Dallas Cowboys running backs Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott both have fantasy football value moving forward. Pollard has erupted over the last three weeks with Elliott sidelined due to a knee injury. Elliott returned to the lineup this week against the Minnesota Vikings in a big way with a pair of scores en route to a 40-3 victory.
Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliot, Tony Pollard Rest of Season Fantasy Outlook
First Half of the Season
Early on, Elliott dominated snaps as well as opportunities. He had the edge as the Cowboys running back fantasy owners wanted to roster. Elliott has 485 rush yards and six touchdowns after Sunday’s contest. The former elite running back has managed all the high-leverage looks so far this season. Elliott suffered an injury against the Detroit Lions sidelining him for the last two weeks. Elliott returned to action against the Vikings with 42 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
Pollard has been a mediocre fantasy asset until Elliott’s injury with several games in the double digits. Pollard had a 19-point game behind 43 rushing yards, four catches for 55 yards, and a rushing touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. Pollard also reached the century mark against the New York Giants with 105 yards and 10 more fantasy points. Pollard would reach double digits two more times against the Los Angeles Rams and Lions, but couldn’t hold a candle to his current breakout over his last three games.
Pollard’s Breakout
Pollard is in the middle of a three-game fantasy eruption. The young running back benefited greatly from Elliott’s knee injury with nearly all the backfield work. Pollard has rushing games of 131 yards against the Chicago Bears, 115 yards against the Green Bay Packers, and 80 yards against the Vikings. Pollard has been active in the receiving game with 109 yards this last Sunday. Adding to his value, Pollard has racked up six total touchdowns over the last three weeks with two through the air on Sunday.
Receiving touchdowns of at least 30 yards this season:
Tony Pollard on Sunday: 2
All other NFL running backs this entire season: 1 pic.twitter.com/KVu1n1JwF3
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 21, 2022
Rest of Season Outlook
This backfield could become frustrating moving forward as both guys hold value. Jerry Jones has been on record confirming Elliott will continue to garnish touches and goal-line work as a valuable part of the team. Pollard, on the other hand, is clearly the more explosive back. He has come on in recent weeks and is clearly the better of the two backs.
Pollard has a scary-low floor with both backs active in this offense. He has scored six or fewer fantasy points in three games this season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, and Philadelphia Eagles. Pollard’s potential floor should have fantasy managers weary to make Pollard a set-and-forget type of fantasy player with Elliott active.
This backfield should be handed to Pollard as Elliott is rushing for a career-low 3.9 yards per carry. Elliott’s passing-game production has essentially disappeared with only seven catches and 37 yards with no scores on the season thus far. Pollard, on the other hand, is torching opposing teams with 5.9 yards per carry. He has 701 rushing yards and 243 receiving yards on the season, with eight total scores after Sunday’s Contest.
Who to Start on Sundays
Unfortunately for fantasy managers, Elliott will continue to vulture the backfield from Pollard. Jones is on record reporting the Cowboys “go where Zeke goes,” indicating he will continue to amass high-leverage opportunities and remain an integral part of the Dallas offense. This assumed usage holds Elliott’s value in the mid-level RB2 conversation and keeps Pollard severely handcuffed moving forward.
Tony Pollard: 58.7 PPR points the last 2 weeks 👀
First among RBs 🚀 pic.twitter.com/hgZYA3t1xW
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 21, 2022
Despite the obvious handcuff, Pollard remains a top back in fantasy football with high-end RB2 value and RB1 potential. If Pollard’s current trend continues, he could easily finish in the top five and possibly as RB1 overall. Both Elliott and Pollard should continue to be rostered as started as RB2’s, the latter with tremendous upside. In a season with terrible injuries, Pollard could be a late-round league winner for owners who took a chance and remained patient for his breakout.
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