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Austin Ekeler finished as the RB24 in 2023 after being the RB1 in 2022 and RB2 in 2021. Fantasy managers will remember Ekeler's 2023 season as a massive bust, considering he was a first-round selection in almost every draft. However, what's often forgotten is that Ekeler started the season strong with a 164-total-yard game and a touchdown in Week 1 before sustaining a high ankle sprain late in the contest. That injury has been a disaster for countless running backs in recent seasons and it really derailed Ekeler's 2023 season.
Ekeler missed the next three games before returning in Week 5, a game in which he rushed for just 27 yards on 14 carries. While he maintained a streak of 14 to 20 carries for five straight weeks, Ekeler never rushed for more than 70 yards during that stretch. From that point on, Ekeler's average carries per game dropped to fewer than 11, and he scored just one touchdown while failing to reach even 50 yards as a receiver in any of his final 10 games.
Sure, Ekeler's body had sustained a ton of hits over the previous few seasons, but it's also very possible that he was still dealing with the lingering effects of that Week 1 high ankle sprain. This uncertainty and the change of scenery from Los Angeles to a more competitive backfield in Washington have led to Ekeler dropping from a Round 1 pick in 2023 all the way down to being a borderline top-100 pick here in 2024.
The Washington offense is an interesting one, but could also be a limiting factor for a player like Ekeler. While the team is expected to be more electric with new quarterback Jayden Daniels at the helm, rushing quarterbacks have historically relied much less on their running backs in the passing game than traditional pocket passers do. Justin Herbert had some athleticism but still relied heavily on Ekeler in the passing game throughout their time together. We shouldn't expect anywhere near as much of that from Daniels in his rookie season.
Still, Ekeler's price tag makes him a potential value in 2024. He has to fend off Brian Robinson Jr., who has shown himself to be a competent NFL runner, but Ekeler is a much more dynamic player and one that the new Commanders regime voluntarily brought in this offseason. Look for him to lead what will almost certainly be a split backfield, but he should get the majority of the touches that fantasy managers are most excited about, both in the passing game and near the goal line.
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