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The NFC East is full of elite talent at skill positions, but where do the Commanders rank amongst the four teams? The Junks dive deep into Washington’s running back room and debate if they need more help.
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00:00When we're talking about the running backs as a whole,
00:02the position group in the NFC East,
00:07I clearly would have the Eagles won.
00:09See, when you look at the number one guys,
00:12so you obviously say go on,
00:14and then Javante Williams in Dallas,
00:17who had a really big year last year.
00:19I think he had 13 total touchdowns.
00:20He was the top rusher in the NFC East last year.
00:23I'm kind of positive about the Commanders RB group.
00:28I don't know really what to expect.
00:29I don't know who's going to be the number one.
00:31I think it's going to be a committee.
00:32But I think they're going to be better than people think.
00:35I don't know where I would rank them in the NFC East.
00:38Probably third.
00:39Well, I've got my personal rankings,
00:42and we can agree or disagree.
00:44So you mentioned some of the top rushers in the NFC East last year.
00:48They had the ninth and tenth ranked overall rushers in 2025.
00:52Javante Williams of the Cowboys was the league's ninth leading rusher.
00:56He had 1,201 yards,
00:58followed by Saquon Barkley of the Eagles at 10.
01:02Now, team-wise,
01:03the NFC East was really good at running the ball in 2025.
01:06Now, a big chunk of that for three of the teams
01:09was the fact that quarterbacks added a lot to their rushing totals.
01:13So last year,
01:14the Commanders were fourth in the league at 134.7 yards per game,
01:18but 575 of those yards were from Mariota and Jaden Daniels.
01:24The Giants were right behind the Commanders at fifth.
01:27They averaged nearly 130 rushing yards per contest.
01:31Jackson Dart had almost 500 rushing yards as a rookie quarterback in New York.
01:36The only team that didn't rush the ball a lot from the quarterback spot in the NFC East,
01:41the Cowboys,
01:42but they still finished top 10 in rushing.
01:44They were ninth at 125 yards per game.
01:46Dak,
01:47not a big rushing quarterback at this point in his career.
01:51And then the Eagles,
01:52they have another rushing quarterback in Jalen Hurts.
01:54He adds 421 rushing yards to their total.
01:59They averaged almost 117 rushing yards per game.
02:02They were 18th in the NFL at running the ball.
02:05Yeah, but, you know,
02:07the Eagles at running back,
02:10since we're bringing down the running back,
02:12had a dramatic drop-off last year.
02:14Yeah, Sacon went from 2,000 yards to 1140.
02:20He only had seven touchdowns last year.
02:22And some people think that a lot of that is due to,
02:25obviously,
02:25the upheaval at offensive coordinator.
02:28They're always bringing in new guys.
02:29And the fact that he had so many touches in 2024.
02:32Yeah, maybe a little wear and tear.
02:33That he was going to regress at some point eventually
02:35due to the wear and tear on his body.
02:38But you're still taking him number one out of all the RBs in the division.
02:42He's clearly the classmate.
02:44The class running back of the NFC East.
02:46So, as units go,
02:48I'm going to start from four and work our way up to one.
02:51I have the Washington Commanders at fourth in the NFC East.
02:56Okay.
02:56You know, Bill had an impressive rookie campaign.
02:58He averaged 4.6 yards per carry here in D.C.
03:01I love the add of Rashad White as the pass-catching option
03:04with Austin Eckler departing.
03:07Now, it's going to be tough to find a cheaper backfield tandem
03:10than Bill and White.
03:11Their combined 2026 salaries add up to $3.03 million.
03:17So, we know that Adam Peters...
03:17It shouldn't factor into the rankings, though.
03:20It shouldn't, but he's putting this backfield together kind of on the cheap
03:23is my approach with it.
03:26But, Katron Allen, Jeremy McNichols, and Jerome Ford provide decent depth
03:31for the Commanders, but I find it hard to rank them anything higher than fourth
03:34in this aspect.
03:36I have the Cowboys at third.
03:38Despite having Javante Williams in the mix from last year,
03:42I can't put them higher than third.
03:44I just do not love the depth behind Williams in Dallas.
03:47Now, Javante was a great redemption story last year.
03:50He hit career highs in carries, yards, yards per carry, nearly five per carry.
03:56He was at 4.8.
03:57He scored 11 rushing touchdowns.
03:59But, to me, the room behind him is not impressive.
04:02Jaden Blue, Phil Mafa...
04:05Mafa.
04:06Mafa.
04:07And with the Clemson.
04:07And Malik Davis combined for 397 yards last season in relief of Williams.
04:13Now, if Javante can appear in 15-plus games, I really like this Dallas offense.
04:18But if Javante Williams gets banged up, or if he regresses from last year,
04:23then the offense becomes more pass-happy and more reliant on Dak, CeeDee Lamb, and Pickens.
04:29All right, so maybe you have a little bit more depth here,
04:33but the clear number one is Javante.
04:34So, if you look at, just in fantasy numbers, Barkley will be in a top 10.
04:41Javante Williams will be top 15, probably.
04:43Top 17.
04:45And then Scadaboo will be ahead of anybody for Washington.
04:48Yeah, should be.
04:49But in terms of the depth, I can see why you have him fourth.
04:53I might put him third.
04:54So, don't be shocked to see Dallas potentially add a piece to this room
04:58during training camp at some point, if a name comes free that they like.
05:03I have the Giants at number two.
05:04This seems a little bit high, and it hinges on the healthy return of Cam Scadaboo.
05:08And it's speculative, because Scadaboo had flashes, but he didn't do that much.
05:13Well, his rookie year was cut short after eight games.
05:15He suffered a gruesome ankle injury in Week 8 against the Eagles.
05:19He was pretty effective pre-injury.
05:21He had 410 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
05:23He also chipped in in the receiving game with 24 catches for 207 yards.
05:28So, he's not just a battering ram type of back.
05:31He's got some wiggle to him, and he can get involved in the passing game, too.
05:35Now, his timeline is trending positively, according to John Harbaugh, who said recently,
05:41quote,
05:41I feel like Scadaboo will be ready early on in camp really quick.
05:46Now, the depth behind Scadaboo is what I feel propels the Giants to the number two spot in the NFC
05:52East.
05:52Both Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary have been starters at RB at times in the league,
05:57and they can fill that void if Scadaboo's rehab has a setback.
06:01I'm not saying they're world beaters or stars, but they're capable.
06:05They're Jags.
06:06Yeah, but they're filling guys that you'd be okay with for at least a few games.
06:09They have more of a resume than what the Commanders have.
06:12Correct.
06:13I mean, Scadaboo, in eight games, had seven total touchdowns.
06:16Right.
06:16He was effective.
06:18And the first game was just, I mean, that was against Washington.
06:20They got crushed.
06:21Yeah, his yards per carry weren't that high, though, right?
06:23I think it was a 4.4, 4.1.
06:25I mean, he didn't have a 100-yard game, but he was still scoring.
06:28Right.
06:29I mean, he was on pace.
06:30If he plays the entire year, he's probably on pace for, I don't know, 15 touchdowns.
06:34If he's at the two- or the three-yard line, he's going to find his way to the end
06:37zone.
06:37So you're going to have the Eagles number one with Saquon Barkley.
06:40It makes sense.
06:40You can go through the depth.
06:41Here's the question I want to throw out to callers and to Commanders fans.
06:44So Cakes has the Commanders with the worst running back room in the division.
06:51Does it trouble you?
06:521-800-636-1067.
06:54We spend all this time talking about how they should find another receiver, whether it's Brandon
06:59Ayuk, Stephon Diggs.
07:00You can go down the list.
07:02Should they have spent more time working on upgrading the running back room?
07:07Now, they did draft a guy.
07:09They drafted Catron Allen.
07:11Not just a guy.
07:12I mean, I know he doesn't have an impressive 40 time and that kind of thing, but he is
07:18the all-time leading rusher.
07:19Think about all the great running backs at Penn State.
07:21No one's got more than him.
07:23He played a lot of games.
07:24And look, Adam Peters...
07:25But if he was that silly, why was he drafted so low?
07:27Well, it doesn't matter.
07:28Adam Peters hit on the seventh round with Bill.
07:31Okay.
07:32So he might be hitting in this...
07:33Was he picked in the sixth round?
07:34Yeah.
07:34Like, he may hit Catron Allen in the sixth round.
07:38It might just fit their scheme.
07:39The new offensive Blau is unveiling.
07:42And I...
07:43So you're confident in their running back room?
07:45I'm willing to give it a chance.
07:46It's good enough to win.
07:47I'm willing to give it a chance because he was able to find, like, a gem in Bill.
07:52Like, that everybody else kind of passed over for multiple rounds of the NFL draft.
07:56I think Rashad White's going to be better than he was in Tampa.
07:59He's going to have a big role.
08:00I think he is.
08:01I think that's true.
08:01And I also think McNichols, when given an opportunity, always produce.
08:05How are all those guys going to be carries?
08:07Well, they're not going to be, like, big number guys.
08:10But, like, when given the opportunity, they'll produce.
08:12It's about depth because there's going to be injuries.
08:14I kind of argue with the depth.
08:15I think our depth is better than fourth.
08:18I would have put him third.
08:19I would probably put him ahead of the Giants.
08:21The Giants to the Cowboys.
08:22Like, the Dallas Cowboys' lack of depth is kind of alarming.
08:26Yeah, maybe.
08:26In my opinion.
08:27But their one is so much better than anybody watching this.
08:301-800-636-1067.
08:32How do you feel about the Commanders running backs?
08:35Cakes just went through the depth charts and kind of which teams.
08:38And you may disagree with him because it sounds like Jason would have.
08:41Sure.
08:42You'd have the Commanders three.
08:43I probably would put him third.
08:45You'd have the Cowboys two?
08:47Yes.
08:48I would put the Giants four.
08:49Just because Scadaboo's still an unknown.
08:51Coming back from the injury.
08:52Yeah.
08:53But it sounds like he's going to be ready.
08:54He should be ready for the start of the season.
08:57Yeah.
08:57It seems like Harbaugh's confident.
08:58I mean, they're pretty close.
08:59They're like neck and neck.
09:00I'm sitting there just biting my tongue every time we do this because all that matters is Jaden.
09:06That's all that matters.
09:07You're right.
09:08You're right.
09:10He's the biggest factor.
09:11If he performs, we'll win with this running back room.
09:14If he doesn't perform, it doesn't matter.
09:18They're not a jump off the page running back room.
09:20But I think that they're more than capable of scoring 26 to 28 points a game with these guys.
09:31Yeah.
09:31I mean, I wonder if Bill will take the next step.
09:36I mean, he had an impressive rookie season.
09:38What's the next step?
09:39Just to get the ball more?
09:40I mean...
09:41Get the ball more.
09:41Get to 1,100, 1,200 yards rushing.
09:46I don't know.
09:46I mean, if they get 1,200 yards rushing out of Bill, then that's a home run.
09:50I mean, I think Rashad White...
09:51Well, he gave him 800 last year.
09:52Yeah, you're right.
09:53Yeah, but Rashad White's going to get a lot of touches.
09:54He might touch it 50 times catching it.
09:56Or maybe he's just a third down back.
09:58I don't think so.
09:59If he's going to play the Eckler role...
10:01I don't think so.
10:01I mean, Eckler would get some carries, but I think the bulk of the carries goes to your workhorse,
10:06which should be Bill.
10:07All right, let's back on some of these calls.
10:08800-636-1067.
10:10Let's go to Benji in Alexandria.
10:12Benji, what's up, man?
10:13You're all of the junkies.
10:16Benji, what's up, y'all?
10:17How y'all doing?
10:18Hey, doing great.
10:18How are you?
10:18Are you confident in their running backs?
10:22I'm pretty confident.
10:23I feel like we have a pretty solid running back room.
10:25I feel like the rankings were pretty top-heavy.
10:29Like, yeah, the Eagles got Saquon.
10:30Yeah, the Giants got Scadaboo.
10:32But who's after that?
10:33Are you going to tell me Tyrone Tracy is better than Rashad White or K-Tron Allen?
10:39Like, I don't think they're that good.
10:41I think Tyrone Tracy is a pretty capable player who can catch a lot of balls out of the backfield,
10:45too.
10:45Like, you're sleeping a little bit on his skill set.
10:48Yeah, he's been pretty productive.
10:50I mean, you can't bank on K-Tron Allen.
10:52It's hard to compare Tyrone Tracy to K-Tron Allen.
10:54We haven't seen Allen play yet in the NFL.
10:56I mean, yeah, that's true.
10:57But I just feel like as a collective, our group is pretty solid.
11:00I won't say they're the best, but they're pretty solid.
11:03Yeah, I mean, I'd put them third.
11:04I'd put them third in the league, I mean, in the division.
11:07I think that's pretty safe.
11:09Thank you, Benji.
11:10Appreciate you, buddy.
11:11Tyrone Tracy last year, 740 yards rushing, average 4.2 yards per carry, two touchdowns.
11:17Let's go to our guy, Toothpick.
11:20Calling from Texas, Cakes.
11:22Toothpick, what's up?
11:23Hey, what's good?
11:24Thanks for taking my call.
11:25I appreciate y'all, man.
11:26Listen, I'm fine with our running back room.
11:28Sometimes it's not about the name.
11:30It's about what you do on the field, right?
11:32And Saquon's coming off a 2,000-yard season two years ago.
11:36So, last year was a down year for him.
11:38Scatterable's coming off of an injury.
11:40These guys have got to go out and make names for themselves.
11:43So, I think they did just enough in the running back room.
11:46Plus, the position that everybody says is not that valuable in the league, but when you
11:50find those guys that hit, that's when you get money.
11:52And it's not names.
11:54It's make it a name for yourself.
11:55Thanks for taking my call, man.
11:56I appreciate that.
11:57He mentioned Barkley, and a down year for Barkley is what he did last year.
12:01It was like 1,140 rushing yards, seven touchdowns rushing.
12:05He chips in in the receiving game.
12:07I think his numbers were down there a little bit just because that offense was less effective.
12:11Yeah, they had all kinds of problems.
12:12So, they have a new guy.
12:13Sean Mannion takes over as OC there in Philly.
12:16So, we'll have to see if that offense can elevate from where they were last season in 2025.
12:23But, I have the Eagles, obviously, as the number one rushing attack led by Saquon in the NFC East.
12:28So, to Jermaine, calling for Bowie.
12:30Jermaine, what's up, bud?
12:32Hey, what's up, guys?
12:34Hey, Jermaine.
12:34Hey, I agree with Cakes.
12:35Yeah, I think Cakes is right on.
12:37I would put him fourth in the division.
12:40My concern is the fumbling.
12:44I mean, we had a couple of fumbles last year in the blocking.
12:50I mean, other than that, we look pretty good.
12:52I would love to see him get a better back in free agency.
12:58But, you know, really, it's just the blocking and the fumbling that we had a problem with.
13:05All right.
13:06Okay, thank you, Jermaine.
13:08Did Bill have a couple fumbles last year?
13:11Yeah.
13:11He had four fumbles, lost two of them.
13:13Yeah.
13:15Yeah, because remember, after you fumbled the first couple times, they kind of scaled him back.
13:19Yeah, didn't touch it for a couple weeks or not as much.
13:21Then they gave it to him, and he was fine.
13:23I don't think he fumbled that much in the last four or five years.
13:26I mean, he is a little guy.
13:27I mean, he really looks little to me.
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