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Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Those Involved: Chris Thompson, Trey Williams, Silas Redd, Michael Hill

Alfred Morris is going to continue being the bell cow of Washington's backfield. He'll be pushed by third-round pick Matt Jones.

But the rest of the depth chart is one big question mark. At most, there are two spots left up for grabs. Yet there are four players competing for those places.

Chris Thompson and Trey Williams offer very particular skills. Both are pint-sized burners who can stretch the field with the type of legitimate speed both Morris and Jones lack.

They also offer very useful pass-catching skills, something the current rotation has missed for too long. That's a mix of skills ideal for work on third downs.

But it isn't that simple. Thompson is the more compete player, yet he can't seem to stay healthy. Meanwhile, Williams may not be as versatile as he appears, according to CBS Sports' Dane Brugler.

More to the point, neither Williams nor Thompson is ever likely to offer much in terms of pass protection. That's an important factor on third downs when defensive coordinators just love to send a myriad of sophisticated pressures to force running backs to block.

That's one reason why this particular battle props up the list. Maybe the Redskins don't need Thompson or Williams for third downs.

Not when rookie Matt Jones has surprised head coach Jay Gruden with his ability as a receiver and a blocker, per the team's official Twitter feed. Rich Tandler of Real Redskins believes Jones could "get a lot of snaps when the games count."

There's also fullback Darrel Young to consider. He's a talented receiver and underrated runner who remains woefully misused.

Even with Jones playing a diverse role, there could still be room for Silas Redd or Michael Hill to stick on the roster. Both are tough inside runners.

Redd was a pleasant surprise last season as a crafty cutback runner and decent pass-catcher. It would be a shame to waste his versatility and temperament.

At the moment, though, Thompson seems like the surest bet to win one half of this battle, according to CSN Washington's Tarik El-Bashir:

"So with all that as a backdrop, here's how I see it playing out: Gruden has always spoken very highly about Thompson's potential, his speed, his elusiveness, his versatility. Gruden is intrigued, and that matters. If Thompson stays healthy in camp and makes an impact in the preseason, I suspect he'll get the nod."

Redd is also a very good bet to take the other spot thanks to his toughness and versatility.