After a week of rumors, the Washington Commanders are trading RB Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers. The Commanders will receive a 2026 sixth-round draft pick as compensation for the trade, shaking up the depth chart with RBs Austin Ekeler and rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt in line for most of the snaps.
There were trade rumors circulating that the Commanders were taking calls for the fourth-year pro this offseason as he was seeking a new deal. Many believed it was just a matter of time before Robinson was shipped off, and with just a few weeks left before kickoff, they made it official.
While Robinson's addition to the 49ers will make him Christian McCaffrey's clear handcuff, it leaves the Commanders RB depth chart wide open, with Ekeler and Croskey-Merritt leading the way and on the rise for fantasy football, while Chris Rodriguez is also in the mix.
Robinson finished his time with the Commanders rushing for 2,329 yards on 470 carries (4.1 YPC) and 15 TDs across three seasons — with at least 178 carries in every season. He has now become a very important backup for the 49ers to McCaffrey, who has dealt with numerous injuries over the course of his career.
Commanders Turn to RB Committee Approach After Robinson Trade
The Washington Commanders have been swirling trade talks surrounding Robinson for the last couple of months now, and finally pulled the trigger.
With Robinson in the last year of his rookie contract, the Commanders decided to get what they could from him before they lost him to free agency after the season. Former Alabama State, New Mexico, and Arizona running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt made the decision a lot easier for the Commanders after his play during the preseason, which has been highly-coveted by fantasy football experts.
With Robinson out of the mix, Austin Ekeler will claim the top spot of the running back depth chart, but hot on his tail is Croskey-Merritt. I don’t expect Ekeler to get the bulk of the carries in this backfield, as he should be in a timeshare with Croskey-Merritt. We can even expect Jeremy McNichols mixed in, potentially with Chris Rodriguez to see some work out of the backfield as well.
This should be a running back by committee to watch out for. However, if I were targeting anyone in this backfield in fantasy football, it would be Croskey-Merritt. His current ADP has him at 147 and the 42nd overall RB, and it looks like he could be snagged in rounds 10-12 right now, giving your bench RB a ton of upside.
New Commanders RB Depth Chart
Although this isn't official, this is how we're expecting the Commanders new RB depth chart to look after the Robinson trade and heading into Week 1.
RB1: Austin Ekeler
RB2: Jacory Croskey-Merritt
RB3: Jeremy McNicholds
RB4: Chris Rodriguez Jr.
49ers Secure Veteran RB Insurance with Brian Robinson Trade
Many would suggest that it’s surprising that the 49ers traded for Brian Robinson Jr.. However, after looking over the depth chart, it was a smart move by GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan.
The 49ers are doing their best to preserve star running back Christian McCaffrey by adding more insurance to the backfield.
Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports, Guerendo is expected to open the season as the primary backup for the 49ers still, leaving Robinson as the RB3 to start the season.
The 49ers will look to ease Robinson into action as the season progresses and fully take over as the top backup.
I expect McCaffrey to have full reigns of this offense as the bellcow running back that he is. However, we can expect more work from Robinson and Guerendo to keep him fresh for an entire season.
McCaffrey should still be locked into your fantasy football drafts as a top five RB option. He will also have the potential to finish the year as fantasy’s No. 1 running back as many expect the NIners to get back on track, but there’s just always cause for concern when drafting him.
As for one of the most coveted handcuffs in fantasy football, Robinson now slots right into that spot. Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme makes any running back in that offense a top option in fantasy football.
New 49ers RB Depth Chart
Although this isn't official, this is how we're expecting the 49ers new RB depth chart to look after the Robinson trade and heading into Week 1.
RB1: Christian McCaffrey
RB2: Isaac Guerendo
RB3: Brian Robinson Jr.
RB4: Jordan James/Corey Kiner
Christian McCaffrey Injury History
As 2025 approaches, Christian McCaffrey's durability remains the main worry. McCaffrey's health has fluctuated since he joined the league in 2017.
In 2020, injuries started to mount after three consecutive seasons of almost flawless availability. Between 2020 and 2022, he missed 23 games with a variety of ailments, including high-ankle sprains, hamstring strains, and a shoulder injury.
McCaffrey returned to form in 2023, showing off his All-Pro skills and proving to everyone that he is still one of the elite running backs in the NFL.
However, McCaffrey's momentum was short-lived. In 2024, his campaign was once more plagued by injuries, limiting him to just four games throughout the entire season, including a surprise inactive in Week 1 which led to a several-week absence, — one of the wildest sequence of events in recent fantasy football historyu.
For McCaffrey, the addition of Robinson provides much-needed insurance. The athletic, downhill runner can help protect McCaffrey's workload, increasing his chances of remaining healthy through 2025.
Brian Robinson Jr. Trade Fantasy Football Impact
Right out of the gate, Brian Robinson Jr.'s fantasy football value has plummeted, but he is still a valuable asset in all leagues. Instead of being drafted as a potential RB3, he will be drafted as the most sought-after handcuff for one of the most elite and often-injured running backs, Christian McCaffrey.
Where this trade impacts the most is in Washington with their running back depth chart. They now have four capable running backs to handle the workload, and all of them should see some work to start the season.
My prediction is that Ekeler will see the early work, and the Commanders will work in Jacory-Merritt, McNichols, and Rodriguez along the way. It’s going to come down to who makes the most of their opportunities.
To start the season, it’s going to be a four-man committee (or three, depending on how many active RBs they use) that could wind up being just two getting the bulk of the work come mid-season.
The running back I am most high on is Jacory-Merritt. As of right now, he’s a 10th-round pick in most fantasy football drafts, but wouldn’t be shocked to see his stock rise rapidly.
