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The Commanders' three-headed backfield situation in 2022 was an absolute nightmare for fantasy, but things got a lot more interesting when the team moved on from pass-catching specialist J.D. McKissic this offseason. While the Commanders did draft Chris Rodriguez in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, they have not otherwise addressed the position throughout the offseason and it seems likely that the duo of Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr. will split touches in this backfield.
While it was Robinson who out-scored Gibson on a per-game basis in 2022, it's Gibson who possesses the skill set that is more likely to benefit from McKissic's absence. Gibson himself has caught 36, 42, and then 46 passes in his three seasons as a pro. His reception total in 2022 put him at 13th among all running backs - a ranking that would've almost certainly been higher had he not missed the final two games of the season.
Gibson is a size-speed specimen like few others in the league which really gives him the potential for a breakout season here in 2023. The biggest thing holding back Gibson is that Robinson did show himself to be at least a viable NFL grinder as a rookie, which will almost certainly mean that he'll continue to have a significant role even if Gibson is performing better on a per-touch basis. Nevertheless, from a strict fantasy standpoint, we should tend to prefer players who have the physical upside of commanding 40 percent or more of the team's carries while also seeing 70-plus targets. That's what Gibson provides and it's why fantasy managers should take the discount on him as the Washington running back to own, even if he ends up technically starting fewer games than Robinson.
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Commanders replace Antonio Gibson with Austin Ekeler
Likely to share time with Brian Robinson Jr.
By: Mike Krueger | Mon Mar 11, 7:05 pm
|  | It’s a 2-year, $11.43M deal for Austin Ekeler to the #Commanders, sources tell @BleacherReport - as first reported by @AdamSchefter. (Jordan Schultz on X)
FFToday's Take: Earlier in the day, Antonio Gibson agreed with the Patriots on a three-year deal leaving a void in the Washington running back room. Quickly, the Commanders signed Ekeler on a relatively cheap deal. He'll pair nicely with Brian Robinson Jr. but isn't likely to be the fantasy stud we've seen him be with the Chargers. Ekeler's efficiency dipped last season as he was bothered by an ankle injury while scoring just 6 touchdowns.
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