If you haven't checked the roster lately, the Commanders running back depth chart is basically unrecognizable compared to where it was a year ago. It has been a wild ride in D.C.
Remember Brian Robinson Jr. pounding the rock? He’s in San Francisco now. Remember the hype when Austin Ekeler signed? That ended with a heartbreaking Achilles tear in Week 2 against the Packers. Honestly, the 2025 season was a massive pivot point for this franchise's ground game, and as we look toward 2026, the backfield is leaning on names many fans are still learning to pronounce.
It's weird. Usually, teams try to keep some continuity, but Washington effectively hit the reset button mid-season.
The current state of the Commanders running back depth chart
Right now, the room belongs to Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
Most people didn't see this coming. He was a seventh-round flyer, a "project" player from Arizona who was supposed to be special teams depth at best. Instead, he ended the 2025 season as the team leader with 805 rushing yards. He hit the hole harder than the veterans and actually looked like a steal.
But here is the catch: he’s almost the only one left.
With the 2026 league year approaching in March, the depth chart is essentially a one-man show. Everyone else is either a free agent or coming off a catastrophic injury.
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1. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (The Incumbent)
He's 24 years old and has the "contact balance" that coaches obsessive over. He racked up 362 yards after contact last year. That's a lot of broken tackles for a rookie. The downside? He's almost non-existent in the passing game. Nine catches for 68 yards in a full season just doesn't cut it in the modern NFL, especially in an offense that wants to be explosive.
2. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (The Question Mark)
Rodriguez is a restricted free agent (RFA). He was statistically the most efficient runner last year, posting a 78.4 PFF run grade, but he’s always been the bridesmaid and never the bride in this rotation. Because he's an RFA, Washington can keep him if they want to match an outside offer, but he hasn't exactly locked down the "franchise back" title yet.
3. Austin Ekeler (The Long Road Back)
This is the tough one. Ekeler is 30. He’s a pending free agent. He’s rehabbing a torn Achilles. While he was once the PPR god of fantasy football, his future in Washington—and maybe the league—is murky. Most insiders expect him to test the market or even consider retirement given the recovery timeline for a 31-year-old back.
What went wrong with the Kingsbury experiment?
Kliff Kingsbury is gone. He and Joe Whitt Jr. were let go in early January 2026 after the offense stagnated.
The issue wasn't just the play-calling; it was the identity. The Commanders traded away Brian Robinson Jr. to the 49ers for a 2026 sixth-round pick, a move that still baffles a lot of people. They thought they could get by with a "running back by committee" approach and use Jayden Daniels' legs to mask the lack of a true bell-cow back.
It worked for a while. Washington actually ranked 4th in the league in rushing yards per game (134.7) last year.
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But it was hollow.
Against the elite defenses, they couldn't get the "dirty yards." They lacked explosive plays on the ground, and teams started putting eight men in the box because they didn't fear the rotation behind Croskey-Merritt. Kliff's "Air Raid" heritage sometimes felt like it was trying to fit square pegs into round holes.
Who is actually under contract for 2026?
This is where it gets scary for fans who like stability.
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Under contract (Rookie deal).
- Jeremy McNichols: Unrestricted Free Agent.
- Austin Ekeler: Unrestricted Free Agent.
- Chris Rodriguez Jr.: Restricted Free Agent.
- Chase Edmonds: Practice squad/Reserve status.
Basically, the front office has a blank canvas. They have to decide if they believe Croskey-Merritt is a true RB1 or if he’s just a high-end backup who took advantage of a weird situation.
The rumors are already swirling about the 2026 draft and free agency. Names like Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, and Javonte Williams are all hitting the market. If the Commanders want to protect Jayden Daniels and keep him from taking too many hits, they almost have to spend big on a veteran who can pass-protect.
Actionable insights for the 2026 offseason
If you're following the Commanders running back depth chart this spring, keep your eyes on three specific windows of time.
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First, watch the RFA tender for Chris Rodriguez Jr. in early March. If they don't tender him at a second-round level, it means they are looking for a total overhaul.
Second, look at the Free Agency start. If Washington doesn't sign a pass-catching back in the first 48 hours, they are likely targeting one in the first three rounds of the draft. They desperately need a "safety valve" for Daniels now that Ekeler's role is vacant.
Third, keep tabs on the new offensive coordinator's philosophy. Whether it’s an Anthony Lynn or a Brian Johnson type, the scheme will dictate if they want a 225-pound bruiser or a 195-pound scat-back.
The 2025 season proved that you can't just "plug and play" at running back and expect Jayden Daniels to do everything. The next few months will determine if the Commanders finally give their franchise QB the backfield help he needs to actually win the NFC East.
Expect the team to add at least two new faces to this room before training camp begins in July. The "Croskey-Merritt and friends" era was a fun story, but for a team with playoff aspirations, it’s probably not enough.