Washington Football Team: Five players to watch in Week 5 vs. Rams
2. RB Antonio Gibson
As much as we talk about the Washington offense being McLaurin and everyone else, it seems that we may soon see another weapon emerge. That would be running back Antonio Gibson.
Gibson, a third-round rookie out of Memphis, has been productive on the ground so far this season. He hasn’t done anything earth-shattering, but he has logged a rushing touchdown in three straight games and has emerged as the team’s backfield leader at this early stage in the season. But even more important is what he was able to do against the Ravens through the air.
Gibson was the second-leading receiver for Washington against Baltimore. He grabbed four passes and managed to turn them into 82 yards including a 40-yard reception that saw him catch the ball close to the line of scrimmage, explode behind his blockers and get to the middle of the field, and run around players to set up Washington in scoring position.
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That play was demonstrative of what Gibson can provide the offense. He’s not just a runner that can rip off the occasional long game. He is an excellent receiver who can make plays with the ball in his hands. And given that he was a receiver primarily at Memphis, it makes sense that aspect of his game would be more refined at this point.
Washington should continue getting the ball in Gibson’s hands and it will be interesting to see how they deploy him against the Rams. He could be in for a big game and if he has another good receiving day, he will establish himself as the second-best receiving option the team currently has. And that would be a boon for an offense desperate to find some more playmakers.