The Commanders lost both starting running backs for part of last week’s game vs. the Cowboys, but Brian Robinson Jr. ($6,100) was able to practice this week despite an ankle injury and is not on the injury report for Sunday vs. the Titans. Austin Ekeler (concussion) will not be able to play this week, leaving Robinson as the clear go-to option in the backfield. How valuable will he be against the Titans, and who else gets a bump without Ekeler? Let’s take a look at the Commanders’ backfield from a fantasy perspective.
How good will Brian Robinson Jr. be?
Robinson has averaged 13.6 fantasy points per game in his nine appearances this season. He has averaged 59.7 rushing yards and 11.0 receiving yards per game while scoring seven touchdowns.
He only had five carries against the Cowboys last week, but did have 16 carries, a touchdown and 14.3 fantasy points against the Eagles in a tough Week 11 matchup on Thursday Night Football.
He will be in a tough matchup against the Titans, who have allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing RBs. I didn’t quite squeeze Robinson into my top 25 RBs this week, but without Ekeler, he’s a solid RB2 in most formats.
At just $6,100, Robinson also makes sense in DFS contests like the NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]. He’ll have a good ceiling and touchdown-dependent upside at home against the Titans.
Can Jeremy McNichols offer value?
While Robinson will likely be the clear No. 1 back, there will also be potential for backup Jeremy McNichols ($5,400) to return value as well. In Week 4 when Ekeler was sidelined, McNichols played a season-high 27 snaps. In that game vs. the Cardinals, McNichols had two touchdowns and 68 yards, totaling 20.4 fantasy points.
I highlighted McNichols in my waiver wire as an add, and he’s a solid value play for as long as Ekeler is out. You can definitely stash him from the waiver wire if he’s still available since he’s now just one injury or fumble away from being the top option in a run-heavy offense.
McNichols isn’t a prototypical third-down back, but will likely mix in enough to still be a solid flier play this week vs. the Titans.
The bottom line
The Commanders are six-point home favorites and Robinson has the shortest odds in the matchup to find the end zone at -105. McNichols is just behind him at +100, and both are solid plays at their respective price points and rankings in Week 13.
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