Breaking down the Redskins’ running back depth chart for 2019

Jacob Camenker

TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 11: Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins rushes during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Washington Redskins have more depth at running back than they’ve had in a long time. Here’s a look at how their depth chart may shake out in 2019.

The Redskins have long needed an answer at the running back position. Over the course of the past few seasons, their Week 1 options at the position were a declining Alfred Morris, a fumble-prone Matt Jones, the plodder Rob Kelley, and the ancient (by RB standards) Adrian Peterson.

Only one of them worked out, and that was Peterson.

But heading into the 2019 campaign, there is a lot of reason for hope in the Washington running back group. They have a former second-round pick returning from an injury as well as their top receiving back. Peterson is back for another season while a former fourth-round pick could get more of a chance to prove himself as a depth option.

Oh yeah, they also added a guy who totaled over 2,000 scrimmage yards in a single season in the 2019 NFL Draft. So, that’s an exciting possibility as well.

With all this newfound depth, the ‘Skins are going to have a lot of decisions to make in regards to their depth chart. However, they should be able to find a rotation that works and create one of the better, deeper backfields in the league.

Here’s a look at the ‘Skins’ depth chart ahead of the 2019 season and what their roles could be during the campaign.

BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 11: Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers walks off the field after playing the Arkansas Razorbacks at Tiger Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Starters: RBs Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson

To start the season, I think that the Redskins are going to use Guice and Peterson fairly equally. It would make sense to do that for a couple of reasons.

First of all, Guice is coming off a torn ACL. While he will have more than a year of recovery time ahead of the 2019 campaign, it will be important for the team not to ask too much of him too quickly. Keep in mind that while Guice has talent and can be an elusive playmaker, he has yet to play a down in the NFL. After a year away from the game, the team has to make sure he doesn’t get beat-up quickly.

Meanwhile, Peterson surprised many last season and ended up emerging as the top back on the Redskins roster. He ran for over 1,000 yards and looked really solid to start the season. However, as the year went along, his performance tailed off a bit. This was related partially to the demise of the offensive line, but it also had to do with Peterson’s advanced age for a running back. He’s now 34, and he could truly slow down at any time.

Third Down/Receiving Back: RB Chris Thompson

Thompson has been occupying this role for the Redskins over the course of the past four years. He has done a very good job in that capacity and at times, has been one of the better receivers on the ‘Skins team.

In 2017, Thompson was en route to being one of the team’s leading receivers, catching 39 passes for 510 yards and four scores while averaging a career-high 13.1 yards per reception before suffering a season-ending injury. Thompson wasn’t quite as effective in 2018, but he still made some splash plays early in the season and was the perfect check-down weapon for Alex Smith to target.

What Thompson offers is speed, elusiveness, and the ability to find space. Essentially, if you can get the ball to him in the open field, he will have a good chance to rack up yardage. His versatility also helps him out, as he can line up in a few different areas as a receiver while still being able to handle a few between-the-tackle opportunities.

The only concern with Thompson is that he hasn’t been able to stay healthy over the course of the past couple seasons. He has missed 12-of-32 games for the ‘Skins and has been limited in some other ones. His athletic ability may get sapped by the repeated, nagging injuries and that could explain why his yards per touch mark last year (5.3) was the second-lowest in his career.

Still, when healthy, Thompson can make a big impact and be a game-breaking threat for the squad. There isn’t any (fully healthy) candidate that could take over for him in full at least to start the season.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 19: Samaje Perine #32 of the Washington Redskins is tackled by Manti Te’o #51 of the New Orleans Saints during the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Top Backup: RBs Samaje Perine

The Redskins have a lot of options regarding who they can keep as depth at the running back position. That said, none are better than Samaje Perine.

Perine only got eight carries last year but turned them in 32 yards despite running behind a demolished offensive line. If Peterson tires as his age-34 season goes along, Perine could step in as the top backup to Guice and use his one-cut power to have an impact on the ‘Skins, especially if they are a run-heavy team like many expect.

I’ve long been a fan of Perine’s game and think that he can work as part of a successful backfield rotation. Here’s what I said about Perine in a recent piece.

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"Perine hasn’t been given enough of a chance at the NFL level to prove himself, but he did well in 2017 running behind a banged-up offensive line. Perine has good one-cut ability and the strength to be a powerful downhill runner. Jay Gruden hinted at getting Perine some more work at the offseason owners meetings, so perhaps he will showcase his potential in the preseason and show the team what they missed after they failed to give him a chance to prove himself last year. And for those that want to complain about his fumbling numbers, those issues are overblown. Perine has only fumbled twice on 208 NFL touches. While he may have cost the team with those drops, he is only slightly below average in the fumble rate category (104 touches per fumble, 125 is about league average). Comparatively, Peterson has fumbled every 68.8 touches during his career, albeit in a much larger sample size. Either way, the point stands that Perine has untapped potential and could play a role in a solid backfield."

Perine was the fourth back on the roster for much of last year but he could fill in as a backup for Guice or Peterson in a pinch. That’s a valuable asset to have and if he can find a way to play on special teams, he could see more activity on game days.

It is possible that Perine could be cut if the other backs on the roster step up. But I think Gruden tipped his hand a bit last year by cutting Kapri Bibbs, who had played well as the backup to Chris Thompson, instead of dropping Perine. That coupled with his comments about wanting to get Perine more work could give him a chance to earn a role in the backfield.

Either way, we’re talking about Perine as a depth option. He can certainly be relied on in that role, especially given how much he was able to do in limited action over two seasons behind some beat-up offensive lines. Unless he regresses in the preseason, I think he should be favored to hold down the fourth RB spot.

PALO ALTO, CA – SEPTEMBER 08: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates after scoring on a seven yard touchdown run against the USC Trojans in the first quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Injury Stash: RB Bryce Love

Love was an interesting pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Running back wasn’t a major need, but there could be a path for Love to find a role on the team in the future.

Thompson’s contract is up after this year. Peterson is growing old. Perine and Guice are both relatively unproven. If Love can show enough over the course of the next two years, he could emerge as a starter or top receiving back. After all, during his junior season, Love did have over 2,000 yards and was the catalyst for Stanford’s offense.

Unfortunately, Love suffered an ACL tear during his senior year and that will have an impact on his rookie season. Love won’t necessarily miss the entire campaign, but he may not be ready to start the season. And even if he is, he will need to be gradually worked into a gameplan at most as he will still be adjusting to the NFL game.

Washington Commanders

That said, I think that the Redskins will use somewhat of an injury stash method with Love. They could place him on the PUP list to start the year and that would cause him to miss at least the first six weeks of the season. That would give him extra time to rehab, learn the offense, and get comfortable on his surgically repaired knee. And, he wouldn’t take up a spot on the 53-man roster. That’s the luxury of having depth at the running back position.

If Love seems ready to come back after six weeks or if Washington decides they need his particular skill set for depth at the position, they could have him return off that list. If he isn’t quite ready, they’ll be able to wait as long as they need. They can even have him take essentially what would amount to a redshirt year if they’re not comfortable with putting him on the field yet or if their running back rotation works out.

Love is going to have a role on the Redskins. It just may not be in 2019. They’ll probably bring him along slowly an methodically in hopes of getting him on the field. But if he can’t quite do it, they will stash him and give him a chance to win a bigger role ahead of the 2020 season.

LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 30: Byron Marshall #34 of the Washington Redskins runs against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at FedExField on December 30, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)

Likely Cuts: RBs Byron Marshall and Craig Reynolds

Given the depth the Redskins have at the running back position, it seems unlikely that they will carry a player at the position on the practice squad. If somebody steps up and plays very well in the preseason, they might, but it seems more likely they will focus on stashing other players at positions of greater need.

That said, it’s going to be hard for Byron Marshall and Craig Reynolds to make the roster. Marshall is a favorite of Jay Gruden’s, so that may give him at least a chance to compete for a roster spot. However, he didn’t perform well, so it’s hard to imagine that lasting long.

Last season, Marshall spent only played six games for the ‘Skins after spending most of the year on IR. He was designated for return and activated at the cost of Brian Quick, who has since returned to the roster. Marshall eventually pushed Kapri Bibbs off the roster despite playing a similar role worse than Bibbs.

Marshall had seven touches for 39 total yards and played special teams, but he wasn’t great on that unit and famously took a poor angle on a tackle that could have negated a punt return touchdown. In fact, he ended up tackling a teammate, so it wasn’t great. While Gruden likes Marshall, he won’t get another chance if his pedestrian production continues in the preseason.

Meanwhile, Reynolds was a touchdown machine for Kutztown, totaling 31 in four seasons with the team, but it’s too much of an uphill battle for the tryout player turned roster candidate to qualify for the team. It’s nice that he made the 90-man roster, but for the moment, he is just a camp body. We’ll see if he can change that perception in training camp.

Jacob Camenker