If we’re playing “Wolf of Wall Street” with NFL player values, the Washington Commanders may have sold their stock in running back Brian Robinson Jr. at the exact right time.
Robinson went missing in his debut with the San Francisco 49ers in a Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks — his first game with his new team after the Commanders traded him for a 2026 sixth round pick on August 22.
In a 17-13 victory, Robinson had 9 carries for 33 yards (3.7 yards per carry) to go with 1 reception for 4 yards.
“I thought (third string running back) Isaac Guerendo would have been much more effective on Sunday than Robinson was … Guerendo certainly looked good in Seattle last year,” The Athletic’s Matt Barrows wrote on September 10. “For now, let’s chalk it up to Robinson having just arrived. But it’s something to monitor.”
Robinson Could Still Be Difference Maker
If Robinson can pull it together, the Commanders may have also gift-wrapped the 49ers the one player who can make sure their Super Bowl window stays open for at least one more season.
With Robinson in the fold, the 49ers can ease the burden put on starting running back and former NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey where needed. McCaffrey played just 4 games in 2024 and didn’t score a single touchdown as injuries decimated his year.
“When Christian goes out … now you know you got a guy coming in there that you shouldn’t miss a beat on,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told San Francisco’s KNBR 104.5 FM. “With (Robinson) you have a guy who I think is a starting running back in this league and when you pair him with Christian, that goes a long way.”
Commanders Find Replacement in 7th Round Pick
The Commanders decided to part ways with Robinson thanks to a convincing training camp and preseason run from rookie Jacorey “Bill” Croskey-Merritt, a 2025 seventh round pick (No. 245 overall) who only played one game for the University of Arizona in 2024.
Robinson had every chance to show out in 2024 as the featured back on a team that went 12-5 and made the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991.
Instead, Robinson failed to set himself apart and finished with 958 yards of total offense and 8 total touchdowns but missed 3 games due to injuries.
For Croskey-Merritt, it took exactly a handful of preseason games and one regular season game to essentially make Commanders fans forget Robinson ever existed.
‘Bill’ Delivers the Goods in NFL Regular Season Debut
In Washington’s 21-6 Week 1 win over the New York Giants, Croskey-Merritt had 10 carries for 82 yards and 1 touchdown and seemed to do the thing Robinson couldn’t do last year, which is take the attention off quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Daniels set the NFL rookie quarterback rushing record with 891 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2024. Those are numbers that he could very well emulate or exceed in 2025, just not with him as the featured (aka only) running threat.
Ideally, the Commanders would have a situation in their backfield in the future similar to what the Baltimore Ravens have with 2-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry — 2 players teams have to game plan their run defense for equally.
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