Bottom Line

Barring an offseason faceplant, Howell will be under center come Week 1.

Does that mean he belongs anywhere near your fantasy roster? Unless you’re in a superflex league – that’s a hard no.

At best, we see Howell becoming a deep-league streamer, with help from some sneaky rushing potential.

What We Learned Last Year

• The Commanders selected this productive, three-year starter at North Carolina in Round 5.
  • Most draft analysts graded Howell as a Round 1 or Round 2 pick.
• Howell didn’t see the field until Week 18. QB Carson Wentz made seven starts; Taylor Heinicke started nine.
• In that lone start, Howell went 11 of 19 for 169 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT against Dallas.
  • That’s only a 57.9% completion rate but also a sterling 8.8 yards per attempt.
  • The tape showed Howell’s ability to make several tough throws.
  • He showed some life on the ground, too. Howell rushed five times (three scrambles) for 35 yards and one score.
  • He forced two missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus.

What to Expect in 2023

• Howell is fully expected to start Week 1 for Washington, despite the arrival of veteran QB Jacoby Brissett.
  • ESPN’s Jon Keim tweeted the following from HC Ron Rivera.
    • Rivera said Howell has done enough to remain QB1 entering training camp. "He's young, we know he's young. Lot of room for growth and we know that but he has a good skillset." Lists: quick twitch, decisions, arm talent. "That's the thing that excites us."
  • Ben Standig of The Athletic cautions it’s not yet time to hand the job to Howell, saying “there’s a world” in which Jacoby Brissett is the Week 1 starter.
    • In Standig’s view, though, Howell would have to lose the job; Brissett couldn’t win it outright.
• We’re not expecting miracles from the starting QB here, but there are enticing pieces to work with.
  • WR Terry McLaurin returns for Year 5. He has hit 1,000 yards in three straight seasons.
  • WR Jahan Dotson brings breakout-candidate ability into Year 2. He led the 2022 Commanders with 7 receiving TDs, adding 14.9 yards per catch.
  • Curtis Samuel brings durability questions. But when healthy, he’s an exciting catch-and-run option.
• Eric Bieniemy takes over as OC following five years as Kansas City’s OC.
  • The Athletic’s Ben Standig expects more RB screens mixed in with a more aggressive approach.
  • Washington executed only 10 RB screens last year, ranking 25th league wide.
• Washington added G Nick Gates and RT Andrew Wylie in free agency.
  • This O-line doesn’t profile as great, but it looks improved a year after finishing 26th in Pro Football Focus' pass-blocking grade.
• Howell could provide added value with his legs. Across three seasons at North Carolina, he racked up 899 yards on 117 scrambles.