Terry McLaurin Injury: Fantasy Football Fallout For Chig Okonkwo, Antonio Williams & Stefon Diggs

The Terry McLaurin injury news is about as bad as it gets for fantasy football managers. McLaurin is slated to undergo an MRI on Tuesday after sustaining what the Commanders fear was a season-ending left knee injury in Monday’s 23-17 loss to the 49ers, and he was carted off the field with his left leg in an air cast in the first quarter. To make matters worse, the Commanders head into their bye week, so we won’t see this new-look offense until Week 8.

Here’s how the Commanders’ pass catchers shake out without their No. 1 wideout.

Fantasy Football Fallout From The Terry McLaurin Injury

Our own Zain Dhanani tracked Washington’s usage before and after McLaurin’s exit. It’s a small sample (5 dropbacks before, 40 after), but the roles are pretty clear.

Chig Okonkwo | TE

CHIGGGGG. Okonkwo’s route share dipped slightly (100% -> 85%), but he earned all seven of his targets after McLaurin left the game. We know tight ends who are top-two target earners in their offense can be fantasy gold, and that’s exactly the path Okonkwo is on.

Zain has him as a low-end TE1 the rest of the season, while Dwain McFarland has him as a high-end TE2 with a path to low-end TE1 territory. Either way, he’s a must-add.

Antonio Williams | WR

Williams is the primary beneficiary in terms of playing time, with his route share nearly doubling (40% -> 78%). He also played outside and worked downfield the last time McLaurin missed time, which gives him real upside in this role. Dwain McFarland and Zain Dhanani have him as a WR3/WR4 with upside to climb from there.

Stefon Diggs | WR

Diggs’ route share climbed (60% -> 70%), and he ran 79% of his routes from the slot after McLaurin went down. He becomes the de facto WR1 in Washington, and Zain has him as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 going forward.

Dyami Brown | WR

Brown went from a 0% route share to 55%. .. and turned that into one target on 22 routes. That’s not a role, that’s cardio. Don’t chase him.

Could The Commanders Trade For Brian Thomas Jr.?

The timing is too perfect to ignore. After getting benched in the second half of the Jaguars’ 34-31 loss to the Texans in Week 6, Brian Thomas Jr. is once again at the center of trade speculation, and Washington is an obvious fit. A deal would reunite him with Jayden Daniels, his quarterback at LSU, and the Jaguars are headed into their bye too, giving both sides time to talk and Thomas to potentially acclimate to a new offense.

To be clear, this is speculation, not a report. But if it happens, Thomas would slide right into McLaurin’s outside role, and Williams would take the biggest hit. Okonkwo and Diggs would lose some target share too, but their slot and middle-of-the-field roles are safer. Thomas, meanwhile, would get a fresh start with a QB he already has chemistry with, which makes him a buy-low candidate in his own right.

How Much To Bid On Chig Okonkwo And Antonio Williams On Week 7 Waiver Wire

With Washington on bye in Week 7, you’re bidding on Okonkwo and Williams as stashes for Week 8 and beyond. That won’t hurt contenders who need help now, but it could make them a bit cheaper than they should be. Factor the Thomas trade risk into your Williams bid, too. Check our fantasy football waiver wire tool for more pickup options.

Chig Okonkwo: In a normal 12-team league, bidding 5-7.5% of your remaining FAAB on Okonkwo feels appropriate. That being said, if you are in a deeper league, say 14 teams or 20 roster spots, and are thinner at tight end, getting more aggressive around the 7.5-10% range feels appropriate.

Antonio Williams: It makes sense to get more aggressive on Williams in normal leagues, more in line with the 7.5-12% range. Williams has shown upside on a per-route basis this year and should be the biggest beneficiary in terms of routes (as evident by his 78% rate post-injury). In a deeper league, upping from 12-15% is warranted.