Things move fast in the NFL. Just a month ago, Brian Robinson was projected to lead Washington's early down rushing attack. On Aug. 8, it was reported he would sit out the preseason opener due to trade rumors. Now, Robinson is a 49er, joining a crowded running back depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey.
Here's what this trade means for your 2025 fantasy football draft strategy.
Washington's Backfield Resets Without Robinson
Robinson had been drafted as the RB30 in many leagues just three weeks ago. Despite a committee approach, he was expected to handle:
- Early down rushing duties
- Goal-line work
- Positive game-script touches
With Robinson gone, the fantasy landscape in Washington shifts dramatically:
Jacory Croskey-Merritt should handle most early down work and has seen his stock rise steadily.
Austin Ekeler maintains his role as the passing-down back, with occasional rushing volume.
Chris Rodriguez is expected to step in as the short-yardage and goal-line back.
Commanders' Fantasy Draft Implications
- Ekeler offers PPR value despite minimal rushing work, likely holding value outside the RB45 tier.
- Croskey-Merritt, who has risen all preseason, now looks poised to climb into the top-30 RBs.
- Rodriguez, previously undrafted in most leagues, becomes a high-upside late-round dart.
Rodriguez could be the most interesting piece of this puzzle. He's a big-bodied runner with talent, and with his fantasy football draft cost near zero, the upside is worth the gamble.
Robinson's Role in San Francisco
Moving to San Francisco might help Robinson long-term, but in the
Things move fast in the NFL. Just a month ago, Brian Robinson was projected to lead Washington's early down rushing attack. On Aug. 8, it was reported he would sit out the preseason opener due to trade rumors. Now, Robinson is a 49er, joining a crowded running back depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey.
Here's what this trade means for your 2025 fantasy football draft strategy.
Washington's Backfield Resets Without Robinson
Robinson had been drafted as the RB30 in many leagues just three weeks ago. Despite a committee approach, he was expected to handle:
- Early down rushing duties
- Goal-line work
- Positive game-script touches
With Robinson gone, the fantasy landscape in Washington shifts dramatically:
Jacory Croskey-Merritt should handle most early down work and has seen his stock rise steadily.
Austin Ekeler maintains his role as the passing-down back, with occasional rushing volume.
Chris Rodriguez is expected to step in as the short-yardage and goal-line back.
Commanders' Fantasy Draft Implications
- Ekeler offers PPR value despite minimal rushing work, likely holding value outside the RB45 tier.
- Croskey-Merritt, who has risen all preseason, now looks poised to climb into the top-30 RBs.
- Rodriguez, previously undrafted in most leagues, becomes a high-upside late-round dart.
Rodriguez could be the most interesting piece of this puzzle. He's a big-bodied runner with talent, and with his fantasy football draft cost near zero, the upside is worth the gamble.
Robinson's Role in San Francisco
Moving to San Francisco might help Robinson long-term, but in the short term, his path to value is murky.
- Christian McCaffrey remains the clear lead back.
- Isaac Guerendo has durability concerns and could open the door to a backup split if injuries continue.
- Brian Robinson is likely the clear No. 3 RB, but could split work with Guerendo if McCaffrey misses time.
- Jordan James has struggled in camp and projects as the RB4 on the 49ers' depth chart.
Key Takeaways
Robinson's only clear opportunity comes if McCaffrey misses time. Even then, it may be a timeshare with Guerendo rather than a featured role.
Robinson had been drafted just inside the top-40 RBs based on speculative upside. Now, with a much cloudier depth chart, he's likely to fall well outside the top 50. For fantasy managers hoping he'd land in a starting job, the 49ers were not the optimal outcome.
Use Rotowire's NFL depth charts and fantasy football news to monitor updates to each backfield as preseason continues.
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