It is doubtful that any other position on the roster, will see as little turnover as the running back position. In all likelihood, Washington will open the 2021 season, exactly as they finished the 2020 season.<\/p>\n
Washington finished 2020 with a backfield of Antonio Gibson, Peyton Barber, and J.D. McKissic. The three of them finished the season with 1368 yards rushing (795 + 258 + 365) collectively – not exactly breath-taking. Is that cause for optimism or fret in 2021?<\/p>\n
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Last year saw the emergence of rookie Gibson, as Washington’s primary back. A guy who played wide receiver in college. That’s easy to glance over, but really shouldn’t be.<\/p>\n
He also came into 2020 with Adrian Peterson and Bryce Love ahead of him on the depth chart<\/a>, and didn’t get many reps in training. It makes what Gibson accomplished last year pretty exceptional. There’s also every reason to believe that with OTA’s, training camp and ten NFL starts under his belt, he can be better this year than last.<\/p>\n The rookie finished with 795 yards on 170 carries, for a healthy 4.7 yards per carry average. He also led the team in broken tackles with 20. Add to that, his 247 yards on 36 receptions, and you have a very healthy 1000-plus yard year of production from a rookie.<\/p>\n That played wide receiver in college.<\/p>\n The only blemish on his record in 2020 was his toe. His turf toe specifically. The turf toe that sidelined him in Weeks 14 and 15 last season. The toe that is still apparently being treated<\/a>.<\/p>\n The good news on Gibson’s toe, is that there is still three months until meaningful football<\/em>. The bad news is, that it’s already been four months since the toe saw meaningful football<\/em> action. Hopefully the toe can get it together in time, to take a run at 1000 rushing yards for Gibson.<\/p>\n