Chargers vs. Commanders Fantasy Football Worksheet, Week 5

The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Week 5 matchup between the Chargers and Commanders.

Find a breakdown of every Week 5 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.

Trust = spike production for that player

Quarterback

Justin Herbert: After opening the season as the QB5 (27.9 points), Herbert has since been the QB16 (18.8 points), the QB13 (14.6 points), and the QB23 (12.5 points) in weekly scoring.

He has completed fewer than 60% of his passes in each of the past two games, throwing for 6.4 yards per pass attempt and 5.0 yards per pass attempt with 3 interceptions.

Protection has been a significant issue.

Herbert was pressured on 49.1% of his dropbacks in Week 3 (28th in the league) and 45.5% last week (25th).

Under pressure these past two weeks, Herbert is 14 of 38 (36.8%) for 151 yards (4.0 Y/A) with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions.

When kept clean, he is 37 of 50 (74%) for 352 yards (7.0 Y/A) with a touchdown and an interception.

With the loss of Joe Alt, this offensive line is down both of its starting tackles, while Mekhi Becton was also out last week.

They will be facing a Washington defense that is ninth in the league in pressure rate (42.6% of dropbacks).

When Washington has pressured the opposing passer, they have averaged 5.9 yards per attempt (18th) with a 0% touchdown rate.

The positive news for Herbert is that when Washington has not gotten to the quarterback, they have been shredded.

Without pressure, Washington has allowed 10.3 yards per pass attempt, ahead of only the Cowboys (11.2 Y/A).

They have allowed a 9.2% touchdown rate without pressure, 29th in the league.

Washington has allowed Jordan Love (20.9 points), Geno Smith (26.1 points), and Michael Penix (18.7 points) all to outproduce their seasonal average against them over the past three weeks.

There are concerns regarding the offensive line and its impact on Herbert in recent weeks, but the Washington defense allows us to maintain efficiency when he can throw from a clean pocket.

With the Chargers a heavy home favorite, injuries at the fantasy position, and a few notable byes, Herbert remains a viable QB1 option this week.

If he fails to deliver, we will need to adjust for the state of his pass protection.

Jayden Daniels: We are entering the week optimistic that Daniels will return to the field Sunday after missing the past two weeks with a knee injury.

If he is not tracking to play, then we will adjust for another Marcus Mariota start.

Daniels will slot back in as a fantasy QB1 upon his return, thanks to his per-play upside and the current state of the position, which is dealing with injuries and byes.

However, he does not come with a pristine outlook for ceiling expectations.

Daniels was the QB13 (20.1 points) and the QB14 (19.7 points) in his first two starts before injury.

Those were fine outings with a high floor, something we would take in this spot.

I am always hesitant about players returning from a multi-week absence due to injuries, and we have to come in with some transition because his injury could impact his mobility.

Hopefully not, because not only is that a hallmark of Daniels’ game for fantasy output, but the Chargers have also allowed 41.0 rushing yards per game to quarterbacks, which ranks 31st in the league.

Patrick Mahomes (57 yards and a touchdown), Geno Smith (20 yards), Bo Nix (33 yards), and Jaxson Dart (54 yards and a touchdown) have all had tangible rushing production against the Chargers.

This is not a strong passing matchup, so mobility is needed.

Especially with Terry McLaurin out, this offense severely lacks a downfield playmaker at wide receiver.

The Chargers are allowing 5.6 yards per pass attempt (2nd) and 9.3 yards per completion (5th).

They have allowed a 2.3% touchdown rate (3rd) and a league-low 8.6 passing points per game.

Running Back

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