The Washington Commanders saw something in Luke McCaffrey that others didn't en route to making him the No. 100 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. His high-level work ethic and assured hands saw him emerge on the wide receiver depth chart quickly. Fans were approaching his rookie year with cautious optimism, even if a pleasing preparation period made this difficult for many.
McCaffrey left a decent enough impression in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching all three of his targets for 18 receiving yards. This was followed by a goose egg against the New York Giants despite playing 56 percent of the team's offensive snaps.
The former Rice standout ran 23 routes without getting a single target. McCaffrey deserves credit for his blocking exploits, which was a potential concern during pre-draft evaluations. Though disappointing, some overlooked statistics offered a promising outlook for the wideout's long-term aspirations upon further examination.
Commanders WR Luke McCaffrey has one of the highest separation rates through Week 2
According to Pro Football Focus, McCaffrey is getting open consistently. He was ranked No. 4 in separation percentage in Week 2, which is measured by how often a wide receiver beats coverage. This places him at No. 3 across the league through the opening two weeks of the campaign.
McCaffrey is getting the separation needed to make plays. There's a difference between being open in college and the pros. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is discovering that during his impressive early transition. The more comfortable he becomes in the pocket and going through his progressions, the more his draft classmate will also benefit.
This was always going to be a gradual process for Washington's offense. There are a lot of new parts to mesh and miracles weren't going to happen overnight. Kliff Kingsbury is relying heavily on the run game to take the initial heat off Daniels. That became evident quickly against the Giants, but the promising signal-caller did get additional opportunities to showcase his prowess in the passing game.
Even though McCaffrey didn't benefit from that this week, it's not for a lack of trying. His route efficiency is developing quicker than anyone envisaged. The stats prove it and this also comes across on the game film for good measure.
It won't be going unnoticed by Kingsbury as part of his week-to-week planning. Zach Ertz is making plays and Noah Brown made an encouraging impression on his debut. Getting the likes of McCaffrey and Terry McLarin more opportunities is only going to help Washington's cause.
The NFL is becoming more reliant on analytics. This is also something majority partner Josh Harris wants to implement across the Commanders' football operation under his leadership - something that received the approval of general manager Adam Peters during their lengthy discussions before confirming his appointment.
The fact McCaffrey is so far up the separation percentage standings without getting any targets is something to ponder. It could be about trust - that's the case for most first-year pros - but the shackles have to be taken off at some point.
What better time than on the road versus a potential playoff contender on Monday Night Football? Either way, a McCaffrey breakout performance might not be too far away based on eye-catching separation numbers.
