Breaking down Washington’s running back battle after Derrius Guice’s release
Role Players: J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber
While Gibson and Love have the upside needed to eventually emerge as a one-two punch for Washington, they may not quite be ready for big roles at the start of the season. If that’s the case, they’ll cede snaps to some of Washington’s proven role players.
During the 2020 offseason, Washington agreed to deals with J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber. They weren’t considered to be game-changers, but the duo certainly will be important to the team now.
Like Gibson, McKissic was a college receiver who moved to the running back position and has the potential to be a versatile weapon in Washington’s offense. The soon-to-be 27-year-old is coming off a season that saw him post a career-best 205 rushing yards while catching 34 passes for 233 yards for the Detroit Lions. The coaching staff has repeatedly spoken of his ability to play all over the field and provide the team with a special teams option, so he will probably make the team.
More from Commanders News
- What will Emmanuel Forbes bring to the Washington Commanders?
- Highlighting the best Commanders 2023 NFL Draft betting props
- 3 late Commanders rumors drawing buzz ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft
- 4 bold predictions for the Commanders 2023 NFL Draft
- Commanders News: Chase Young trade, draft day, CB riser and Sam Howell
If Gibson’s development is stunted by the lack of offseason activities or if he’s needed as a receiver, McKissic will serve as the third-down back to start the season. McKissic is a capable player with some explosive ability, so having him around is surely a net-positive for Washington.
As for Barber, his addition was viewed as an odd one when he first joined the team given the talent that Washington already had at running back. But the move was always about adding a depth option to the team that Rivera had some level of familiarity with after facing him for four years in the NFC South.
Nobody will mistake Barber for a dynamic threat. He has averaged 3.6 yards per carry during his career and averaged just 3.1 ypc last year. But the former undrafted free agent from Auburn is an excellent short-yardage battering ram. He can help wear down defenses and spell Peterson in obvious run situations or heavy packages.
If Washington wants to ease Love back into action after nearly 20 months without football, they could opt to give Barber some carries early in the season. They shouldn’t give him too many, but in the right scenario, he can be helpful.
And hey, maybe he can play some fullback too. That’d certainly be a boon for the rushing offense.
Next. Dark-horse WR who could make Washington's roster. dark
We’ll soon see what Washington plans to do at running back. But at this point, they’re well-equipped to last the season with the core they have, barring an injury. Relying on Peterson and the role players to keep the team afloat until Love and Gibson are ready to take on bigger roles.