Will Washington’s running game improve in 2025?
June 2, 2025
by Steve Thomas
Washington’s 2024 run game beyond the contributions of star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was mostly average at best. They had a couple of games here and there in which one running back or another had a positive game, but for the most part, the running group didn’t excel. Washington didn’t do much with the running back room directly this offseason, only drafting rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt out of Arizona in the seventh round. However, they also made an effort to improve their offensive line, most notably trading for star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and spending their first round pick on Josh Conerly Jr. from Oregon. How much difference will this make in this coming season? Washington needs to take finding an effective running game that isn’t so reliant on Jayden Daniels as a priority. Can they get it done? Let’s dig into this issue.
First, let’s take a look at what happened last season. In total in 2024, Washington’s running backs had 354 carries for 1600 yards, which is 4.5 yards per attempt. That combined total includes (1) Brian Robinson, who had 187 carries for 799 yards, which is 4.3 yards per carry , (2) Austin Ekeler, who had 77 carries for 367 yards, which is 4.8 yards per attempt, (3) Jeremy McNichols, who had 55 carries for 261 yards, which is 4.7 yards per attempt, and (4) Chris Rodriguez, who had 35 carries for 173 yards, which is 4.9 yards per attempt.
The following list is the combined game-by-game rush totals for all Washington running backs, excluding Daniels and other non-running backs:
Week 1, Buccaneers: 14 carries, 50 yds, 3.6 YPC (Robinson 12 / 40 yds; Ekeler 2 / 10 yds)
Week 2, Giants: 25 carries, 171 yds, 6.8 YPC (Robinson 17 / 133 yds; Ekeler 8 / 38 yds)
Week 3, Bengals: 20 carries, 69 yds, 3.5 YPC (Robinson 16 / 33; Ekeler 3 / 35 yds; McNichols 1 / 1 yd)
Week 4, Cardinals: 29 carries, 169 yds, 5.8 YPC (Robinson 21 / 101; McNichols 8 / 68 yds)
Week 5, Browns: 20 carries, 129 yds, 6.5 YPC (Robinson 7 18; Ekeler 6 / 67; McNichols 7 / 44)
Week 6, Baltimore: 11 carries, 30 yds, 2.7 YPC (Ekler 9 / 21; McNichols 2 / 9)
Week 7, Panthers: 23 carries, 130 yds, 5.7 YPC (Robinson 12 / 71; Ekeler 4 / 17; McNichols 7 / 42)
Week 8, Bears: 24 carries, 116 yds, 4.8 YPC (Robinson 16 / 65; Ekeler 7 / 52; McNichols 1 / -1)
Week 9, Giants: 30 carries, 114 yds, 3.8 YPC (Rodriguez 11 / 52; Ekeler 11 / 42; McNichols 8 / 20)
Week 10, Steelers: 19 carries, 55 yds, 2.9 YPC (Rodriguez 2 / 4; Ekeler 13 / 44; McNichols 4 / 7)
Week 11, Eagles: 21 carries, 75 yds, 3.6 YPC (Robinson 16 / 63; Ekeler 2 / 7; McNichols 3 / 5)
Week 12, Cowboys: 17 carries, 57 yds, 3.4 YPC (Robinson 5 / 13; Ekeler 9 / 22; McNichols 3 / 22)
Week 13, Titans: 35 carries, 229 yds, 6.5 YPC (Robinson 16 / 103; Rodriguez 13 / 94; McNichols 6 / 32)
Week 15, Saints: 24 carries, 71 yds, 3.0 YPC (Robinson 21 / 65; Rodriguez 1 / 2; McNichols 2 / 4)
Week 16, Eagles: 15 carries, 32 yds, 2.1 YPC (Robinson 10 / 24; Rodriguez 3 / 5; McNichols 2 / 3)
Week 17, Falcons: 19 carries, 81 yds, 4.3 YPC (Robinson 13 / 60; Rodriguez 5 / 16; McNichols 1 / 5)
Week 18, Dallas: 8 carries, 22 yds, 2.8 YPC (Robinson 5 / 10; Ekeler 3 / 12)
As you can see, Washington’s running backs collectively produced less than 4.5 yards per carry in 11 games last season, and only had 6 in which they were over that mark. They were at 3.5 yards per carry or less in 7 or those 11 games. For those counting, that’s almost half a season in which Washington’s running back group was collectively more than a full yard below where you’d ideally want them to be, which in my view is 4.5 yards per carry.
Furthermore, of the six games over 4.5 yards per carry, five of those games were at 5.7 yards per carry or higher, all against lesser teams: Giants, Cardinals, Browns, Panthers, and Titans. Many of the worst games were not surprisingly against better teams: 2.7 yards per carry against the Ravens, 2.9 against the Steelers, and 2.1 against the Eagles.
What all of this tells me is that last season, Washington running backs were good on a whole season basis, but those numbers were boosted by a handful of great games. They weren’t an asset against better teams. I don’t think any of last year’s running backs are going to all of a sudden make noticeable improvements – Brian Robinson is what he is, which is to say an average at best running back who will produce above-average results once or twice a season. Rodriguez and McNichols have had a moment or two here and there, but for the most part appear to be typical backup running backs.
Most draft analysts projected Jacory Croskey-Merritt to be a backup first and second down running back. He doesn’t have much of a history as a pass-catcher, but as a runner, he comes across as a straight-ahead, downhill runner with an outstanding burst. His collegiate highlights are filled with long runs through wide-open gaps helpfully provided by second-rate defenses that won’t be in the NFL. However, what those runs did show, beyond his burst, is vision and an ability to quickly get downhill. There’s no telling how he’ll turn out with Washington, of course, but at a minimum, there’s at least a chance for him to be an improvement on first and second downs over Robinson. He’s a bit of a mystery since he was unable to play more than 1 game in 2024 due to his eligibility issues.[1]
Washington’s better shot at improvement is via their offensive line improvements. Star left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who’s been to five Pro Bowls, is known as an elite pass blocker, but less so as a run blocker. Most view Tunsil as roughly average in the run game. If that’s true, I’m not sure that he’s going to be a dramatic improvement on the ground from last season. Conerly may be in a similar boat – he doesn’t have great strength by NFL tackle standards, but does have good footwork and arm length. However, like Tunsil, he’s also known as a pass blocker first, in that he’s been considered to be elite at that skill. I don’t think either one of these players are going to mean that Washington’s offensive line is all of a sudden going to be able to consistently open up rushing lanes that didn’t exist last year, particularly against the NFL’s more talented defensive fronts. This is especially true given that Samuel Cosmi will likely be out for the entire season, or at least most of it, due to his knee injury.
So what does this mean to Washington’s running game in 2025? Unfortunately, it appears most likely that it will continue to be mostly average. None of the players they brought in appear to be assets who will equate to a tremendous improvement on the ground, and to my knowledge, the scheme hasn’t changed. I think we’re in for another year of average performance on the ground for the team’s non-Jayden Daniels running backs.
What do you think? Let me know in the comment section.
[1] For those who aren’t aware, Croskey-Merritt’s eligibility issues were caused by a dispute over a redshirt year and nothing to do with his behavior.