Commanders have a Week 1 breakout brewing and the league has no idea

It's all hands on deck for the Washington Commanders as they look to kickstart their 2025 season at the first time of asking. The New York Giants stand in their way at Northwest Stadium this weekend, which could be a trickier divisional contest than the sportbooks seem to believe.

Dan Quinn is demanding nothing but excellence from his squad after reaching incredible heights last time around. There is no settling or getting complacent; everyone wants to build on these accomplishments to become a perennial contender. It will be more challenging, but those in power believe the pieces are in place to excel once again.

The Commanders might also be sitting on a Week 1 breakout star against the Giants. And if the league is unaware of the tools that wide receiver Jaylin Lane brings to the table, they might have their perceptions altered on his NFL debut.

Jaylin Lane could make a big impact for Commanders in Week 1 against the Giants

Washington might need more from Lane than originally anticipated. Terry McLaurin resolved his contract issue, but he might not be ready for a full workload after missing months of practice over the summer. The same goes for Noah Brown, who was carted off at mandatory minicamp to complicate his preparation process.

Both should be on the field in Week 1. But considering the Commanders only took five receivers onto their 53-man roster, that indicates a level of confidence in Lane's chances of carving out a prominent role for himself.

One could make a strong case for Lane already being ahead of Luke McCaffrey. He's earned the respect of quarterback Jayden Daniels and McLaurin for his application and overall development so far. Given the esteem in which this duo is held, the same feeling is probably enveloping the locker room where the Virginia Tech product is concerned.

Lane will sit behind McLaurin, Brown, and Deebo Samuel Sr. Even so, it would be surprising if Kliff Kingsbury didn't have some specific play designs for the rookie. The Giants' defense is a huge obstacle to overcome, but if the first-year pro can get open, Daniels will find him.

There is another way in which Lane can make a massive impact. He is listed as Washington's starting punt returner to begin the campaign. This is the best way to maximize his explosiveness and elusiveness, which can hopefully put the Commanders in strong field position more often than not.

If it takes Lane a little longer to announce himself on the NFL stage, it's not the end of the world. However, the table is set for a big afternoon if opportunities arise.