June 5, 2025

One of the biggest winners of the 2025 NFL Draft may have been Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr., who emerged from the spring without any significant new competition for touches in his backfield. The Commanders only used a seventh-round pick to add positional depth, selecting Jacory Croskey-Merritt out of Arizona. Washington's coaching staff trusts Robinson after posting a career-high 799 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games. He was mostly an afterthought for fantasy at the beginning of last season with an ADP of 103 on Sleeper. However, with the stellar play of rookie QB Jayden Daniels elevating the entire offense and his no-nonsense running style, "BRob" finished as the RB23 in points per game. Through Week 5, Robinson was the RB7 overall, ahead of stars such as Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jonathan Taylor. Knee and hamstring injuries caused Robinson to miss some time. From Week 7 on, in the games Robinson was active, he logged just 50% or more snaps, and scored a respectable 11.6 points per game in half-PPR formats. Austin Ekeler remains in Washington and will surely have a role in 2025, but the former All-Pro also dealt with his fair share of injuries, missing five games last season due to a concussion. Ekeler's presence won't significantly affect Robinson's opportunities. Especially near the goal line, where he ranked fourth league-wide in carries inside the 10-yard line. Robinson may sit outside the top 30 in evaded tackles, juke rate, and routes run, but his role remains secure in a growing offense led by an elite quarterback. The former Alabama bruiser should provide consistent production for teams that are looking to acquire high-floor flex options in later rounds. Robinson could provide steady RB2 value and is RB29 in the latest RotoBaller rankings heading into fantasy drafts this summer.--Ryan J. Goodman