Antonio Williams Fantasy Overview

His College Career Produced Early Highs … And Plenty of Volatility

Williams joined the college ranks as a four-star prospect, opting for Clemson over a number of high-profile schools like Georgia, Texas, and Notre Dame.

He broke out immediately at Clemson with team highs in catches (56) and yards (604), plus 4 TDs. Toe and ankle injuries stalled that momentum in Year 2 and cost him eight games.

Williams rebounded with a career-best 2024: 75 receptions, 904 yards, and 11 TDs. Those amounted to team highs in reception share (22.6%), receiving yardage share (23.1%), and receiving TD share (29.7%).

Williams’ production slipped as a senior, partly because Clemson’s offense regressed. QB Cade Klubnik fell from 260 passing yards and 2.6 TDs per game in 2024 to 245.2 yards and 1.33 TDs. Williams also lost two games to a September hamstring injury.

Clemson Placed Him in a Specific Role

Clemson utilized Williams in a shorter-range, slot-heavy role.

In four seasons, he ran 78% of his routes from the slot. Meanwhile, his career average depth of target stood at 8.4 yards.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Projected Role & Competition

The Commanders saw enough to draft Williams early in Round 3 as the ninth WR off the board.

The landing spot looks promising for a Year 1 role. The Commanders return Terry McLaurin as the clear top target, but there’s not an established No. 2 behind him. Williams will compete with this underwhelming veteran group:

• Treylon Burks
• Dyami Brown
• Van Jefferson
• Jaylin Lane
• Luke McCaffrey

Only Jefferson has exceeded 30 catches in a season or reached 400 yards, and even he hasn't done either since 2021.

TE Chig Okonkwo brings an athletic skill set and a new three-year deal with $16.7 million guaranteed. But he’s reached a 15% target share only once in four seasons (2023). So there’s likely room for him and Williams to co-exist.

Supporting Cast

Injuries wrecked Jayden Daniels’ 2025, but his 2024 rookie campaign showed he can elevate the passing game.

Among 28 QBs with 300+ attempts that year, Daniels ranked sixth in catchable-throw rate and eighth in adjusted completion rate.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

The Commanders are learning a new scheme from first-time play caller David Blough. A former NFL QB, Blough spent the past two seasons as Washington’s assistant QBs coach, so he brings familiarity with Daniels.

His approach should look much different from former OC Kliff Kingsbury’s. Washington led the league in shotgun rate (86.9%) and no-huddle rate (60.8%) in 2025, but Blough’s unit is expected to play slower with more under-center and play-action looks.

Blough explained the goal at minicamp.

“Just trying to open (the quarterback’s) eyes, maybe, under center to some of the play-action concepts and different things we want to (use to) stretch people horizontally and vertically,” Blough said via The Athletic. “We’re not creating essentially new concepts. Just asking them to do different things.”

We expect Williams – at 5’11, 187 pounds -- to spend most of his time in the slot. But GM Adam Peters praised his versatility after the draft. Williams also impressed in the offseason program, drawing positive chatter from Blough.

"Antonio's been great stepping in, learning the system, and he's made some plays out here, too, which has been exciting.”

Blough might prove effective as a play caller, but slower pace and lower play volume would be tough on a secondary target. We also project the Commanders for a low 52% pass rate. That would have ranked fourth-lowest in the league last year.

Paths To Ceiling

Washington’s lack of proven pass catchers gives Williams a realistic chance to emerge as the No. 2 target. Williams could become a flex-level spot starter if he wins a spot in two-WR sets and earns targets with his short-range, PPR-friendly skill set. He’d also need Daniels to remain healthy and regain his rookie-year efficiency.

Risk Factors

Can Williams prove ready right away? Over the past 10 seasons, only 10 of 210 WRs drafted in Round 3 or later have reached 600 receiving yards as rookies. Only eight have hit 50 catches.

The most likely outcome has Williams settling in as a role player rather than an offensive focal point, making it tough for him to become a fantasy standout.