5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' win at the Cardinals in Week 4
By Dean Jones
Loser No. 1
Dante Fowler Jr. - Commanders OLB
The Washington Commanders finally got things going defensively after an indifferent start. This was a huge positive and kept star quarterback Kyler Murray in check for the most part. There wasn't much they could do to prevent James Conner from doing damage, but the running back's influence waned once the score got out of hand.
If there was one negative throughout the contest, and for a large part of the season, it's the minimal production offered by Dante Fowler Jr. The outside linebacker is finding life tough generating pressure. Perhaps more concerning is his inability to set the edge effectively against the run.
There's still time for Fowler to make an impression. His role is more rotational in any case, but the Commanders brought him in to make a difference. Something he just isn't doing right now.
Nobody is pressing the panic button just yet. But if Fowler cannot turn things around in the coming weeks, it might force general manager Adam Peters into making a move before the trade deadline to bolster their edge rushing options.
Winner No. 2
Olamide Zaccheaus - Commanders WR
The Commanders are reportedly looking to add another wide receiver before the trade deadline. Whether general manager Adam Peters finds the right character that fits into his long-term plans remains to be seen, but there's a lot to like about how different complementary pieces are stepping up to provide support to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and Pro Bowl pass-catcher Terry McLaurin.
It was Olamide Zaccheaus' turn at the Cardinals. The wideout earned his spot on the roster over training camp and maximized increased involvement in this one. The former undrafted free agent out of Virginia played with an urgency and fire that was hard not to love. There was a silly taunting penalty as one blemish, but it was an outstanding contribution aside from that.
Zaccheaus hauled in all six of his targets for 85 receiving yards. This added another wrinkle to Washington's high-octane offense, one Arizona didn't look ready for with Daniels providing surgeon-like precision under center.
The Commanders have shown a willingness to provide every wideout with an opportunity to showcase their credentials. Zaccheaus took full advantage, which will give opposing defenses even more headaches as the campaign goes on.