Washington Position Group Breakdown: Running Backs

July 8, 2025

by David Earl

Top Four Returning

	2024 Season Stats
Player	G	GS	Att	Yds	TD	Succ %	Y/A	Y/G
Brian Robinson	14	13	187	799	8	48.7%	4.3	57.1
Austin Ekeler	12	6	77	367.0	4	51.9%	4.8	30.6
Jeremy McNichols	14	0	41	156.0	0	41.5%	3.8	11.1
Chris Rodriguez Jr.	9	0	35	173.0	2	74.3%	4.9	19.2

Washington’s 5th-ranked running game looks promising on the surface, but peeling away the top layer we see two very different stories. 2024 was Brian Robinson Jr.’s best season.  He averaged 4.3 yards per carry and managed to run for more than 60 yards in a game 7 times, eclipsing the 100-yard mark 3 times during the regular season. In comparison, Saquon Barkley was held under 100 yards rushing just five times and Derrick Henry averaged over 113 yards rushing per game. In contrast, Robinson averaged 57 yards per game. Yes, these are unfair comparisons, but to have an effective offense against championship teams, Washington’s offense will need a feature running back who is better than the 21st-ranked runner in yards per game average.

The rushing success rate (percentage of runs resulting in a 1st down) does not entirely favor Washington entering the 2025 season. While an improved offensive line will surely help here, how much improvement could we expect from Brian Robinson’s 48.7% success rate? He ranked 20th last season among running backs having 150 or more rushing attempts. Now we know he is not on the level of Barkley or Henry, but also comparing their success rates to Robinson isn’t a good comparison either. Robinson’s success is approximately 8% less than the average rate among the top 5 in the league of a 56.9% success rate. Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson led the league with a 60.2% success rate. The Cowboys’ Rico Dowdle came in 7th overall at a 53.6% success rate behind one of the worst offensive lines last season while Barkley rounds out the top 10 with a 52.5% success rate. As Washington’s lead running back entering the 2025 season, his 48.7% success rate accompanied by a league rank of 19th in 4.3 yards per carry (with 150 carries or more) will have to improve. This will be a crucial season for Robinson especially under a regime that did not draft him either.

With a smaller sample size, Austin Ekeler had a 51.9% success rate on runs resulting in a first down and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. At this point of his career, Ekeler is more of a receiving option with solid production as a ball carrier. Chris Rodriguez Jr. certainly flashed, producing a 74.3% success rate and 4.9 yards per carry although he only had 35 rushing attempts in the season. Jeremy McNichols is a journeyman who offers veteran depth scoring a 41.5% success rate and a 3.8 yards per carry average on 41 rushing attempts. As this running back room lacks any true dynamic running back who has that home run threat, there is an opportunity here for 7th round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is an interesting prospect, to say the least. He was a zero-star recruit who played for Lanier High in Montgomery, Alabama. He played 3 seasons for the Alabama State Hornets, finishing with 1,053 yards, an average of 3.7 yards per attempt, and 27 receptions for 259 yards and 12 touchdowns total. After receiving a 3-star rating, he transferred to the New Mexico Lobos in the 2023 season. There, he had 1,190 yards rushing, averaging 6.3 yards per carry and hauling in 72 yards from 7 receptions. He amassed 1,262 total yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns. After entering the transfer portal and landing with the Arizona Wildcats, Croskey-Merritt managed 13 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown in the opening game of the 2024 season. It would be the only game he played because he was deemed ineligible for the remainder of the 2024 season as a result of confusion regarding whether he redshirted the 2018 season.

His scouting report states that he is a physical downhill runner with excellent one-cut vision. He is a patient runner who follows lead blocks very well and quickly processes the defense on the move. He has a natural feel as a runner with vision to redirect quickly, and does a great job in manipulating the defenders. While used in a limited role in the passing game throughout his college career, Croskey-Merritt attacks the ball in the air very well, but has a limited route tree. He does run a bit upright at times and will dance a bit too much in the backfield, limiting his explosive plays. While there is some upside as a potential starter in a running back by committee system, his lack of experience in the passing game will certainly limit his time on the field early in his career.

The Remaining Pieces

Unless something out of the ordinary happens, Kazmeir Allen, Demetric Felton, and Michael Wiley are playing for a practice squad role. Allen signed as an undrafted free agent wide receiver in the 2023 offseason but never found a role as a returner on special teams to this point. I would favor him as the favorite and best option of these three to resign for the practice squad.

Washington’s running back room currently lacks any true explosive game-changing threat. Robinson has been a serviceable runner who can grind out the tough yards, but is limited in the passing game and does not have the top-end speed to break away from the second-level defenders. Ekeler has been valuable in the passing game, but at 30 years old, he is just not an every-down runner. Beyond them, Washington has an intriguing option in Rodriguez and the veteran McNicols, so there is nothing for defensive coordinators to fear entering the 2025 season. If Croskey-Merritt can improve in the passing game and limit his wasted movement in the backfield, it’s not far-fetched to think that he could challenge for a roster spot. It wasn’t too long ago that a 2022 7th round running back for the Kansas City Chiefs became an impactful play in year one in Isiah Pacheco, and Croskey-Merritt has that opportunity in this running back room for Washington.