Commanders QB Marcus Mariota tossed 3 TD passes in Sunday's win over the Seahawks to drive a fantasy score that sits among the top 12 QBs for the week heading into Monday night's game. Mariota completed a decent 61.2% of his passes (19 of 31), matching his completion rate from last season, when he started eight games for Washington. His 183 yards broke down to a modest 5.9 per pass attempt, but Mariota didn't turn the ball over, took just 2 sacks, and benefited from three Seattle turnovers. His TD throws found Terry McLaurin from 30 yards out, Treylon Burks from 11 yards, and Rachaad White from 6.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact
We certainly weren't betting on a usable fantasy outing from Mariota after the Seahawks held Drake May to a QB26 score in Week 1 and Jacoby Brissett to QB29 in Week 2.
Typically, the QB stat line that Mariota posted against Seattle would come with a warning about impending TD regression. You just can't count on many 183-yard, 3-TD passing days.
But Mariota's case is encouraging in that a solid, veteran backup QB took advantage of presented opportunities and posted good fantasy numbers even while rushing for only 11 yards.
His matchups get much more favorable against the Colts and Giants the next two weeks, leaving Mariota capable of pushing for more QB1-level weeks while Jayden Daniels is out. He'll be even more important if Washington RBs can't improve on the 3.6 yards per rush they've averaged to date.
Mariota should have already been rostered in superflex formats. He'll make sense this week as an option in 1-QB leagues as well.
Washington has showed by not placing Daniels on IR and it expects the starting QB back in fewer than four games. A three-game absence would return him for Week 6 at San Francisco.
