Washington Commanders 2022 NFL Training Camp Preview
After testing eventual Super Bowl champion Tom Brady in the 2020 Wild Card game, the then-Washington Football Team followed up with an uninspiring 2021 season, going 7-10 and finishing third in the NFC North. With another new face at quarterback — Carson Wentz — the Washington Commanders look to get back to the postseason for the second time since 2015.
Three Position battles to watch:
No. 2 Tight End: John Bates and Cole Turner
Even after an injury-riddled 2021 campaign, Logan Thomas enters the season as the undisputed No. 1 tight end and presumptively one of Wentz’s top targets. But the backup position has yet to officially be solidified. Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton dubbed Bates as the Commanders’ “best-kept secret” earlier this offseason after recording 20-249-1 as a rookie a year ago, but Turner, the team’s fifth-round selection, was one of the nation’s top pass-catching tight ends at Nevada. I expect the former to be the backup tight end, but I’m keeping an eye on it to see who officially gets the nod.
Right guard: Wes Schweitzer and Trai Turner
The Commanders will have two new faces on the interior line this season without Brandon Scherff and Erick Flowers. They signed Andrew Norwell to a five-year deal in March and brought in five-time pro bowler Trai Turner to fill both guard spots. The former will presumptively take over at left guard, while Turner — who hasn’t been a pro-bowler since 2019 (in Carolina) and has bounced around in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh since — will compete with Schweitzer, who started five games in 2021 after starting 13 in 2020. Neither is a bad option.
No. 2 Quarterback: Taylor Heinicke and Sam Howell
Barring injury or very poor play, Wentz will be the team’s starting quarterback — their sixth different Week 1 QB Starter in six seasons. Though there will be a battle for who earns the backup spot between Taylor Heinicke, who started in 15 games last season, and fifth-round rookie Sam Howell. I’d give the upper hand to Heinicke because of the experience, but he also hasn’t been the best when he’s been on the field. Could Howell steal the top backup spot? He has a chance.
Ready to breakout: Chase Young
I almost chose Chase Young, though he might have to begin the season on the PUP list after recovering from ACL surgery; that can be tricky for any young player to come back from, even a player with the talent of Young. So I went with Sweat, who played in just 10 games a year ago. He recorded 24 combined tackles with five sacks and, in three years, have notched 119 combined tackles with 21 sacks. He hasn’t fully broken out yet, but I could see him breaking out alongside Washington’s embarrassment of riches on that defensive line.
Rookie to Watch: Brian Robinson
Jahan Dotson probably should be the obvious answer as he will likely be one of the Commanders’ top pass catchers, but I’d keep an eye on Robinson. I’m not terribly low on Antonio Gibson but I think there’s some potential for Robinson to breakout as a No. 2 back behind Gibson. He was top-five in the league in total carries a year ago and averaged four yards per attempt, but we’re seeing a trend across the NFL where more teams are using multiple tailbacks in certain situations to conserve the workload. Washington didn’t have a true No. 2 last year, and the third-round pick — who tallied nearly 1,500 yards and 5.0 yards per carry at Alabama — could be that as the season ages.
Fantasy Sleeper: Curtis Samuel
Samuel, who signed with Washington last offseason, suffered multiple lower-body injuries that limited him to just five games. His production yielded just six catches for 27 yards without a touchdown after logging nine combined scores and 1,478 yards in his last two years in Carolina. Over those three seasons, he was receiving passes from Kyle Allen, Cam Newton, Will Grier, P.J. Walker, Teddy Bridgewater and Taylor Heinicke. While Wentz isn’t a much better upgrade, it’s an upgrade, nonetheless. It’s hard to completely sell fantasy owners — including myself — to secondary options on bad teams, but a fully healthy season could buoy Samuel as a reliable No. 2 wideout in 2021.
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