Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott caught all three of his targets for 16 yards and carried once for eight yards in a 34-10 loss to Houston on Monday. It was ugly all around as the Cowboys rushed for just 64 total yards and spent most of the night playing catch-up behind backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Running back Rico Dowdle had 10 carries for 28 yards, leading the team in both categories. Elliott's best days are behind him as is, but the entire Dallas backfield simply can't be trusted as the team prepares for Washington in Week 12.
Nov 19, 2024 10:09 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has been a non-factor from a fantasy standpoint in 2024, and that should not change ahead of Monday night's matchup with the Houston Texans. Head coach Mike McCarthy stated earlier this week that the backfield is no longer a committee with Rico Dowdle operating as the main back. This should result in even less touches for Elliott, who was already averaging just 7.6 touches per game. In an inefficient Dallas offense, Elliott is not a fantasy option this week.
Nov 17, 2024 10:22 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott only touched the ball six times in the blowout loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. Elliott was returning from a one-game internal suspension related to team conduct. He gained 22 yards on the ground and was not targeted in the passing game. Elliott remains off the fantasy radar as a handcuff to Rico Dowdle in what is now a defunct Dallas offense without quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring).
Nov 11, 2024 12:45 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was held out of the Week 9 loss due to disciplinary reasons, but the veteran is expected back in the lineup for Week 10's matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Elliott is completely off the fantasy radar after ceding the lead-back role to Rico Dowdle. Furthermore, Philadelphia's defense ranks third against opposing running backs. Elliott can be left on the waiver wire and should not be in any lineups this week.
Nov 8, 2024 10:52 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was a healthy scratch from Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys decided to elevated Dalvin Cook and make Elliott a healthy scratch after his rough start to the season. However, head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Elliott would be available for the Week 10 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran back is averaging 3.1 yards per carry on 48 attempts this season. He figures to serve as the change-of-pace back to Rico Dowdle in the backfield. It's hard to imagine Elliott having reliable value anymore at this point.
Nov 4, 2024 9:48 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott didn't travel with the team to Atlanta and was held out of the Week 9 matchup with the Falcons due to disciplinary reasons. While details were scarce when news broke on Saturday, Fox's Jay Glazer provided an update, reporting that Elliott was declared inactive because of missed meetings and "habitual tardiness." As a result, the team elevated Dalvin Cook off the practice squad, who will back up starter Rico Dowdle versus the Falcons. Now, fantasy managers are left wondering if Elliott will be back on the field for the Week 10 NFC East clash with the Philadelphia Eagles. If he's not, Cook will presumably continue to support Dowdle as the No. 2 option out of the backfield.
Nov 3, 2024 1:16 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott won't play on Sunday versus the Atlanta Falcons. He didn't travel with the team, with the Cowboys declaring him inactive due to disciplinary reasons. The 29-year-old hasn't been productive during the 2024-25 campaign, totaling only 149 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, meaning there aren't many who will be directly impacted by the news. Rico Dowdle (illness) will be back in the mix after missing Sunday night's meeting with the 49ers, so he'll lessen most of the blow caused by Elliott's absence. Dalvin Cook, elevated off the practice squad on Saturday, should also get some work in Week 9, although not enough to be relevant in most fantasy formats.
Nov 2, 2024 3:32 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott led the backfield in snaps last Sunday, but his role is expected to decrease with the return of Rico Dowdle ahead of Week 9 versus the Atlanta Falcons. Dowdle missed Week 8 due to an illness but has since been removed from the injury report and should have a full workload this Sunday. With that said, Dowdle's return to the lineup isn't necessarily a death spell for Elliott. Neither of the two has been particularly impressive this season, so it's possible that the Cowboys ride the hot hand at running back even if Dowdle earns the game's first snap. Dalvin Cook, who made his season debut last week, could also earn some touches. Both Dowdle and Elliott have lower floors and ceilings this week and should be treated as fringe top-36 running back options in fantasy football.
Nov 1, 2024 12:20 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott drew the start on Sunday night with Rico Dowdle (illness) being a late scratch. The veteran led the rushing attack with 10 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown. He added a reception for four yards in what turned out to be his best fantasy outing since Week 1. With Dowdle likely to be back next week, Elliott's fantasy relevance was likely short-lived.
Oct 28, 2024 1:34 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott should not be considered for fantasy lineups going into Week 8's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Elliott saw 41% of snaps in Week 6 against Detroit, but was mostly in the game due to his pass-blocking utility. The veteran has been highly inefficient on the ground this season, and San Francisco's run defense poses enough of a threat for Dallas to continue to lean on the air attack offensively. Elliott can remain on waivers in most formats.
Oct 25, 2024 10:35 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott saw eight carries in the blowout loss to Detroit. Elliott only gained 17 yards, rushing at an abysmal 2.1 yards per carry against the tough Lions' front. He saw no passing game usage, severely limiting both his fantasy floor and ceiling. Elliott was severely outplayed by Rico Dowdle, who gained 5.0 yards per carry and also saw receiving usage. The 29-year-old is not a usable fantasy option and can safely be dropped in all formats heading into Dallas' bye week.
Oct 14, 2024 10:49 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott could see more opportunities later in the season according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Meirov reported that Dallas owner Jerry Jones expressed that the team is "saving him" on 1053 The Fan when asked about his lack of opportunities. After seeing double-digit rushing attempts in the opening week of the season, Elliott has yet to that mark since and has averaged just 2.9 yards per carry in this span. Rico Dowdle has begun to emerge as the lead option in the backfield as he has scored in each of the past two games and seen double-digit carries in each of them. Fantasy managers in deeper formats could consider stashing Elliott, but for now, Dowdle has the highest upside on the depth chart.
Oct 11, 2024 12:21 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has seen his role diminish in the past few weeks. Elliott has taken a clear step back to Rico Dowdle, who had 22 touches compared to his six last week. This week, Dallas draws a tough running back matchup against Detroit. With Elliott's diminished workload along with a tough matchup, he should not be started anywhere this week. Elliott can be safely dropped in most formats, as he now serves as Dowdle's handcuff.
Oct 11, 2024 10:48 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott continued to see his workload decline on Sunday night. The veteran rushed just six times for 17 yards as opposed to Rico Dowdle's 22 touches. Elliott has been phased out of the running game over the past two weeks and is now firmly off of the fantasy radar. The 29-year-old is valuable in pass protection, but cannot be counted on in fantasy due to his lack of volume. He does not need to be rostered in most formats, as he would only be startable should Dowdle miss time. Feel free to cut ties prior to a tough Week 6 matchup with the Detroit Lions.
Oct 7, 2024 11:03 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running backs Ezekiel Elliott (dehydration) and Rico Dowdle (wrist) both pop up on the injury report on Thursday. Elliott was limited due to dehydration, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect that to be an issue heading into Week 5. Dowdle is dealing with a wrist issue, but was a full participant during Thursday's practice. That being said, Dowdle should be fine heading into their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two backs have been splitting up the role, but Dowdle has been pulling away with an increase in carries lately. Despite that, Dowdle remains a low-end flex play heading into a tough matchup against the Steelers defense.
Oct 3, 2024 9:30 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott only touched the ball four times in last week's loss to Baltimore. Elliott's usage has not been consistent enough this season to consider him a weekly starter, but this week's matchup with the New York Giants offers more upside than last week's did. Elliott will likely need a touchdown to pay off for fantasy purposes, making him a tough start in most formats. He ranks as a low-end RB3, as he should once again split the already limited rushing work with Rico Dowdle.
Sep 25, 2024 11:00 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was seldom used in the Week 3 loss. Given that his role is more of an early-down grinder type of back at this stage in his career, the game script was not favorable for Elliott today as Dallas was playing from behind all game. He rushed three times for six yards and caught a pass for six yards. Elliott and the Cowboys have a tight turnaround, as they will suit up on Thursday against the Giants.
Sep 22, 2024 10:55 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has seen an even split in workload with Rico Dowdle thus far in 2024. The veteran has carried the ball 16 times for 56 yards and a touchdown while reaching up four catches for 25 yards through two games. This week's matchup with Baltimore is not favorable, as the Ravens have surrendered the least rushing yards in the league through two games. Elliott will likely split work with Dowdle again, and will need a touchdown to pay off in fantasy. Look elsewhere for a running back option this week.
Sep 20, 2024 11:02 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was limited to just 32 total yards in Sunday's 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Elliott recorded six rushes for 16 yards and added two catches on three targets for 16 yards. With the Saints scoring 35 points in the first half, the Cowboys were forced to abandon the run and shift to a pass-heavy game plan, significantly reducing Elliott's opportunities. The Cowboys struggled offensively, entering the red zone only three times, where Elliott is typically featured. Fantasy managers may want to consider other options in Week 3, as the Cowboys face a tough matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, who allowed just 27 rushing yards to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.
Sep 15, 2024 9:07 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott could be a touchdown-dependent fantasy play in Week 2 against New Orleans. In Week 1, Elliot rushed 10 times for 40 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for nine yards against the Browns. His day was salvaged by a touchdown and he and Rico Dowdle basically alternated drives at Cleveland. The reality, however, is Elliott could be a TD machine in the high-powered Cowboys' offense and that could be the case in Week 2 against the Saints. His limited rushing opportunities in what looks like a shared backfield make him a somewhat risky proposition for fantasy purposes week in and week out. But until proven otherwise, the Ohio State product is a solid bet to find paydirt each week and could fall into the end zone multiple times in any given matchup. There are better options for volume at the position in fantasy but Elliott looks like he could be a decent RB2 play this week.
Sep 12, 2024 9:50 AM EST
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