There’s been plenty of discussion about what has gone wrong with the Cowboys’ running game this season, as they rank last in rushing yards per game (77.0) and are struggling to determine which of their “committee” of running backs should take the field and when.
Ultimately, it’s not entirely former star Ezekiel Elliott’s fault that the Cowboys are in this situation. The team missed opportunities to draft a running back last April and didn’t sign an effective replacement for Tony Pollard, even though they could have pursued Derrick Henry.
All three running backs are in the Top 5 in rushing this season, and the Cowboys could have signed them if they had been more aggressive in free agency and better managed their cap space. Instead, they chose to bring back Elliott, a player they released a year earlier, believing he was no longer valuable to the NFL.
Now, Elliott shares carries with Rico Dowdle and is averaging a career-low 3.0 yards per attempt. While more production from Elliott would be ideal, the Cowboys’ mistake was thinking he could still be a No. 1 back, which is their fault, not Elliott’s.
Cowboys Face a Tough Decision
However, the Cowboys still have 11 games left, and improving their running game is crucial. One solution could be minimizing Elliott’s role by promoting Dalvin Cook from the practice squad, as Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News suggested in his article, “Five areas the Cowboys could realistically improve to make a run at NFC East title.”
Promoting Cook would mean Elliott no longer has a spot on the roster. While it may seem harsh, given Elliott’s past success and status as a beloved teammate, it likely means Elliott would be cut.
Watkins wrote: “The Cowboys’ offseason decisions — not drafting a running back, signing Ezekiel Elliott in free agency, and starting two rookies on the offensive line — have hurt the running game. The Cowboys now start Rico Dowdle with Elliott as a backup.
“One option is to elevate Dalvin Cook from the practice squad and either make Elliott inactive on gamedays or release him. Dowdle’s ability to return kicks, if needed, keeps him on the gameday roster.”
Ezekiel Elliott’s 4-Year Decline
Cutting Elliott would be harsh, but the Cowboys are short on options, and Elliott’s ineffectiveness is clear. While part of the blame lies with the offensive line, Dowdle is averaging 4.2 yards per carry behind the same line.
This suggests Elliott no longer has much value in the league. His performance decline isn’t sudden; his yards per attempt have steadily decreased over the years—from 4.2 in 2021, to 3.8 in 2022, 3.5 in New England in 2023, and now 3.0.
Pro Football Focus grades further highlight the decline. Elliott, who led the league in rushing during his first two seasons, currently holds a grade of 51.1, ranking 53rd out of 67 NFL running backs.
