Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Leading receiver in loss
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Ekeler rushed twice for seven yards and secured eight of nine targets for 89 yards in the Commanders' 26-18 loss to the Eagles on Thursday night. He also returned two kickoffs for 59 yards and committed a fumble recovered by Washington.
Ekeler was a non-factor on the ground after back-to-back contests with double-digit rush attempts, as fellow running back Brian Robinson returned from a two-game absence and logged 16 carries. However, Ekeler did finish as the team leader in receptions, receiving yards and targets, with all three figures also serving as season highs. Ekeler is likely to be a bit more involved in the ground attack and remain a key complementary target at minimum during a favorable Week 12 home matchup against the Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 24.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Returning to backup role
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Ekeler likely will return to a backup role with Brian Robinson (hamstring) cleared to play Thursday at Philadelphia, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Ekeler's workload was perhaps disappointing during Robinson's two-game absence -- he received 14 touches in both contests -- but a trio of one-yard touchdowns made him a useful lineup option for fantasy managers. With Robinson back in action, Ekeler is unlikely to continue his goal-line touchdown binge but should take most of the snaps in passing situations while also subbing in for some carries.
Ekeler rushed the ball 13 times for 44 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 28-27 loss to the Steelers. He added one reception on two targets for seven yards.
Ekeler drew his second straight start due to Brian Robinson (hamstring) sidelined. Only one of his rush attempts went for double-digit yardage, though he made hay with a pair of one-yard touchdown runs. Ekeler was curiously uninvolved as a pass catcher, though that part of his game could return if Robinson can re-take the field in Week 11 against the Eagles, in turn pushing Ekeler back into a complementary role.
Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Another start likely Sunday
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Ekeler may be in line to lead the Commanders backfield Sunday against the Steelers due to Brian Robinson (hamstring) being ruled out for the contest, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.
With Robinson sidelined Week 9 at the Giants, Ekeler started and paced Washington running backs with 47 percent of the snaps, while Jeremy McNichols took 39 percent and Chris Rodriguez handled 32 percent. The breakdown of touches was a different story, at least for the reserves. Ekeler earned 11 touches (for 83 yards from scrimmage and a rushing TD) to Rodriguez's 11 (all carries for 52 yards) and McNichols' eight (all rushes for 20 yards). Rodriguez has been elevated three times this season, so he'll need to be signed to the active roster Saturday in order to vie with Ekeler and McNichols for work Sunday.
Commanders' Austin Ekeler: Solid performance without Robinson
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Ekeler rushed the ball 11 times for 42 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-22 win over the Giants. He added three receptions on four targets for 41 yards.
Ekeler saw his highest carry total of the season in the absence of Brian Robinson (hamstring). He accounted for the majority of his production on the ground on Washington's first drive of the second quarter, during which he delivered rushes of 20 and five yards as well as a one-yard touchdown plunge. Ekeler supplemented that with his work as a receiver, highlighted by a 28-yard catch and run to help set up a game-clinching field goal midway through the fourth quarter. Robinson was able to practice in limited fashion throughout the week, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him back in action in Week 10 against the Steelers. In turn, that would relegate Ekeler to a change-of-pace role.
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Commanders' Austin Ekeler: In line for start with Robinson out
Rotowire
Ekeler is expected to be the Commanders' primary running back Sunday at the Giants due to Brian Robinson (hamstring) being inactive.
Robinson's practice reps were capped this week due to a hamstring injury, and after a pregame warmup didn't yield the desired results for game day, Washington opted to keep him on the sideline. The situation opens the door for Ekeler to lead the backfield for the second time this season, but in the other such outing (Week 6 at Baltimore), he tallied 68 yards from scrimmage on 13 touches. Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez also will be on hand for snaps behind Ekeler.
Ekeler rushed the ball seven times for 52 yards in Sunday's 18-15 win over the Bears. He added two receptions on three targets for six yards.
Ekeler continued to serve as the change-of-pace back in Washington, seeing half the carries of Brian Robinson. His stat line oversells his production considerably, as he tallied a 29-yard rush on a meaningless play just before halftime. He was also oddly quiet as a pass catcher, and he's now been held to single-digit receiving yards in consecutive games.
