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The Washington Football Team has relied on a split backfield to produce their offense this season. Sixth-year running back J.D. McKissic is in his second year with Washington and has retained a role as the team's passing-down back, much to the dismay of Antonio Gibson fantasy managers. McKissic missed Week 13 due to a concussion and remains questionable ahead of Washington's Week 14 home game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Let's assess the current situation within the Washington backfield heading into their Week 14 divisional home matchup against a good Dallas defense.
Is J.D. McKissic injured or is playing in Week 14? Does Gibson remain a must-start alongside McKissic? Below we take a quick look at the updated injury status for McKissic and attempt to answer questions about his availability and his potential replacement moving forward.
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Is J.D. McKissic Injured or Playing in Week 14 Against the Cowboys?
McKissic suffered a concussion that placed him in the league's protocol against Las Vegas in Week 13. It was the first game the veteran running back has missed for Washington this season. Antonio Gibson took advantage of his absence, totaling five receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown as a receiver. McKissic began this week as a DNP during Wednesday's practice but managed to log limited sessions on Thursday and Friday.
The following players are questionable for Sunday:
- S Landon Collins
- LB Jamin Davis
- WR Curtis Samuel
- RB J.D. McKissic#DALvsWAS | @InovaHealth— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) December 10, 2021
As a result, McKissic is officially listed as questionable against the Dallas Cowboys at home on Sunday. Be sure to check back for injury news and updates as we get closer to game time.
Should I Start J.D. McKissic in Week 14 Against The Cowboys?
If McKissic winds up getting cleared to return, expect double-digit touches, allowing him to hover around FLEX/RB3 territory with upside for more in PPR. His last game against Seattle was his best of the season, as McKissic scored once as a ball carrier and once as a receiver while racking up 56 total yards. Therefore, McKissic has a good floor in PPR lineups if he can suit up against the Cowboys on Sunday.
His progression from DNP to limited is an encouraging sign of his availability. If he is cleared to play, fantasy football managers can confidently start McKissic in as a FLEX play, especially in PPR formats.
Does Antonio Gibson Remain a Must-Start Alongside McKissic?
The brief answer to this question is yes. Despite McKissic drawing anywhere from four to eight targets per game, Gibson has been given a lucrative workload as Washington's RB1. Following their Week 9 Bye, Gibson has handled at least 19 carries in every single game. This has led to 358 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the second-year running back out of the University of Memphis. This volume is sustainable RB2 production even with reduced usage in the passing game.
This season, the Cowboys are the third-best against fantasy running backs, so it isn't the best matchup on paper. However, Gibson has exploded against the Cowboys in previous matchups, exceeding 100 rushing yards in both divisional games in 2020. Don't let McKissic's potential return reduce Gibson's appeal as a solid RB2 with RB1 upside at home in Week 14.
Are Jaret Patterson or Wendell Smallwood Streaming Options Without McKissic?
Neither Jaret Patterson nor Wendell Smallwood warrants consideration in fantasy lineups if McKissic cannot play in Week 14. During his absence in Week 13, both reserve running backs for Washington had an opportunity to churn out production against a bad Las Vegas run defense. Instead, they were each designated one carry, and Smallwood finished with two targets for two receptions and 12 yards. On the other hand, Antonio Gibson saw 23 carries and six targets, meaning Washington fully entrusts Gibson to handle a traditional three-down role without McKissic. At any rate, McKissic appears to be trending towards playing, logging back-to-back limited sessions to close out the week. So ignore Patterson and Smallwood against the Cowboys in Week 14 regardless of McKissic's final status.
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