Where Was Terry? McLaurin's Concerningly Quiet Start to the Season

The highly anticipated return of Terry McLaurin from a lingering toe injury in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos offered a glimmer of hope for Washington Commanders fans and fantasy football enthusiasts alike. After a relatively quiet Week 1 performance, the expectation was that Washington’s undisputed WR1 would command a larger share of targets and production.

However, what transpired on the field left many scratching their heads and ignited a wave of concern.

Despite being officially active and playing a full complement of snaps, McLaurin’s involvement in the Commanders’ offense was astonishingly minimal. Throughout the entire contest against Denver, McLaurin was targeted just twice, converting those into two receptions for a paltry 13 yards.

This anemic output marked a deeply disappointing follow-up to his Week 1 stat line of two catches for 31 yards. For a player of McLaurin's caliber, widely recognized as one of the NFL's premier route-runners and an elite talent, such a lack of usage is not only perplexing but borderline alarming.

The narrative surrounding McLaurin’s quiet start casts a spotlight on the Commanders’ new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, and second-year quarterback Sam Howell.

While Howell did manage to lead a remarkable comeback victory, the question of why Washington’s most dynamic offensive weapon was seemingly ignored remains central. Is it a matter of Howell not progressing through his reads efficiently? Is Bieniemy's scheme failing to get McLaurin open, or are there other factors at play that limited his opportunities?

For fantasy owners who drafted McLaurin with high expectations, these first two weeks have been frustrating, to say the least.

McLaurin’s talent is undeniable, and his ability to consistently produce even with subpar quarterback play has been a hallmark of his career. To see him virtually disappear from the stat sheet in critical early-season matchups raises red flags not just for his fantasy value, but for the overall potential of the Commanders' passing attack.

While the Commanders celebrated a hard-fought victory over the Broncos, the lingering question of Terry McLaurin’s role and usage looms large.

For Washington to truly contend and for McLaurin to reach his full potential, the offensive strategy must evolve to consistently incorporate their star receiver. Fans will be eagerly watching in the coming weeks for signs that "Scary Terry" can once again become the focal point of the Commanders' passing game and deliver the game-changing plays he’s known for.