The Washington Commanders had several issues during the 2025 season, but their running game wasn't one of them. The offense finished in the top five in rushing yards per game for the second straight season -- a feat they haven't achieved since the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
Head coach Dan Quinn said in the final episode of "The Gameplan" for the 2025 that the running backs' success can be attributed to their consistency, both on the field and in the meeting room. Their efforts to rely on one another showed up on film, and it helped the Commanders stay competitive in the second half of the season.
"Bill [Jacory Croskey-Merritt] had a few home run ones to go," Quinn said. "Chris [Rodriguez Jr.] had some really significant yards after contact."
Despite their 5-12 finish to the season, the Commanders were one of the most effective teams when it came to running the ball. They ranked fourth in the league with 134.7 yards per game and tied for fourth in yards per attempt (4.7). They ranked third in yards after contact and had 38 broken tackles as a team, which tied with the Miami Dolphins for the third most in the league.
All that was done despite Austin Ekeler suffering a season-ending injury in Week 2, thanks to the trio of Croskey-Merritt, Rodriguez and Jeremy McNichols. Croskey-Merritt led the team with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, the latter of which was the second-most for a rookie running back. Rodriguez set career highs in nearly every category, rushing for 500 yards on 112 attempts and six touchdowns (he had 86 carries for 420 yards and four touchdowns for his career prior to the 2025 season).
McNichols -- the veteran of the group -- had 417 total yards on 75 touches, including a career-long 60-yard touchdown. The Commanders chose not to have a true starting running back, electing instead to use all three players in a way that highlighted their skill sets. That approach -- a growing trend around the league -- was important to the group's success, Quinn said.
"Blitz pickup, running game, third down; all that matters," Quinn said. "And at that position, you better be tough, and these guys, they are tough."
The Commanders have several decisions to make at the running back position if they want to keep that dominance going in 2026. Croskey-Merritt is the only player at the position not on an expiring contract, which means they will need to either draft or sign players in free agency. There are a few players on the market who could help elevate the group, but whoever they pick will have a high standard to meet next season.
Check out the full episode of "The Gameplan" in the video above.
