The Washington Commanders had RB Brian Robinson in the backfield to open Saturday's 2nd preseason game against the Chiefs. Antonio Gibson worked in for 1 carry on the 1st drive, but his 2nd didn't come until Taylor Heinicke's 1st drive. Robinson carried 8 times before Gibson's 2nd rush. Washington also had Gibson back as kick returner to open the game. We'll see what coaches have to say afterward and whether anything changes for the final exhibition, but this is not great for Gibson's outlook. Expect Robinson to keep moving up fantasy football draft boards over the coming week.
Commanders RB Antonio Gibson was working on the punt protection team in Tuesday's practice, according to ESPN's John Keim. This, of course, follows a rough preseason opener that saw Gibson get yanked after losing a fumble on his 2nd carry. For what it's worth, Gibson played zero snaps on special teams across his first 2 NFL seasons. We'll see exactly where this goes, but Gibson is trending in the wrong direction.
The Commanders plan to play QB Carson Wentz and other starters for about 15-20 snaps in the preseason opener against the Panthers, according to The Washington Post. We'd bet on that increasing for the 2nd exhibition. We'll be interested to see how Wentz fares with his new WRs, as well as rookie RB Brian Robinson's role and performance.
Commanders HC Ron Rivera indicated Wednesday that he likes the way rookie RB Brian Robinson runs both inside and outside. "He's a big, strong, powerful downhill runner, more so than anything else," Rivera said, per Ben Standig of The Athletic. "He does have a little bit of shake to him. ... Antonio [Gibson] is a little more elusive guy more off the edge, where with Brian, we can take it inside, or we can take it off the edge." Standig had previously pondered whether Washington would lean on Robinson as the primary goal-line back. It sure seems like Rivera envisions such a role for the rookie. The way the coach talks about him as an all-around runner, while referring to Gibson as more specifically an outside guy, makes us wonder if even more work than previously anticipated might be going to the new guy. Gibson is currently working back from a June hamstring injury, which can only help Robinson's climb. The 3rd-round pick carries plenty of upside late in current fantasy football drafts.
The Athletic's Ben Standig wonders whether rookie Brian Robinson will replace Antonio Gibson as the Commanders' goal-line back this season. "Washington selected running back Brian Robinson to be a between-the-tackles hammer," Standig writes. "It will be interesting to see whether Robinson or Antonio Gibson, who remains the lead back, handles goal-line/short-yardage situations. Often the rookie gets eased into such scenarios, but Gibson’s penchant for fumbles combined with Robinson’s ball security and interior running could flip this toward the Alabama alum." Gibson coughed it up 6 times last season and was just-ok near the goal line, converting 5 of 12 carries inside the 5-yard line into TDs. Robinson has 5 pounds on Gibson and scored 14 times on the ground at Alabama last year. Usage in Washington's backfield will be worth monitoring closely in training camp and preseason action.
Commanders HC Ron Rivera compared his new Antonio Gibson - Brian Robinson backfield to the Jonathan Stewart - De'Angelo Williams pairing he had in Carolina, according to insider Grant Paulsen. Those guys split backfield work almost right down the middle across 4 seasons under Rivera, with Stewart averaging 10.4 carries and 2.8 targets per game vs. Williams' 11.2 carries and 1.6 targets. We're not expecting Robinson to match Gibson in volume this season, but it sounds like the rookie has a shot to play a significant role.
Washington selected RB Brian Robinson in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. At nearly 6’2, 225 pounds, the Alabama product is a load to bring down. He broke out as a 5th-year senior, rushing for 271-1,343-14 after sitting behind guys like Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris and Damien Harris. Despite 2 drops, Robinson added 35 catches in the receiving game. He drew a Chris Carson comp from NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein, and the tape backs that up. In Washington, he profiles as a potential rotational runner right out of the gate. Note that Antonio Gibson is under contract for 2 more seasons.
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