Is it fair to say that the Washington Commanders' running back room has been disrespected this offseason?
The latest rankings from Pro Football Focus writer Dalton Wasserman don't do them any favors.
As part of a series ranking each position group across the league, Wasserman ranked Washington's running back unit as the 14th-best room in the league.
"The Commanders don't have a singular star in their running back room, but they do have a considerable amount of depth," Wasserman said. "Brian Robinson Jr. has proven reliable and led the unit with 928 rushing yards last season, including the playoffs. Austin Ekeler rebounded from a tough 2023 to earn a 69.8 PFF overall grade."
To say this grade is disrespectful to the Commanders would be an understatement.
Ekeler and Robinson were an excellent duo last season. While neither rushed for over 1,000 yards, they pose a real challenge for opposing defenses. Last season, the two combined for over 1,600 yards from scrimmage. They aren't that far back from the Buffalo Bills' duo of James Cook and Ray Davis.
Was that enough to bump the Commanders all the way down to 14th? Not really.
Ekeler and Robinson are two totally different running backs. Robinson is more of a power runner who can be an important red-zone threat. Ekeler, meanwhile, is one of the better receiving backs in the league.
Together, they make a very strong tandem.
It's far greater than just the 14th-best running back room in the league right now, at least.