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Redskins Deep Dive: An in-depth evaluation of the running backs

By Conor Forrest

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 24: Derrius Guice #29 of the Washington Redskins carries the ball as Tavon Wilson #32 of the Detroit Lions defends during the first half at FedExField on November 24, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 24: Derrius Guice #29 of the Washington Redskins carries the ball as Tavon Wilson #32 of the Detroit Lions defends during the first half at FedExField on November 24, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 15: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins hands the ball off to running back Alfred Morris #46 of the Washington Redskins in the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at FedExField on November 15, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 15: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins hands the ball off to running back Alfred Morris #46 of the Washington Redskins in the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at FedExField on November 15, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images) /

Here’s an in-depth look at Derrius Guice, Adrian Peterson, and the rest of the Redskins’ running back room ahead of the 2020 NFL season.

Our first journey in our “Deep Dive” series brought us into the quarterback room for an in-depth breakdown of the men behind center for the Washington Redskins. If you missed last week’s piece, you can check it out here.

So, after diving into the QBs first, why wouldn’t our second trip bring us to the running backs? As the right-hand men to the quarterback, the running back position has always been one of the most valued spots on an NFL roster. Yet each year, the position continues to evolve and change like few in the sport.

For the Redskins, successful seasons have usually corresponded with highly productive play from their running backs. For example, in 2012, Washington won the NFC East division title off the back of RGIII’s magical ride, and Alfred Morris’s 1,600+ yard season. In 2005, Clinton Portis ran for 1,500+ yards en route to Washington’s second-round playoff appearance. The franchise’s third Super Bowl victory included Earnest Byner’s 1,048 yards in 1991, landing him as the No. 4 running back in the league that season.

After the departure on Morris, the Redskins spent a number of seasons looking for the next man up. From Matt Jones to Robert Kelly to Samaje Perine, the running back spot was a carousel of names that couldn’t quite fill the void.

But just a few years removed from the search for productivity in the backfield, the Redskins running back room is now one of the deepest positions on the roster. Thanks in part to the influx of young talent and the resurgence of Adrian Peterson’s career, the future at the position looks bright.

But like most positions on the roster, having a healthy and consistent starter week in and week out has been a challenge for Washington. So this week, let’s take a deep dive into the position. We will go player by player to find out the strengths and weaknesses of the running back room for the Redskins. We will go into the statistics and make a depth chart projection for the 2020 season.

It’s time to take a dive into the Redskins running backs.

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