J.D. McKissic

McKissic was a hot commodity this offseason, as he got wooed heavily by the Bills before eventually re-signing with the Commanders on a two-year deal. It isn't too hard to see why he was in high demand, as the Arkansas State product has become one of the NFL's busiest receiving backs since going undrafted in 2016. Last year, McKissic didn't match the volume he saw in 2020, partially due to missing the last six games with a concussion, but his 7.5 YPT ranked fifth among RBs with at least 40 targets. After two years of QB turmoil in Washington, McKissic could benefit from a little stability under center following the addition of Carson Wentz, though the former Eagle/Colt wasn't able to get the most out of Nyheim Hines last season in Indianapolis. Antonio Gibson still has the top spot in the Washington backfield, while McKissic appears unchallenged for his passing-down role.

McKissic had the best year of his career in 2020, topping 900 scrimmage yards while working as a pass-catching complement to Antonio Gibson. The team's revolving door at quarterback worked in McKissic's favor, as the likes of Alex Smith and Dwayne Haskins didn't have much luck stretching the field and instead settled for dump-offs and short routes for the most part. Ryan Fitzpatrick may not be an All-Pro, but his 7.5 average air yards per target last year for Miami blew away the 5.7 mark Washington's QBs as a whole managed. With the receiving corps also bolstered by the arrival of Curtis Samuel, there's even more incentive for OC Scott Turner to be aggressive with his passing game. Gibson is entrenched in the lead role, so while McKissic doesn't have much competition for the backup spot, last season's production may prove to be his ceiling rather than his new normal.

McKissic has bounced around the league as a passing-down specialist out of the backfield, most recently landing in Washington as a potential replacement for Chris Thompson (Jaguars). With Antonio Gibson, Bryce Love and Peyton Barber all in the mix to earn carries now that Adrian Peterson is no longer on the team, McKissic's best-case scenario probably involves three or four carries and a handful of targets per game.

McKissic made some noise in 2017 with 453 scrimmage yards and three TDs on 80 touches, but he was a non-factor a year ago following the addition of first-round pick Rashaad Penny to the backfield alongside starter Chris Carson. McKissic could get on the field more this season with the departure of Mike Davis in free agency, not to mention C.J. Prosise's next inevitable injury. The best-case scenario for McKissic is a role on passing downs, while the worst-case scenario is losing his roster spot to 2019 sixth-round pick Travis Homer.

After barely playing as a rookie in 2016, McKissic made his way onto the game-day roster in Week 4 and never looked back, finishing the year as the Seahawks' main receiving option out of the backfield. At 5-10, 195, the converted college wideout lacks the size to be an every-down running back in the NFL, but he's a mismatch against linebackers given his sharp routes and elusiveness, and he showed he can contribute on the ground when he took his first carry of the season 30 yards for a score. McKissic was trying to beat out C.J. Prosise for a role on passing downs, but a Jones fracture suffered in late August ended McKissic's bid.