Redskins: 3 standout performers from Week 1 victory over Cardinals

GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 9: Running back Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins runs past defensive back Antoine Bethea #41 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at State Farm Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 9: Running back Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins runs past defensive back Antoine Bethea #41 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at State Farm Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 09: Running back Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins runs for a 13-yard touchdown during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 09: Running back Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins runs for a 13-yard touchdown during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

2. RB Chris Thompson

Two runnings back among the top three standout performers? That should tell you just about everything you need to know about the Redskins plans on Sunday.

While Peterson had a nice outing for the Redskins, Thompson played a big role as the team’s top pass-catching back. Of course, this was always expected, as that has been Thompson’s role for the better part of the last couple of seasons, but he was even better than one could have predicted on Sunday.

After missing all of the preseason as he recovered from a leg injury he suffered in 2017, Thompson looked as dynamic as he had in recent seasons in the team’s victory. He showed excellent route running skills and still had the burst that made him a big-play threat for most of last season.

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On Thompson’s TD, he did well to get into open space, catch the pass, and use his combination of elusiveness and speed to get the score. He was really able to run circles around the Cardinals defense and despite seeing limited snaps, he had a major impact.

By the end of the game, Thompson had logged 128 yards and the touchdown on just 11 total touches. If he can continue to produce at this clip, the Redskins offense will continue to hum. Considering that Alex Smith likes throwing to him, Thompson had a team-high seven targets, this trend should continue on throughout the season.

Thompson has a very good chance to be a game-changer for the Redskins offense, so look for him to be a staple of the standouts in the near future.