Washington Position Group Breakdown: Running Backs
July 10, 2024
by Dave Earl
Running Backs Entering 2024 Season
The addition of Austin Ekeler should counter the loss of Antonio Gibson just fine, but that should go without saying. Gibson was never a natural enough runner to be a true 3 down back and his ball security was always a concern. Ekeler leads a running back room with some interesting upside, especially in Chris Rodriguez Jr., who appears to be a more natural runner than Brian Robinson Jr. A distinguishing factor between these two runners is that Robinson has displayed far more first contact power driving through tacklers at times; plus, the growth of him as a receiver was noticeable. So how does this position group break down?
| Players Bio | Contract Details | ||||||
| Player | Age | Exp. | Height | Weight | Cap Hit | Cap % | FA Year |
| Austin Ekeler | 29 | 8 | 5′ 9″ | 200 | $3.2M | 1.26% | 2026 |
| Brian Robinson Jr | 25 | 3 | 6′ 1″ | 228 | $1.4M | 0.54% | 2026 |
| Chris Rodriguez Jr | 24 | 2 | 5′ 11″ | 224 | $959K | 0.38% | 2027 |
| Jeremy McNichols | 28 | 4 | 5′ 9″ | 214 | $985K | 0.39% | 2025 |
| Austin Jones | 23 | Rookie | 5′ 10″ | 200 | $797K | 0.31% | 2027 |
| Michael Wiley | 23 | Rookie | 5′ 10″ | 209 | $803K | 0.31% | 2027 |
Austin Ekeler:
- Rundown: Signed to a 2 year deal this offseason, his cap percentage equals 1.26% of the team’s cap space, which indicative of his role going forward. It’s more than certain that Ekeler will be heavily involved beyond the passing game. We all know the receiving threat he poses, but, as far as a ball carrier, Ekeler has only had more than 200 attempts 2 twice in 7 years. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, he rushed for over 900 yards averaging 4.5 yards per carry, and over 10 touchdowns when eclipsing 200 attempts. Last season he was hampered by a high ankle sprain after opening the season in prime form. In week 1 against Miami, the 2023 season, he came out strong, rushing for 117 yards on 17 carries and 4 receptions for 47 yards (1 TD rushing and receiving) before his injury that game. For the remainder of the season, Ekeler was inconsistent and understandably recovering from that high ankle sprain.
- 2024 Offensive Role: Ekeler will be a valuable asset in the passing game for the young Jayden Daniels – that’s obvious – but what about the run game? While I believe Brian Robinson Jr will be in the conversation to carry a heavy load, Ekeler will very likely be somewhere around 12-14 rushes per game thus eclipsing 200 rushing attempts for the 3rd time in his career. This will be a prove-it year for him, no doubt.
Brian Robinson Jr.:
- Rundown: Most expect Robinson Jr. to be the workhorse runner, especially between the tackles and late into the game. While he does run with good power and has shown flashes of potential, he is a career 4.0 yards per carry runner so there is much for him to prove this offseason. Last year Robinson showed reliable hands in the passing game, hauling in 36 receptions off 43 targets and 368 yards plus 4 touchdowns.
- 2024 Offensive Role: As I mentioned, many expect him to be the workhorse runner but that is not a given at this point. If Robinson Jr. takes that next step I’d expect him to take a few carries away from Ekeler late in the games in which Washington is ahead. It’s entirely reasonable to see 12-14 carries per game with the occasional game close to 20 carries. Showing a level of competency in the passing game last season, Robinson will have every opportunity to take control of this position if he improves on that career 4.0 yards per carry.
Chris Rodriguez Jr:
- Rundown: Second-year running back Chris Rodriquez Jr. poses a legitimate threat to Robinson entering this offseason. Rodriquez averaged 4.8 yards per carry off 51 attempts and scored 2 touchdowns last season. He had identical yards rushing before contact average, 2.4, and after contact, at 2.4, which shows the natural power to always gain positive yards. As a comparison, Robinson produced 2.2 yards before contact and 1.8 yards after contact, albeit with a much higher volume of carries. Aside from being a more compact runner than Robinson, their athletic profile is very similar across the board.
- 2024 Offensive Role: Setup as the primary backup to Robinson, he will enter camp without fighting against front office loyalty, thus having the best opportunity to move up the depth chart. He will also play a vital role on special teams as well.
Jeremy McNichols:
- Rundown: Career journeyman running back who has played for 4 other teams over 6 years. He is a career 4.0 yards per carry average runner with the majority of his attempts during his time in Tennessee. He has been minimally used in the passing game with the majority of his receptions, with 28 of a total of 40 coming in the 2021 season.
- 2024 Offensive Role: McNichols’ path to a roster spot will be dependent on the two rookies’ performance behind him and/or if Robinson or Rodriquez completely trip up during the offseason. He will provide a veteran presence in the locker room, especially for Jayden Daniels but that won’t be enough to keep a roster spot.
The Rookies Scouting Report:
- Austin Jones: Oustanding vision with exceptional patience behind his blocks and very good footwork to get quickly into cuts. Very good straight-line speed and is instinctive enough to consistently set up would-be tacklers. Shows some hesitation within the tackle box and can begin shuffling his feet too often. He was a strong target in the USC passing game, so if Jones can improve his inside running game then there is potential for him to develop into a 3-down runner.
- Michael Wiley: He transitions quickly upfield after the reception and is very good as a pass blocker. He has strong reliable hands in the passing game but does not have great breakaway speed to gain separation. He utilizes his compact size between the tackles and is a perfect fit for goalline and short-yardage plays. Wiley does tend to run too upright and doesn’t regain momentum very well when having to redirect his runs.