The Washington Commanders have traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick, marking a new backup running back for Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. From this trade, fantasy football players should now consider the implications for starting roles in Washington with Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Austin Ekeler, and Chris Rodriguez vying for position.

The 49ers had a pressing need for running back depth behind McCaffrey, especially as Isaac Guerendo and Jordan James, the previous backups, have been sidelined with injuries. Robinson is set to compete with Guerendo for the backup position, and there’s a high expectation for him to secure that role.

If McCaffrey sustains any injuries during the season—a possibility given his 2024 struggles with Achilles and knee issues—Robinson and Guerendo may share the load, necessitating careful drafting considerations. Given these complexities, the earliest I would suggest drafting Robinson is in Round 10, while Guerendo could be a late-round pick in larger leagues.

Despite the acquisition of Robinson, my confidence in McCaffrey’s workload remains steady, and I view him still as a top-three pick across all leagues.

In Washington, the focus now shifts to determining the usage of Croskey-Merritt, Ekeler, and Rodriguez, with Ekeler expected to play a pivotal role on passing downs. Drafting Rodriguez may be advisable as well, and Croskey-Merritt should be targeted in Round 8 in most formats.

Ultimately, on Draft Day, prioritize McCaffrey in Round 1, Croskey-Merritt in Round 8, Ekeler in Round 9, and Robinson in Round 10, while considering Rodriguez and Guerendo as last-round options depending on their performance.