Who are the Commanders’ boom or bust candidates for the 2022 season?
By Jonathan Eig
I don’t like writing about bust candidates. I’m a fan of the Washington Commanders and a fan of pretty much all of the team’s players. So I hope I’m wrong about these guys.
On the other hand, I love writing about boom candidates. Unless I’m wrong. Then I feel like an idiot. (e.g. I advocated – way more strongly than I care to admit – that the Commanders sign Kenny Golladay last off-season.)
With that off my conscience, here are this season’s offensive and defensive boom and bust candidates.
The Commanders’ offensive boom and bust candidates
Boom – Antonio Gibson, RB
May seem strange to name last year’s starting running back – who almost certainly will see a downturn in production this season – as the offensive Boom candidate. But this is all about perception – about buying low and selling high.
Gibson’s stock is way down right now and he simply has too much talent to remain in the doghouse for long. His fumbling is a huge issue. The fact that rookie Brian Robinson Jr. is simply a better running back right now is a huge issue.
(Robinson, BTW, does something that all great runners do – when there is a hole, he gets more than five yards. When there is no hole, he manages to still get three.)
Gibson does not do that. Though he has improved as a runner, the college wide receiver doesn’t have Robinson’s vision or decisiveness. He may never get it.
But if he can eliminate the fumbles, there is absolutely an important place for him on an offense that still is struggling to find consistent playmakers. Gibson can run and he can catch. He can break big plays. I expect Robinson will be the lead back this year, and that JD McKissic will continue to be the pass catcher. But running backs get hurt all the time and Gibson will have his chances. It may initially come as a fill-in for Robinson – with Robinson playing two series and Gibson one. It may come as a kickoff returner – something the team is still looking for.
But wherever the opportunity comes, if Antonio Gibson can eliminate the fumbles, he should play an important role in the Washington Commanders offense in 2022.