Brian Robinson Jr. vs. Austin Ekeler: Fantasy Football Outlooks for Washington Commanders RBs

Should I draft Brian Robinson Jr. or Austin Ekeler for fantasy football drafts? Who is the RB1 for the Commanders in 2025? Joey tells you which running back to draft.

Many speculated that the Commanders would add a running back this offseason, but they chose not to do so in either free agency or the draft. The team is putting its trust in Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler, who will dominate the backfield for the second straight year.

Each back's role is clear-cut: Robinson will handle a larger load on the ground and in the red zone, and Ekeler will produce more as a pass-catcher and handle the majority of the third downs. But what does this mean for their fantasy values?

With Jayden Daniels' entire career ahead of him in Washington, the team's offense is poised to continue thriving. Let’s take a look at the Commanders' situation and predict how each back will perform in 2025.

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Running Back Skill Sets - Fantasy Football Outlook

As previously mentioned, both Robinson and Ekeler have different and clearly defined roles, but how do their skills as players allow them to perform these roles so well? Let's start with Robinson, who performed well in 2024 despite missing three games with knee, ankle, and hamstring injuries.

At 6-foot-1, 228 pounds, Robinson is a big and powerful back with an aggressive running style. What Robinson lacks in long speed, he makes up for with brute strength and toughness, allowing him to shake off tacklers and push forward for more yards.

Brian Robinson Jr. just pulled off a magic trick 👀

📺: #NYGvsWAS on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/5IyJP0JVn0

— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024

That kind of persistence, along with the presence of Daniels, helped Robinson put up the most efficient numbers of his career. He finished the year with 799 yards and eight touchdowns on 187 carries, averaging a career-best 4.3 yards per carry.

This improved rushing attack helped make the Commanders one of the league's top offenses, as they averaged 28.5 points per game in 2024, the fifth-best in the NFL.

Robinson is also a solid pass-catcher out of the backfield. In 2023, before the arrival of Ekeler, Robinson snagged 36 of 43 targets for 368 yards and four TDs. He's a dangerous weapon with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by his 10.2 yards per catch that season. But with Ekeler now in town, he will not get the chance to show off that ability as often.

That is precisely what Ekeler adds to this Commanders offense. Measuring at 5-foot-9, 200 pounds, Ekeler is a short and compact runner who excels outside the tackles and after the catch.

Formerly a workhorse running back for the Chargers, Ekeler was one of the league's best in the position from 2021 to 2022. He racked up 3,195 yards from scrimmage and 38 total touchdowns in those two seasons.

But Ekeler's size made him an injury risk, resulting in missed time and a decline in performance. That, combined with his age, caused Washington to sign Ekeler as a secondary running back and receiving option. However, this smaller workload has helped to revive the veteran's efficiency. His 4.8 yards per carry and 10.5 yards per catch in 2024 were both outstanding.

.@AustinEkeler goes 24 yards for the TD!

📺: #WASvsCIN on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/CVzFptP3Ko

— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2024

Ekeler became a key component of the Commanders offense in 2024, running for 367 yards and four TDs while catching 35 passes for 366 yards. His ability on third downs made Daniels' job easier.

Although he is now 30 years old, Ekeler appears to have held onto his elusiveness and even regained some speed. While his workload will likely continue to be limited to keep him fresh, Ekeler will produce as the Commanders' RB2 if that is the case.

He may be on his way out of the NFL, but Ekeler still has plenty to contribute in 2025.

Offseason Changes - Fantasy Football Outlook

In their first season under new management, the Commanders went 12-5 and made the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991. So naturally, head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. are all set to return for their second seasons in Washington.

A big part of that was the presence of the rookie QB Daniels, who proved himself as one of the league's best at the position in just one year. His excellent reading of the field, combined with his athletic gifts, made him a nightmare for any defense to stop.

The task for the Commanders now is to reach that next level and contend for a Super Bowl. While the Commanders roster is outstanding, the team's average age is very old; at 28.1 years, that figure was the highest among playoff teams. The team's history of poor drafting meant that it had to rely on free agents for a boost, but an influx of youth is now needed.

Washington has begun this path with its actions in the 2025 NFL Draft. The team's first three draft picks are young talents with the potential to contribute right away. The biggest of those picks was offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., a physical player who will help protect Daniels and create space for the ground game.

The other two picks will also be important for the Commanders in 2025. Cornerback Trey Amos will patch up the back end of the team's defense, and receiver Jaylin Lane provides some much-needed depth at the position.

However, the Commanders' most significant move of the offseason came during free agency, when they traded for franchise tackle Laremy Tunsil. Tunsil on the left side of the offensive line and Conerly on the right should help the offense massively. While the Washington offensive line wasn't bad in 2024, it has now become a clear strength and should help Daniels and his weapons make more plays.

And speaking of weapons, the Commanders added another one by trading for versatile wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. While Samuel is now 29 and has a lengthy injury history, his ability to contribute on the ground and in the screen game could be the missing ingredient in the Washington offense.

Predictions - Fantasy Football Outlook

It's set to be a big year for Robinson in terms of his career path. Going into the fourth and final season of his rookie contract, the 26-year-old will have to prove his worth to earn a second contract with the Commanders.

And if Robinson plays too well, a payday from another team is also on the cards. A contending team like Washington might not be willing to pay top dollar to keep him should he do so.

As long as Robinson stays healthy, he will continue to earn most of the carries for the Commanders' excellent offense. Also, his yards per carry and touchdowns could potentially increase due to the upgraded offensive line.

However, his ceiling is still limited due to the presence of Ekeler. That makes Robinson an RB2 for fantasy football purposes, rather than the potential RB1 he could be if the backfield were his alone.

Comparatively, Ekeler's value comes as a late-round backup or handcuff to Robinson. His efficiency likely means that he would put up excellent numbers should Robinson go down with an injury.

This is a great backfield in a great situation, and I like both players for their respective values come draft day. If the Washington offensive line plays up to its potential in 2025, both Robinson and Ekeler should outperform their average draft positions.

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