Austin Ekeler is signing a 2-year deal, worth up to $11 million with the Washington Commanders.
After contract extension talks fell through with the LA Chargers in 2023, Austin Ekeler has found a new opportunity with the Washington Commanders. He is coming off a down year in 2023 with 1,064 total yards and 6 TDs after his league-winning 2022 season. Washington will look to Ekeler to jump start a middling running game that has struggled in recent years.
Ekeler reunites with Anthony Lynn, the Commanders’ running game coordinator and his previous head coach with the LA Chargers. During Lynn’s tenure in LA from 2017 to 2020, Ekeler ascended from an undrafted free agent to a versatile backfield weapon.
Ekeler has been a true dual threat running back, being a prolific scorer on the ground and through the air. However, his production declined in 2023 when he averaged a career low 3.5 yards per carry. His catch rate also plummeted as he struggled to stay healthy. He will look to get back to form with the Commanders while splitting carries with the bruising Brian Robinson. After RB moves across the NFC East, your move, Dallas.
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler could see ...
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (heel) was...
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler ...
New Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach says he will emphasize the running game and would “love to have” Austin Ekeler.
Entering the free agency period of 2024, the LA Chargers running back room includes Jaret Patterson, Elijah Dotson, and Isaiah Spiller. Given the new coaching staff includes Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman, a more capable stable of RBs seems like it should be a priority. Both Harbaugh and Roman are long-time proponents of a heavy emphasis on establishing a run game.
Harbaugh expressed that sentiment in a press conference stating, “we’re going to have a huge emphasis on the run game.” One key piece of the run game puzzle is free agent Austin Ekeler. Ekeler is unrestricted and is coming off a down year, but he’s included in a FA class that boasts Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Derrick Henry, among others. Harbaugh says that Ekeler is “a tremendous back and we’d love to have him on the team next year.”
Coachspeak is a Harbaugh specialty and the Chargers/Ekeler relationship has been strained in recent years. Time will tell whether that was more attributable to ownership or former GM Tom Telesco, but given Ekeler’s struggles in 2023 and his intent to explore greener pastures, don’t expect Ekeler to be a Charger in 2024.
LA Chargers RB Austin Ekeler to return from IR Monday in a matchup with Dallas.
LA Chargers running back and longtime fantasy stalwart, Austin Ekeler, has not played since Week 1 after suffering a high-ankle sprain. The Chargers placed him on the injured reserve list which required him to sit out at least four weeks. To the delight of Chargers fans and fantasy owners, many of whom drafted Ekeler as the RB2, Ekeler will make his return on Monday when the Chargers face the Dallas Cowboys.
Since 2019, Ekeler has finished as the RB4 or better 3 times, including RB2 in 2021, and RB1 last season. In those three seasons Ekeler has never averaged below 4.22 YPC and has averaged over 5 receptions per game. He is the prototypical PPR running back.
Joshua Kelley had been filling in for Ekeler but his production never did anything but frustrate those who had him in their lineups. He returns to fantasy irrelevancy.
Austin Ekeler will not play Sunday in Nashville as the Chargers face the Titans.
Austin Ekeler suffered an ankle injury in the Chargers season opener vs. Miami and will not play Sunday vs the Tennessee Titans. According to Chargers beat writer Daniel Popper on Twitter, a source says that Ekeler won’t travel with the team to Nashville.
Ekeler, a perennial first-round fantasy pick, finished Week 1 as the 3rd highest scoring running back in fantasy but suffered an ankle sprain. Ekeler had only missed eight games in the previous 6 seasons, a remarkable track record for a running back.
Backup RB Joshua Kelley will fill in and should be considered an immediate fantasy play after filing in in Week 1 and finishing as a solid RB2 in limited play. Elijah Dotson and Isaiah Spiller will pick up the backup duties, but should remain irrelevant except in deeper leagues.
