Brian Robinson’s unique rookie season was impressive from a volume standpoint with over 17 carries per game, but the efficiency (3.9 yards per carry) and offensive limitations (three scores on 214 touches) capped his fantasy football upside. Robinson will again be joined by Antonio Gibson in this backfield for a Washington Commanders offense hoping to take a step forward in 2023.
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Brian Robinson’s Fantasy Outlook for the 2023 NFL Season
Sam Howell is taking over the reins of Washington’s offense, and the industry seems to be cautiously optimistic that he can make this offense at least viable in his first season as the starter. Behind him on the depth chart is professional backup Jacoby Brissett, giving this QB room a decent option should the Howell thing go sideways.
Gibson joins Robinson in the Commanders’ backfield again, but gone is J.D. McKissic. The waiving of the pass-catching specialist opens up a different role for Gibson and could result in a truly specialized backfield where Robinson is the bruiser on the ground, and Gibson is the in-space guy who is featured in the passing game.
The pass-catching room has talent in it … when healthy. We know Terry McLaurin is a star, and Jahan Dotson showed some serious promise in his first season out of Penn State. Curtis Samuel is a YAC monster when healthy, while Logan Thomas is a viable tight end when he’s on the field. Howell is an unknown, but the talent around him should help him succeed.
Is Robinson a Good Fantasy Pick?
Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry. There’s your list of players who averaged more carries per game than Robinson from Week 10 on last season. We know handoffs are much less valuable than targets, but a featured role on an offense like this stands to create stable fantasy scoring.
Sam Howell and Brian Robinson Jr. working the screen game during today's practice.
I'm telling you right now, the screen game is going to be a factor this season in Bieniemy's offense. pic.twitter.com/Qgf8vm4AIb
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) August 7, 2023
At cost, you’re not asking Robinson to start for you every week, and this is exactly the type of player I’d want in that spot. Could he struggle with efficiency again — a flaw that would sink his value given his lack of looks in the passing game? Sure, but you didn’t invest a ton.
On the flip side, it’s very much in the range of outcomes for Robinson to run for over 1,000 yards and rack up the short touchdowns, something that would lock him into your Flex spot on a weekly basis. Robinson is not a must-have running back, but the risk/reward analysis very much supports targeting him at cost.
- PFN Consensus: 80th overall
- ADP: 96th overall