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Washington Football Team Depth Chart: Breaking down the RB room for 2021

By Jacob Camenker

Nov 26, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Football Team running back Antonio Gibson (24) in action during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Football Team at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Football Team running back Antonio Gibson (24) in action during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Football Team at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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LANDOVER, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 20: J.D. McKissic #41 of the Washington Football Team scores a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at FedExField on December 20, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 20: J.D. McKissic #41 of the Washington Football Team scores a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at FedExField on December 20, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Top third-down/pass-catching RB: J.D. McKissic

Last season, the Washington Football Team made several good investments in free agency. J.D. McKissic was one of them.

McKissic was signed to help replace Chris Thompson after he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars. While McKissic wasn’t thought of as a big piece for the offense, he ended up becoming one and was, at times, the second-best receiving threat on the field for Washington.

In his first year in Washington, McKissic set career-high marks in every major receiving category. He had 80 catches, 589 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. And he was no slouch on the ground either. He had 85 carries, 365 yards and a rushing touchdown as well.

McKissic was a combination of dynamic and reliable. He could catch 10 passes a game out of the backfield as a checkdown but he also offered enough speed and elusiveness to break big plays. While he’s not built to carry a full workload as a running back, he can be an effective change of pace guy out of the backfield.

Given how important having pass-catchers out of the backfield is for Scott Turner’s offense, McKissic will certainly be a big part of the Washington offense again in 2021. Even if he has to catch fewer checkdowns with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback, Washington will still find a way to manufacture touches for him.

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