RB Austin Ekeler, WAS (3 Viewers)

[Tau837]

He has missed 8 games over the past 2 seasons. Seems more reasonable to project him for 13-14 games than 16-17.

He averaged 6.4 rushing attempts per game last season. Projecting 125 rushing attempts seems high IMO. I'd probably project 90. At 4.5 ypc, that is 405 rushing yards.

He averaged 2.9 receptions per game last season. No reason to expect more. 40 receptions seems reasonable. At 9.0 ypr, that is 360 receving yards.

He had 6 RRTDs in 26 games over the past 2 seasons. I see no reason to project more than 3-5 this season.

Where does 765 YFS and 4 TDs rank? That's about what I would expect.

 

[FarFromHome]

I like math

23 carries a game for 1759 yds
80 receptions for 800 yds
9 tds

Solid rb1 in all formats

****Leaguemates lurking. Trying to increase value to move him. Shhhhhhh*****

 

[steelwind]

I know people are on the train of this player called Bill. Some are on the Rodriquez train. At the end of this season, in a ppr league, I honestly believe Ekeler has the most fantasy football points. Injuries aside obviously. My opinion of course.

Ekeler had 77 carries spread across roughly 12 games, he's not going to be asked to carry the load much but they will need to give him touches or he'll just look like he's out for a pass play

Assuming he can even stay healthy all 17 games
100-120 carries maybe
He'll need a lot of catches

The time to trade Ekeler is now, given his age and 2 concussions in 2024.

100% this. I'd take the under on Ekeler seeing 125 touches, unless a lot of guys got hurt around him. I also don't think the Robinson trade affects him at all.

I'm taking way over 125 touches.
"Touches = carries + receptions" right?
Even if you low end math out 9 carries + 3 receptions per game that's 204 touches overall.

125 carries if he can play 16 games
40-50 receptions if he can play the whole season
175 on the top end? 200 would be a lot

If I math this out.
2024 he averaged 4.8 per carry. I'll use 4.5 to normalize toward his career average.
2024 he averaged 11 yards per catch. I'll use 9 to normalize toward his career average.

So 125 carries + 50 receptions = 1013 total yards and 8 total TDs is a solid RB2.
8 total TDs cause he had 4 rushing and zero catching TDs in 2024 which is unusual so I expect progression there.

So yes I am touting Ekeler here.
But if I play devil's advocate, there is another RB on the Commanders that could right away take the BRob role.
No it's not JCM.
It's C. Rodriguez. He is only a few months older than JCM. Has been in the system. Has tackle breaking metrics. College and pro experience + pedigree.
I'm just not buying the JCM hype. Too much unknown and where is he getting the experience to know what to do at high leverage situations?
Commanders are a SB contender. If they were rebuilding I would be all over JCM.

 

[H8fulHuck]

I know people are on the train of this player called Bill. Some are on the Rodriquez train. At the end of this season, in a ppr league, I honestly believe Ekeler has the most fantasy football points. Injuries aside obviously. My opinion of course.

Ekeler had 77 carries spread across roughly 12 games, he's not going to be asked to carry the load much but they will need to give him touches or he'll just look like he's out for a pass play

Assuming he can even stay healthy all 17 games
100-120 carries maybe
He'll need a lot of catches

The time to trade Ekeler is now, given his age and 2 concussions in 2024.

100% this. I'd take the under on Ekeler seeing 125 touches, unless a lot of guys got hurt around him. I also don't think the Robinson trade affects him at all.

I'm taking way over 125 touches.
"Touches = carries + receptions" right?
Even if you low end math out 9 carries + 3 receptions per game that's 204 touches overall.

125 carries if he can play 16 games
40-50 receptions if he can play the whole season
175 on the top end? 200 would be a lot

If I math this out.
2024 he averaged 4.8 per carry. I'll use 4.5 to normalize toward his career average.
2024 he averaged 11 yards per catch. I'll use 9 to normalize toward his career average.

So 125 carries + 50 receptions = 1013 total yards and 8 total TDs is a solid RB2.
8 total TDs cause he had 4 rushing and zero catching TDs in 2024 which is unusual so I expect progression there.

So yes I am touting Ekeler here.
But if I play devil's advocate, there is another RB on the Commanders that could right away take the BRob role.
No it's not JCM.
It's C. Rodriguez. He is only a few months older than JCM. Has been in the system. Has tackle breaking metrics. College and pro experience + pedigree.
I'm just not buying the JCM hype. Too much unknown and where is he getting the experience to know what to do at high leverage situations?
Commanders are a SB contender. If they were rebuilding I would be all over JCM.

nice call. he's on my waiver wire watch list.

ol' bill is all the buzz right now and probably going way too high in drafts
rodriguez is more likely to get goal line carries
i do like ekeler to maintain if not slightly increase his workload vs last season
deebo is the mystery man in this abacus calculation game... don't be surprised to see him get multiple RB touches each game on top of WR 2 targets. won't know until we see it, but i've been packing those bags

 

[massraider]

At the price, worth seeing if he has one more year.

I doubt they are dying to run two kids out there every series. He may get a lot of work, especially early in season

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

At the price, worth seeing if he has one more year.

I doubt they are dying to run two kids out there every series. He may get a lot of work, especially early in season

Without TMc someone needs to catch the ball.

 

[ffmail4me]

At the price, worth seeing if he has one more year.

I doubt they are dying to run two kids out there every series. He may get a lot of work, especially early in season

Without TMc someone needs to catch the ball.

We know Terry is going to sign soon. Just a formality at this point

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

We know Terry is going to sign soon. Just a formality at this point

“We”’is doing some heavy lifting in that sentence.

 

[Pots]

I know everyone has rookie fever, but Austin looked good last year. Knows the system. On a good team. Great pass catching and blocking. Seems like he could have a great year especially if the rookie struggles early.

 

[FarFromHome]

Top of the depth chart on a high powered offense that loves the hurry up offense. Giddy up.

 

[ffmail4me]

Top of the depth chart on a high powered offense that loves the hurry up offense. Giddy up.

They are just gonna make Bill earn it. And he will after Sunday's game

 

[fatness]

Drafted Ekeler late on both my teams. I think he'll score more fantasy points than the other guys. But who knows?
I just want it to be Sunday.