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Washington Football Team: Five players to watch vs. Steelers

By Jacob Camenker

Sep 20, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Football Team defensive tackle Daron Payne (94) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Football Team defensive tackle Daron Payne (94) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – OCTOBER 18: Kendall Fuller #29 of the Washington Football Team intercepts a pass from Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on October 18, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – OCTOBER 18: Kendall Fuller #29 of the Washington Football Team intercepts a pass from Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on October 18, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

4. CB Kendall Fuller

The Steelers have, arguably, the best receiving corps in the NFL. Between JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, and James Washington, it is very hard to contain them all, and Washington’s cornerback room will be tested in this game as a result.

Washington does have the No. 1 ranked pass defense in the NFL. Though that may be a bit of a mirage as they have played five games against the NFC East, they still have proven to be solid through the air on defense, and Kendall Fuller has been their best players at the position.

Fuller has been a ballhawk for Washington and while more attention has gone to Ronald Darby for his strong play lately (though not on Thanksgiving Day), Fuller’s play will be most critical in this game because of the way that the Pittsburgh offense has operated this year.

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The Steelers offense is all about the short passing game right now. They like to throw very quick passes to get the ball in the hands of their receivers to see what they can do after the catch. That didn’t work too well against the Ravens last week as their secondary was prepared to play quickly in short, tight spaces.

Washington will need to be ready to do the same. And Fuller figures to be the best at doing that. He’s the most versatile piece in the team’s secondary and he’ll be able to play outside, in the slot, and potentially at safety to make quick plays on the ball this week. Washington will need him to be ready to jump routes and get deflections to disrupt the rhythm of the Steelers offense.

If Washington is going to find success against the pass, Fuller will need to play one of his better games of the season. Truly, the team needs him to shut down whichever receiver he guards so the rest of the defense can focus on containing the other pass-catching options that Pittsburgh has on the field at any given time.

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