This is going to surprise some people, but the Washington Commanders had a key player go down with an injury.
Star wide receiver Terry McLaurin went down on Monday Night Football with a season-ending knee injury. The loss is huge for the Commanders, but it's also a devastating blow for McLaurin, who is one of the best receivers in Washington franchise history.
Now, we have to see who will step up for the Commanders from here. Stefon Diggs has been the WR1 even with McLaurin out there, so not much should change there. However, there are two other obvious benefactors who should see larger roles going forward.
Chig Okonkwo
Chig Okonkwo is in his first season with the Commanders, and the offense looks totally different when he's on the field. The veteran caught seven passes for 69 yards last week, and it seems like he's going to be a go-to target for Jayden Daniels going forward.
Joe Metz of FantasyLife mentioned that all seven of Okonkwo's targets last weekend came after McLaurin went out. Okonkwo excels at getting open across the middle, so he could become a security blanket for Daniels going forward.
Antonio Williams
Antonio Williams might be in the best spot of any pass-catcher going forward. Defenses will zero in on Diggs as the WR1, which means there's an opportunity for Williams to cement his place.
Metz mentioned that Williams will be the "primary beneficiary," in terms of playing time with McLaurin out. The rookie has played in the slot and on the outside, as well, only adding to his value.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Two Commanders could see increased role due to Terry McLaurin's injury