Austin Ekeler is looking to have a bounce-back year after a down year with his previous team, the Los Angeles Chargers. The Washington Commanders, now led by head coach Dan Quinn and offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsberry, hope to utilize the multitalented running back‘s abilities with a backfield already consisting of Brian Robinson Jr.
Austin Ekeler and new OC Kliff Kingsberry
It will be interesting to see how Kliff Kingsberry will use Ekeler at 5’9″ and 200 lbs, when from 2019-20, Kliff had Kenyan Drake at 6’1″ and 215 lbs during his time as head coach for the Arizona Cardinals (2019-22). Drake ended up with 4.0 and 5.2 yards per carry (8 and 15 games) but was hardly used in the receiving game. When a player like Ekeler already has over 3,800 receiving yards with the Chargers.
Then, in 2021, James Conner, at 6’1″ and 233 lbs, joined the Cardinals. Conner rushed for only 752 yards at 3.7 ypc (15 games), a career low for him, but he definitely made up for it with his 18 total touchdowns. Conner was joined in the backfield by Chase Edmonds, who is closer to Ekeler’s build at 5’9″ and 201 lbs. Edmonds rushed for nearly 600 yards at 5.1 ypc (12 games). It is also worth noting that these running backs had 92 targets with 80 receptions, aligning perfectly with Ekeler’s skills.
2022 saw a very similar season for Conner, who again rushed for over 750 yards. However, he was joined by another running back with a build similar to Ekeler’s, Eno Benjamin. Benjamin, at 5’9″ and 209 lbs, got involved a little bit, rushing for 299 yards at 4.3 ypc. It was not bad, but it was better than Ekeler’s 2023 ypc. The silver lining here is that the running back for the Cardinals in 2022 had 84 receptions on 112 targets. Yet again, this is a good sign for Ekeler.
What To Expect From Austin Ekeler
Austin Ekeler will be sharing a backfield with 3rd year running back Robinson Jr., so it is expected that he may not return to his former fantasy football expectations. However, he is still talented and will be an excellent handcuff for this upcoming season. He will replace Antonio Gibson, now with the New England Patriots, as the receiving threat in the backfield. Ekeler’s season last year could have been better, but he was dealing with injuries. He was also behind a banged-up offensive line, losing former pro-bowl center Cory Lindsey for most of the season. Ekeler should play a significant role for Kingsberry and hopefully contribute to the success of whichever QB will be leading the Commanders in this upcoming season.
About the Author
Meet Bobby, a dedicated LA Chargers fan with a bachelor’s degree in social studies. By day, he teaches part-time, sharing his passion for the game with students. Known for his expertise in player stats and team strategies, Bobby is a self-proclaimed fantasy football wiz. Whether he’s in the classroom or cheering on his Chargers, Bobby never misses a chance to talk football.
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