. On top of that, he had 205 rushing attempts which was good for #19 amongst running backs. Keep in mind, that is with missing 4 games along with sharing the load with Gibson. The Commanders looked to give him the majority of the workload but he didn’t produce as much as we liked. Let’s now dive deeper into his 2022 season and forecast his value.

2022

As you can expect it was an emotional day when Brian Robinson made his debut in week 5. Robinson was eased into the game plan and rightfully so, he just had surgery on his leg and was getting used to the pro game. The following week against the Chicago Bears, Robinson scored his first NFL touchdown. We also saw his volume go up as he finished with 60 yards on 17 carries.

In week 12 against the Atlanta Falcons, Robinson had his best output of the season. He rushed for 105 yards on 18 carries including his first receiving touchdown. It was exactly what owners were looking for as Robinson finished in the top 5 with 19.5 fantasy points. One thing is for certain, Robinson did not lack touches, especially in the red zone. He just didn’t hit paydirt as much as we would’ve liked.

In the chart below were his projected vs actual fantasy points in Half PPR for 2022. As you can see, he exceeded his projections 5 times but the projections were mostly in the single digits.

2023

As we look ahead to the upcoming season and start to project Brian Robinson’s value there are some key factors to consider. Washington fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner and brought in Eric Bieniemy. This has me excited for the Commanders offense as a whole but we don’t know yet how all the pieces will fit. Head Coach Ron Rivera has had an old-school mentality and prefers to control the clock with the run game. If Bieniemy has his way, we will see exotic packages and a more up tempo offense. It will be fascinating to watch how this plays out.

Brian Robinson’s Dynasty Value

Where do I rank Brian Robinson’s dynasty value right now? He is currently RB29 in my recently updated dynasty football rankings. This is +6 in terms of the FantasyPros ECR. It’s also right around his current position on KeepTradeCut which is RB35. There is a lot of hype surrounding Antonio Gibson in the new-look Washington offense. Although Gibson has the better upside, I still have him below Robinson. You can expect more rushing touchdowns in year 2 for Robinson and at this current value, he is a BUY for me.

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Revisiting the previous season, a total of five coaches got the axe. Kliff Kingsbury, Lovie Smith, Matt Rhule, Frank Reich and Nathaniel Hackett are all out. Of the five that were let go, only Frank Reich landed another NFL Head Coaching position as he signed on with the Carolina Panthers. You can expect around the same number to be fired next year if not more. NFL teams are hiring and firing coaches more quickly now (see Hackett).

With that said we picked five coaches that are currently on the hot seat for the upcoming season. Keep an eye on these coaches as it will be important for all of them to start fast when the season starts.

Robert Saleh – New York Jets

Robert Saleh very well could’ve been fired following the 2022-2023 season. The Jets spiraled out of the NFL playoff picture losing their last 6 games. Despite having a stellar NFL Draft, they lacked a true offensive identity and finished near the bottom in total points (296).

In steps Aaron Rodgers to try and revitalize the Jets franchise. Rodgers brought with him some old friends in Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb. He also has Nathaniel Hackett running the offense as the two former Packers team up again. The expectations are now sky-high and if the Jets start off the season slow it may be Saleh that pays the price.

Kevin Stefanski – Cleveland Browns

Kevin Stefanski had a dream debut season for Cleveland. The Browns finished that season with an 11-5 record and made the playoffs. In their Wild Card matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the offense was unstoppable and they put up a whopping 48 points. It seemed as if Stefanski and Baker Mayfield were the perfect match. Since then things haven’t gone as planned. Mayfield is no longer with the Browns and Deshaun Watson was brought in on a massive contract.

Cleveland is now predicted to finish last in the AFC North next season. Stefanski will need a strong season from Watson and the offense as a whole to keep his job.

Mike McCarthy – Dallas Cowboys

If this were any other team in the NFL Mike McCarthy would be safe. The Cowboys finished last season with a 12-5 record and a playoff win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yet there is a sense of urgency that Dallas needs to produce better postseason results.

They since have let go of their promising offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. McCarthy has taken over the play-calling duties and with that is more added pressure. If the Cowboys don’t make the playoffs or fail to advance in the postseason, Jerry Jones may lose his patience.

Matt LaFleur – Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have officially entered the Jordan Love era. Whether it’s fair or not, Matt LaFleur’s future depends on how well Love progresses. Aaron Rodgers leaving could be a blessing in disguise for the Packers franchise. It could also end up being the start of a stretch where Green Bay is no longer relevant and they are back in the quarterback market next year. Regardless, the microscope will be on LaFleur as he enters the upcoming season.

Ron Rivera – Washington Commanders

It’s already been an unusual offseason for Head Coach Ron Rivera. The Washington Commanders are finally getting rid of their hated owner Dan Snyder. This alone has caused a new level of optimism around the franchise. They also brought in Eric Bieniemy as Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. With that, there is a bit of strange dynamic while they wait for future owner Josh Harris to take over.

Will Rivera be safe until next year? No one really knows but don’t discount the Bieniemy effect. Early reports from Commanders OTA’s are saying Rivera has delegated many duties to Bieniemy. It’s plausible that Bieniemy has been tabbed the Head Coach in waiting. This situation is worth keeping an eye on as we get into training camp.

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Jahan Dotson was somewhat of a wildcard going into last season. Dotson was receiving plenty of buzz inside the Washington Commanders camp. Outside of that most of the NFL world was focused on Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson in terms of 1st round wide receivers. As for pre-draft rankings, Dotson was #29 WR according to FantasyPros ECR and he ended up with 113.1 FP (Half PPR). Dotson missed 5 games due to a hamstring injury that hampered his production. Let’s take a closer look at Jahan Dotson dynasty shares going forward.

2022

Unlike some other rookies we have profiled here, Dotson wasted no time making his mark. In week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars he finished with 2 touchdowns including an impressive game-winner. On the day Dotson finished with 16.5 FP and 40 yards receiving. Dotson kept his touchdown streak going when the Commanders visited the Detroit Lions in week 2. He scored on a nasty juke move that made space for Carson Wentz to fit in a tight throw. One thing that sticks out right away with Dotson on film is his route-running ability. He is very shifty and often leaves defenders flat-footed.

In the week 4 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Dotson flashed his route-running ability again scoring a touchdown in the corner of the endzone. Unfortunately not long after he went down with a hamstring injury that led to him missing some time.

In his return from the hamstring injury Dotson was eased back into the gameplan slowly. He put up minimal numbers in his first three games back. In week 13 against the New York Giants Dotson made his mark again. He caught a grab over the middle and used an impressive spin move on his way to the game-tying score.

2023

Going into next year there are some key questions to ask in terms of Dotson. The first of which is how well will he mesh with Sam Howell. If it’s any indication Dotson and Howell showed some chemistry in the final game of the year against the Cowboys. Despite limited targets and just 35 receptions on the year Dotson still finished with 7 touchdowns. He had an 18.9% TD rate according to PlayerProfiler which was good for 14th best in the league. Consistency at the quarterback position will be key for Dotson going forward.

Jahan Dotson’s Dynasty Value

Where do I rank Jahan Dotson’s dynasty value for next year? I am still high on Dotson’s ability and his production will only go up. The key is how well Dotson and Howell progress in new Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s system. Bieniemy coming in to run the Commanders offense is a huge x-factor. He will find creative ways to get Dotson more involved and increase his target share. For now, Dotson is a HOLD for me going into the 2023 NFL season.

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Full Time Play-Caller

Although Bieniemy was the OC for the Chiefs it is widely known that he didn’t call the plays. Head Coach Andy Reid took care of those duties during gameday. Even with that, Bieniemy was a big part of the offensive gameplan and play designs. Now that he is joining the Commanders he will be able to take full control of the offense including calling the plays. Some are saying this is one of the reasons why Bieniemy hasn’t yet become a head coach but I am not buying it. There have been plenty of offensive minds over the years that have become head coaches without calling plays.

Commanders Offensive Potential

The Commanders haven’t exactly been an offensive juggernaut during Ron Rivera‘s tenure. There were times when the offense disappeared during games and it was one of the reasons former OC Scott Turner was fired. When you look at the skilled positions for Washington you can see the potential. They have three outstanding wide receivers, two versatile running backs and a solid tight end group. The missing piece has been the quarterback. Rivera recently stated that Sam Howell will be in heavy consideration for QB1 next year and rightfully so. You could see his potential when he started the final game of the year against the Cowboys. He has a massive arm and the mobility to extend plays. You would have to think Bieniemy is intrigued by Howell and it’s one of the reasons he chose Washington.

Potential Future Head Coach?

It’s no secret that the Washington Commanders are up for sale and looking for new owners. The fanbase is patiently waiting for the day to become a reality and they will finally be rid of Dan Snyder. In the meantime now Denver Head Coach Sean Payton admitted that potential owners reached out to him to see if he was interested in the Commanders. It’s not that far fetched to see new ownership in place and they might be interested in making Bieniemy the head coach. Furthermore, there have been rumors that Ron Rivera may retire soon and there could be an agreement to elevate Bieniemy when he does. Either way I expect Bieniemy to have a huge impact in Washington and Commanders fans should be excited with this hire.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Las Vegas Raiders undoubtedly aren’t a scary Halloween face at the cusp of 2-5. The tale of Josh McDaniels blundering out of Bill Belichick’s kingdom has continued.

After McDaniels was canned from his HC gig with the Denver Broncos, the former sage to Tom Brady has had a miserable start with LV in 2022. With that enunciated, it would be far from a surprise if the Raiders cut ties with McDaniels. Hence, I’m going to untwine potential head coach candidates for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.

• Eric Bieniemy

A mastermind behind Patrick Mahomes’s unearhtly success should eventually land an HC offer. Bieniemy hasn’t only helped Mahomes win a Super Bowl and MVP trophy, but he’s assisted Mahomes in being a cream-of-the-crop QB without Tyreek Hill. With Carr, Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams, and Darren Waller, it would still be wise to prioritize an offensive-minded, ring-leader.

• Sean Payton

Sean Payton may be in love with the Los Angeles Chargers, but the Raiders have to in his list of Top-3 crushes. Payton will be able to do wonders with the Raiders passing offense & he could enjoy the benefits of a very passionate fan base in the sin city (similar to the Big Easy). Although, he would need to jolt the Raiders defense — as he also constantly needed to improve the Saints defense.

• Ken Dorsey

The fiery (to say the least) mind behind Josh Allen, Ken Dorsey, has been unbelievable this season. The Bills rank second in PPG, sixth in passing yards, and second in passing touchdowns. Dorsey doesn’t have the same breath of experience as Payton, but he will be an attractive target for many teams in the 2023 off-season — especially if he obtains a Super Bowl ring.

• Jim Caldwell

Jim Caldwell is still a very sharp football mind and he will certainly be an HC candidate in 2023 — as SideLion report noted. Caldwell was almost the Bears HC in 2022, but they opted to ride with Matt Eberflus. Caldwell has a modest career record of 62-50.

• Mike Zimmer

Mike Zimmer could bring a lot of energy to the Raiders defense — which already carries impressive edge rushers like Maxx Crosby & Chandler Jones. The Raiders could potentially be more dangerous and well-balanced with a defensive mind like Zimmer (who could make a significant difference to the defense), while a heap of talent remains on offense.

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