Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury says RB Austin Ekeler looks as good as ever. "I watch [Ekeler] and I'm like, 'This guy is tremendous.' So, I'm not sure what it was last year, but he hasn't lost a step." Washington, of course, signed Ekeler in free agency to join RB Brian Robinson Jr. -- while also letting RB Antonio Gibson leave for New England.
More from Kingsbury: "He's as quick, and as fast and as strong as I've seen him. Have just been really pleased. I didn't study him much in free agency. I didn't think he'd be there and he was there late, and once we got him, 'This is unbelievable that we got this guy and he is in this form.' The compliment of him and B-Rob is great. You have a power back who has great hands and then you have a quick twitch smaller guy who's been a 100-catch guy in the NFL. So, couldn't be more pleased with that one-two punch and the different things that we'll be able to do with both those guys."
Kingsbury's final season in Arizona (2022) found the backfield leaning heavily on RB James Conner. But that was likely primarily because the other options stunk. Eno Benjamin ranked second on that squad in carries and RB receptions.
The year before saw Chase Edmonds take a much larger share, including leading Conner in receptions (3.6 per game vs. 2.5). Kingsbury also featured split backfields in 2019 and 2020, his first two Cardinals campaigns.
Expect Robinson and Ekeler to each be strongly involved this season, with Robinson the ground leader and Ekeler likely well ahead in receptions.
Of course, each player is also capable of contributing in the other area as well.
One key issue for Ekeler's outlook will be how much and how well QB Jayden Daniels throws to RBs -- along with exactly how Washington deploys Ekeler.
A dearth of proven receiving options beyond Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson should help him gain opportunities.
Robinson will be at least a mild fantasy loser in the presence of a healthy and still explosive Ekeler.
Washington letting Gibson walk and replacing him with Ekeler doesn't necessarily mean the new coaches view Ekeler as an upgrade.
But Anthony Lynn's presence on the coaching staff clearly factored into Ekeler's arrival. Lynn coached the Chargers for the first four years of Ekeler's career. And Ekeler remains a fan.
The only thing that might move Ekeler out of RB4 territory in ADP would be a big preseason performance. And I'll be surprised if he gets enough touches in an exhibition game to deliver that.
So he remains a "why not" pick -- included in our RB sleepers.
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