Ekeler averaged just 8.1 Fantasy points per game in 2024 (RB32) falling out of the RB2 range in his first season with the Commanders while dealing with injuries. He handled most of the passing downs work as expected but finished with just 3.4 targets per game (19th-most among RBs). With just four total touchdowns (39th-most) and no signs of taking over the red zone role in 2025, Ekeler has a capped upside. He is unlikely to return any consistency unless Brian Robinson Jr. gets injured. The Commanders have also added RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt via the draft and he could ultimately eat into Ekeler's passing downs role. You should be looking for higher-upside gambles in the Round 12-13 range where Ekeler typically comes off the board.
Ekeler won't play in Saturday's preseason game against Baltimore, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Ekeler and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt are the two running backs on Washington's list of players that won't participate. It's a sign they'll share work come Week 1 against the Giants, although there's also talk of Chris Rodriguez having a role, which might include short-yardage carries. The Commanders traded Brian Robinson to San Francisco for a sixth-round pick Friday, showing confidence in some combination of Ekeler, Croskey-Merritt, Rodriguez and Jeremy McNichols to form a committee. Ekeler's receiving skills make his role the most secure, although he's on the downside of his career and has fumbled 18 times (including playoffs) in 63 games over the past four season.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Set to lead backfield?
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The Commanders likely will trade or release Brian Robinson, leaving Ekeler to split backfield work with some combination of Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez and Jeremy McNichols, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the New York Times.
The decision to move on from Robinson hints at confidence in Washington's backfield alternatives, although Robinson's non-guaranteed $3.4 million salary is also a factor. It remains to be seen if Ekeler will capture some of the work that went to Robinson last season, as there's been talk of Croskey-Merritt potentially getting a lot of carries and Rodriguez taking short-yardage work. Ekeler averaged 4.8 yards on 77 carries and 10.5 yards on 35 catches in the regular season last year, but he missed five games with injuries and fumbled three times (later fumbling a fourth time during the NFC Championship Game).
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: May return kicks again
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Ekeler and Deebo Samuel have been returning kickoffs in practice, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
The new touchback rules last season led to 32.8 percent of kicks being returned, up from 21.8 percent the year before. A second increase is coming -- potentially a much bigger one -- after another rule change this offseason to move touchbacks out to the 35-yard line. Last year, over 12 regular-season games played, Ekeler handled 19 of Washington's 37 kick returns, averaging 31.3 yards to finish with the third-most kick return yardage in the league (594). It's a nice little boost in fantasy leagues that count those yards, but in most formats the increased injury risk probably isn't worth the chance of a touchdown every once in a while, especially if return work is also costing the player snaps on offense. That'll likely be Ekeler's reality this season, although he's already off the field plenty given his committee role alongside Brian Robinson in Washington's backfield.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Tough ending to solid season
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Ekeler finished the 2024 regular season with 77 carries for 367 yards and four touchdowns and 35 catches for 366 yards in 12 games, adding 34 touches for 173 yards in three playoff appearances.
Ekeler mostly played well in the first season of a two-year contract, but he suffered a pair of concussions along the way and then lost a fumble in the NFC Championship Game. His future in Washington is uncertain, as the team can add $3.46 million in cap space by releasing Ekeler this offseason. Regardless of how things play out with the Commanders, his days as a top fantasy asset appear numbered, with Ekeler now trying to continue his career as a backup/passing-down specialist. He'll turn 30 in May.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Takes 11 touches for 53 yards
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Ekeler took eight carries for 27 yards and caught three of four targets for 26 yards in Sunday's 23-20 win at Tampa Bay.
Ekeler's 11 touches and 47 percent snap share put him slightly behind Brian Robinson, who had 10 carries for 16 yards and four catches (on five targets) for 22 yards while playing 53 percent of snaps. Neither RB found much room against a tough Tampa Bay run defense, and they'll now face another one of the NFC's top run-stuffing teams -- at least on paper -- when they head to Detroit in the divisional round. The Lions probably aren't as difficult to run on as many statistics suggest, as they've lost a slew of defenders to season-ending injuries, including DE Aidan Hutchinson (leg) and DT Alim McNeill (knee).
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Activated, cleared to return Sunday
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The Commanders activated Ekeler (concussion) from injured reserve Saturday, and he doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game at Dallas.
Since he was designated for return from IR on Wednesday, Ekeler put together three straight full practices and entered the weekend listed as questionable for Week 18 action. In conjunction with activating him Saturday, the team took him off the injury report, thereby paving the way for his first appearance since he sustained a concussion Week 12 against the Cowboys. At the very least, Ekeler should take on a pass-catching role out of Washington's backfield alongside lead runner Brian Robinson, which likely will relegate Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez to lesser roles than they've had in recent outings.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Listed as questionable
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Ekeler (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Dallas, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
The Commanders designated Ekeler to return from injured reserve Wednesday, at which point he logged the first of three consecutive full practices. He'll need to be activated from IR on Saturday in order to play in the regular-season finale. If that happens, it'll likely mean reduced workloads for Jeremy McNichols and/or Chris Rodriguez, and it's also possible Ekeler would cut into Brian Robinson's usage.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Another full practice
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Ekeler (concussion) was a full practice participant Thursday.
Ekeler remains on injured reserve due to the concussion he suffered late in a Week 12 matchup with the Cowboys, but his ability to log back-to-back uncapped sessions to begin Week 18 prep implies he's closing in on gaining clearance from an independent neurologist. He'll have to do just that, and then the Commanders will need to activate him from IR by Saturday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline, in order for him to have a chance to play Sunday at Dallas.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Full participant in practice return
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Ekeler (concussion) was a full participant in his return to practice Wednesday.
After being designated for return from the injured reserve earlier Wednesday, Ekeler took the practice field for the first time since Week 12, and his lack of restrictions indicate that he's likely cleared concussion protocol. Ekeler may still need to get back in playing shape after missing the Commanders' last four games, and even if he's added back to the 53-man roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Cowboys, he may be in store for just a small role out of the backfield. A win this Sunday will earn Washington the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs and a first-round matchup with the Rams or Buccaneers, while a loss could drop Washington to the No. 7 seed -- if Green Bay beats Chicago -- and would set the Commanders up for a more challenging wild-card round matchup with the Eagles.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Practice window gets opened
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The Commanders designated Ekeler (concussion) for return from injured reserve Wednesday. the 21-day practice window for Ekeler, who was placed on IR on Nov. 30 due to a concussion.
The transaction opens a 21-day window wherein Ekeler can be evaluated for a return from IR, after the Commanders deactivated him Nov. 30. A decision on Ekeler's status for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Cowboys hasn't bene made, but the veteran running back looks like he'll at least be able to get in some practice reps this week. If Ekeler ultimately gets the green light to play this weekend, he would probably be eased back into the mix. Washington also has Brian Robinson, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez on hand to pick up reps out of the backfield in Week 18.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Not ready to practice
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Ekeler (concussion) won't practice Wednesday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that Ekeler remains in concussion protocol after he suffered a brain injury on a hard tackle during a kickoff return in the final minute of Sunday's 34-26 loss to the Cowboys. While he'll still have two more chances this week to potentially take part in practice, Ekeler doesn't appear to be trending toward playing this Sunday against the Titans. An Ekeler absence this weekend would open more snaps for back running backs Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez, who could see their roles grow even larger if lead back Brian Robinson (ankle) is also sidelined against the Titans.
Ekeler sustained a concussion during Sunday's 34-26 loss to the Cowboys, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Per Jhabvala, head coach Dan Quinn added that Ekeler -- who was injured on a kickoff return late in the contest -- will undergo further testing out of an abundance of caution. In addition to Ekeler sustaining a concussion Sunday, fellow running back Brian Robinson left the game with an ankle injury in the first half, returned and then left again. The status of both backs will thus be worth monitoring as next weekend's home tilt versus the Titans approaches.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Sleeper RBs
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Brian Robinson Jr. is my Start of the Week, but I also like Ekeler as a flex option in all leagues. He comes into Week 12 having scored at least 17.3 PPR points in three games in a row, and he has eight games this season with at least 10.2 PPR points. In Week 11 at Philadelphia, Ekeler made a huge impact in the passing game with eight catches for 89 yards on nine targets, and he should be a nice complement to Robinson in this matchup.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Returning to backup role
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Ekeler likely will return to a backup role with Brian Robinson (hamstring) cleared to play Thursday at Philadelphia, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Ekeler's workload was perhaps disappointing during Robinson's two-game absence -- he received 14 touches in both contests -- but a trio of one-yard touchdowns made him a useful lineup option for fantasy managers. With Robinson back in action, Ekeler is unlikely to continue his goal-line touchdown binge but should take most of the snaps in passing situations while also subbing in for some carries.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Scores twice
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Ekeler rushed the ball 13 times for 44 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 28-27 loss to the Steelers. He added one reception on two targets for seven yards.
Ekeler drew his second straight start due to Brian Robinson (hamstring) sidelined. Only one of his rush attempts went for double-digit yardage, though he made hay with a pair of one-yard touchdown runs. Ekeler was curiously uninvolved as a pass catcher, though that part of his game could return if Robinson can re-take the field in Week 11 against the Eagles, in turn pushing Ekeler back into a complementary role.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Another start likely Sunday
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Ekeler may be in line to lead the Commanders backfield Sunday against the Steelers due to Brian Robinson (hamstring) being ruled out for the contest, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.
With Robinson sidelined Week 9 at the Giants, Ekeler started and paced Washington running backs with 47 percent of the snaps, while Jeremy McNichols took 39 percent and Chris Rodriguez handled 32 percent. The breakdown of touches was a different story, at least for the reserves. Ekeler earned 11 touches (for 83 yards from scrimmage and a rushing TD) to Rodriguez's 11 (all carries for 52 yards) and McNichols' eight (all rushes for 20 yards). Rodriguez has been elevated three times this season, so he'll need to be signed to the active roster Saturday in order to vie with Ekeler and McNichols for work Sunday.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: In line for start with Robinson out
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Ekeler is expected to be the Commanders' primary running back Sunday at the Giants due to Brian Robinson (hamstring) being inactive.
Robinson's practice reps were capped this week due to a hamstring injury, and after a pregame warmup didn't yield the desired results for game day, Washington opted to keep him on the sideline. The situation opens the door for Ekeler to lead the backfield for the second time this season, but in the other such outing (Week 6 at Baltimore), he tallied 68 yards from scrimmage on 13 touches. Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez also will be on hand for snaps behind Ekeler.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Totals 58 yards
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Ekeler rushed the ball seven times for 52 yards in Sunday's 18-15 win over the Bears. He added two receptions on three targets for six yards.
Ekeler continued to serve as the change-of-pace back in Washington, seeing half the carries of Brian Robinson. His stat line oversells his production considerably, as he tallied a 29-yard rush on a meaningless play just before halftime. He was also oddly quiet as a pass catcher, and he's now been held to single-digit receiving yards in consecutive games.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Can't get going on ground Sunday
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Ekeler carried the ball nine times for 21 yards and caught four of five targets for 47 yards in Sunday's 30-23 loss to the Ravens.
Baltimore's run defense didn't allow a run of 10 or more yards all game, and Jayden Daniels wound up leading Washington in rushing yards with a mere 22. Ekeler still salvaged some fantasy value through the air, and he's hauled in multiple passes in all five of his games to begin the season, with Sunday's five targets being a season high. If Brian Robinson (knee) isn't able to return in Week 7, Ekeler could be a lot busier next week against the Panthers.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Sleeper RBs
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Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) is considered a game-time decision for Week 6 at Baltimore, and if he's out, then Ekeler is worth using as a No. 2 running back, with Jeremy McNichols as a flex. This is a tough matchup against the Ravens, who are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. But Ekeler and McNichols would get a boost in touches if Robinson can't play, and both have done well this season in secondary roles. Ekeler has scored at least 11.5 PPR points in three games in a row, and he had 97 total yards in Week 5 against Cleveland. And McNichols has three touchdowns in his past two games, including 15 carries for 112 yards over that span. McNichols will likely need to score to help your Fantasy roster, but this could be Ekeler's best game of the season if Robinson is out.
