2020 NFL Draft: 5 offensive rookies to watch in second half of the season
By Kyle Edmond
Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Football Team
After going in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Memphis where he carried the ball just 33 times, Antonio Gibson was looked at as a depth player in Washington. However, the release of Adrian Peterson and Derrius Guice opened the door for the rookie.
Like the others on this list, Gibson had a slow start to the season, having to earn his role and take time away from J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber. As the season has progressed, so have the opportunities for Gibson in the Washington offense.
Gibson has logged 55 or more rushing yards just twice this season, including an outlier 128-yard performance against Dallas, but he has found other ways to contribute that have made him one of the more valuable running backs of the 2020 NFL Draft class.
Gibson has tallied a rushing touchdown in all but three games so far, including a two-touchdown game this past week against Detroit. That gives Gibson seven rushing touchdowns on the season, tied with Alvin Kamara for seventh in the league. The names on the list above them? Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Todd Gurley, Cam Newton, Kyler Murray and Dalvin Cook.
The yards will come, but the touchdowns are creating separation between Gibson and the rest of the rookie running back class.