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Redskins: 3 top candidates to make the All-Rookie team

By Jacob Camenker

BATON ROUGE, LA - OCTOBER 14: Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers runs the ball during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The LSU defeated the Auburn 27-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - OCTOBER 14: Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers runs the ball during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The LSU defeated the Auburn 27-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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3ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers reacts after a two-yard reception for touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the fourth quarter of the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame won 21-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
3ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers reacts after a two-yard reception for touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the fourth quarter of the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame won 21-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

In the modern NFL, it is very easy for talented rookie running backs to make a serious impact early in their careers. And Derrius Guice could be the next in a long line of talented backs to make a name for himself early.

Guice ended up being picked in the second round by the Redskins, and he was the seventh running back off the board. This was a surprise to many, as some had Guice ranked as the No. 2 back in this entire draft class. However, there were rumblings about potential character concerns surrounding Guice, and that was what caused him to slip.

Still, nothing substantial has come of those rumors. Additionally, he seems to have won over the hearts of many Redskins fans and genuinely seems like a good guy. So, it’s hard to figure out where those rumors stemmed from.

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Getting back to the point, it is quite possible that Guice could end up playing a major role in the Redskins offense. He could see anywhere from 200-300 carries if he impresses early on, and that will certainly give him a chance to break the 1,000 yard mark. For that reason alone, he should be considered a potential option for the All-Rookie team.

Of course, it also helps that Guice is a very good receiver who figures to rack up some yards there as well. If he can become a true dual-threat back, then there’s a good chance he could be a Matt Forte type producer as a rookie, and that might be enough to earn him a spot.

That said, there are a couple of things worth noting. The first is that Guice will have to compete with Chris Thompson, Samaje Perine, and perhaps Rob Kelley for carries early in the season. While Guice probably has the most talent of the group, Jay Gruden has been reluctant to trust rookie runners early in the season. So, that could lead to him being eased into the workload which would certainly hurt his chances of earning an accolade.

Also, the rookie running back class is very strong, and Guice will face stiff competition from other players. The three first round running backs, Saquon Barkley, Rashaad Penny, and Sony Michel, all have fairly clear paths to earning a substantial workload as the workhorse back. And while Guice could end up with a similar load, they may gain a statistical edge earlier in the season. For that reason, it could be difficult for him to earn one of the two spots set aside for running backs.

Regardless, Guice figures to be a great contributor in his rookie year. Fans won’t care if he makes the All-Rookie team if he can make a big impact on the game. And he figures to be able to do that.

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