5 Washington Redskins position battles to watch during 2017 offseason

1. Running Back: Robert Kelley vs. Samaje Perine

This is going to be one of the more interesting battles to watch. Both Robert Kelley and Samaje Perine are strong runners. They use their strength to push forward and gain extra yards. Because of this, it makes sense to use them as a tandem and wear down opposing defenses. Still, there are some serious questions about who will be the starter.

Conventional wisdom would say that Kelley will retain the job. After taking over for Matt Jones midway through the season, Kelley was able to provide consistency at the running back position for the team. Though he did tire a bit at the end of the season, that can be blamed more on the fact that he had not handled a full workload in his college career. He never even logged 100 carries at Tulane. Still, Kelley needs to make sure he is in good shape, otherwise Perine could take over.

While Kelley has not handled much of a workload, Perine is a workhorse. Though he split time with Joe Mixon during his final season, Perine totaled 685 college carries and always was able to gain positive yardage. He broke the single game NCAA rushing record with 427 yards in a single game. He never says no to carrying the ball, and his physical style takes a toll on defenders. The only question is, will he be able to beat out Kelley?

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This will be the most exciting battle, as it may have a massive impact on the team’s offensive game plan. At the same time, the Redskins should be in good shape with both players. They each have talent and should work as a two headed monster out of the backfield.