During the offseason, the Washington Commanders signed running back Austin Ekeler as a free agent. Ekeler was with the Los Angeles Chargers throughout the start of his career. This was a very good signing for Washington this offseason. They needed help in the backfield and this was a good player to sign.
Having Austin Ekeler in the backfield will help out rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Brian Robinson is projected to be the backup running back behind Ekeler this season. The plan is from them to split carries for the Commanders this season.
This running-back tandem could be very effective for Washington this season. The Commanders finished with a 4-13 record last season and they will look to show signs of improvement this season.
Pro Football Network Thinks That Washington Commanders Running Back Austin Ekeler Is Overrated
Pro Football Network writer Anthony DiBona thinks that the most overrated player on the Washington Commanders this season will be Austin Ekeler. This was a very shocking pick because Ekeler might be the best offensive player on the roster other than Terry McLaurin.
DiBona said:
“Austin Ekeler was once viewed as one of the top running backs in the NFL and an elite player in fantasy football. However, his production fell off drastically in 2023, as he looked slow during his final season with the Chargers.
Despite Ekeler’s struggles last season, the Washington Commanders are ready to give the 29-year-old RB another chance. His name certainly still draws attention, but it’s fair to say that Ekeler has become overrated at this point in his career.”
Last season with the Los Angeles Chargers, he rushed for 628 yards on 179 carries and five touchdowns, along with averaging 3.5 yards per carry. He also caught 51 passes for 436 yards receiving and one touchdown, along with averaging 8.5 yards per reception.
If the Washington Commanders are going to be good this season, Ekeler is going to have to produce on offense. If he is not producing, Washington will not be a very good football team and they may not be anyway. Ekeler has the talent to rush for 1,000 yards this season.
If anything else, the Washington Commanders starting running back could have a bounce-back season. Washington does not have much depth at the position outside of Ekeler and Robinson. He rushed for 915 yards in 2022 with the Chargers and that was his career high.
It would not be a surprise to see Ekeler not have a bounce-back season. He is certainly not an overrated player for the Washington Commanders.
