Unlikely Breakout Candidate Named for Struggling Commanders Starter

At least one individual still thinks Washington Commanders starter running back Brian Robinson Jr. can have a breakout season in 2025, despite spending the most of this offseason being hailed as a trade possibility or someone who will be overtaken by a late-round draft pick.

The Athletic’s Jacob Robinson made the unexpected forecast. With a disclaimer, he selected the struggling starter as the Commanders’ surprise gift. Robinson stated that Washington’s top runner, who averaged 4.6 yards per carry through Week 9, “could regain his early-season form if healthy.”

It’s a daring assertion about a running back who has had difficulty proving he is strong or explosive enough to compete with the NFL’s best at his position. Robinson will probably feel a lot of pressure from performing in a contract year, especially when he’s up against a more exciting rookie.

Robinson’s moment to stand up for the Commanders is now or never. Throughout his three seasons in Washington, the 26-year-old has been reliable but not particularly noteworthy. Although Robinson has averaged 4.1 yards per run during those seasons, he hasn’t been particularly strong in any one area. Neither is the third-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft a genuine breakaway danger with game-changing pace, nor is he a powerful bruiser who can regularly truck opponents.

Robinson appears to be more of a complementing runner than a lead back at this stage of his career. The Commanders can expect fewer huge plays on the ground because of his fatal fault. Nevertheless, some people, like head coach Dan Quinn, are still confident in Robinson despite all the doubts regarding his performance. According to Sam Fortier of The Washington Post, who also mentioned that Quinn praised the player’s “speed and agility in one specific cut,” the latter thinks Robinson looked “really healthy” at minicamp.

 

date regarding the health of the former Alabama star. Robinson can maintain his lead by executing more daring movements that produce explosive runs. Among them is a rookie pro who has already drawn attention with his own deft and rapid cutbacks.