Luke McCaffrey just made a case the Commanders can't ignore in Week 6

Luke McCaffrey has been a revelation this season. Not many thought the wide receiver would have an impact in any capacity after the Washington Commanders strengthened their offensive options throughout the offseason. But when all hope seemed lost, he became an essential part of the team's plans.

With Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown both sidelined for Washington's pivotal Monday Night Football showdown against the Chicago Bears, most fans anticipated a larger role for McCaffrey. This bears more significance considering Deebo Samuel Sr. is dealing with a heel injury that hindered his ability to make a valuable contribution.

And yet, Kliff Kingsbury either didn't call McCaffrey's number, or Jayden Daniels doesn't have enough confidence in the wideout to come through in key moments. Either way, they should have.

Commanders must find ways to maximize Luke McCaffrey's strengths on offense

McCaffrey got just one target, but he made the most of it. The 2024 third-round pick took advantage of some busted coverage to take it 33 yards for the score. And that was about it.

The former Rice standout didn't get another look, which was surprising and frustrating in equal measure. But there was another way that McCaffrey managed to contribute.

He's quickly becoming one of the league's most productive kick returners. McCaffrey's speed, vision, and ability to exploit gaps gave the Commanders fantastic field position throughout. This isn't a fluke; it's something he's done throughout the campaign and over the latter stages of 2024.

Simply put, McCaffrey is a playmaker. The Commanders should have made more use of this in the passing game, given that so many established veterans were either out or not at 100 percent. He made a strong case again with limited involvement, so Kliff Kingsbury has to take off the training wheels and let the second-year pro loose at some stage.

There isn't much more McCaffrey can do to pursue extended involvement. He's seizing almost every chance to shine in the passing game. He's making things happen as a kick returner. He's an exceptionally hard worker with the right mindset to develop continually. With the Commanders lacking a legitimate spark on offense right now, Kingsbury could do far worse than make him a focal point.

McLaurin and Brown are due back soon, which shifts the dynamic. Just how much they'll be able to handle after so long away from the gridiron is anyone's guess, but sending McCaffrey back to the fringes would be organizational malpractice after what he's put on tape in recent weeks.

Just find a way to maximize his skill set more frequently. It's not that hard.