Malik Dotson, Eastern Washington RB: the 2026 season story
Malik Dotson is a senior running back for Eastern Washington (Big Sky). He ranks 510th of 575 running backs in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every running back on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Malik Dotson's strongest measure is stuffed runs at 16%, 173rd of 299 (the average is 16%). His weakest is yards per carry at 2.7, 300th of 299 (the average is 5.1).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His rush yards per game, 28, ranks 254th among 299 ranked running backs.
Against every running back
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of running back he is. Among ranked running backs he sits, on average, in the 16th percentile for volume, 18th for efficiency and 8th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 5 games, Malik Dotson's best came in week 3 at Washington and his quietest in week 1 against Northern Iowa.
When it matters
Why it matters. Plenty of players produce in easy situations; the ones who keep it up on third down and against good teams are the ones coaches trust.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. Malik Dotson is 213th of 276 FCS running backs and 23rd of 24 in the Big Sky. Next up nationally is Christian Monfort of West Georgia, 0.01 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. His best season by the Player Index was 2024 at Eastern Washington, 55th of 649 running backs.
Running backs like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Jon Denman of TCU.
