Commander Country

Commanders appear set at running back — for now

The Washington Commanders are hoping to run the ball more effectively in the upcoming season.
Jeremy Brener|
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. runs against the New Orleans Saints.
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. runs against the New Orleans Saints. | Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

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Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders hope to run the ball more in the upcoming season.

Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton believes that the Commanders have the tools to be able to do that.

READ MORE: Senior Bowl's rise to NFL Draft prominence being leveraged by Commanders

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Fiel
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Commanders running backs could make noise

"Robinson and Ekeler should remain atop the Washington Commanders' depth chart, and Croskey-Merritt can provide a spark," Moton wrote.

"While the Commanders' top two tailbacks don't bring much speed to the offense, Robinson averaged 4.3 yards per carry and Ekeler averaged 6.5 yards per touch last season. They're both reliable chain-movers.”

"Ekeler is still one of the league's better pass-catching running backs.”

"The Commanders selected Croskey-Merritt with the 245th pick. In 2023, he rushed 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He lost that momentum when he transferred from New Mexico to Arizona and only played one game because of eligibility issues stemming from his time at Alabama State in 2019.”

"Yet the Commanders still took a seventh-round flier on Croskey-Merritt, who could push Rodriguez for the third-string position.”

The Commanders will look to develop their younger running backs in hopes of challenging Robinson and Ekeler for more carries in the upcoming season.

READ MORE: Commanders add 1,000-yard receiver to roster following NFL Draft

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2025 offseason.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several On SI sites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid and resides in Central Florida. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

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