Ezekiel Elliott Fantasy Football News
6 min readby RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott: No carries in preseason opener
Ezekiel Elliott was among the Dallas Cowboys’ key players who didn’t take the field in Thursday’s Hall of Fame game against the Steelers, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports.The team was predictably cautious with established starters like Elliott on Thursday, which paved the way for Rico Dowdle to lead the way with eight carries for 43 yards in Dallas’ 16-3 loss. Also in the mix were Brenden Knox (four carries), JaQuan Hardy (three carries) and Tony Pollard (two carries). The Cowboys have three more exhibition games in which to get Elliott some preseason touches, but we suspect that if/when that does occur, the running back’s workload won’t be extensive.
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Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott: Lost volume not likely to return
Ezekiel Elliott’s workload and touch volume will be monitored closely to begin the season, DallasCowboys.com reports.Speaking to reporters Thursday, coach Mike McCarthy said the coaching staff had to “be cognizant of the long road” when it came to the team’s bell cow running back. “We’ve got Tony Pollard, and Rico [Dowdle] has looked good,” McCarthy said. “We’ve got some younger guys who can play and produce, so it’s not necessary for Zeke to run the ball 25-30 times a game. When you get to December, January football, you want him to be in top form to be able to run the ball 25-30 times if needed.” Elliott averaged 20.9 carries and 24.3 touches a game through his first four years in the NFL while Jason Garrett was in charge, but only 16.3 carries and 19.7 touches a game in 2020, McCarthy’s first season at the helm for Dallas. Based on these comments, it doesn’t sound like Elliott will be getting that lost volume back any time soon, but a healthier offensive line and more efficient offense around him should still allow him to rebound from last year’s disappointing production.
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Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott: Looking explosive this offseason
Ezekiel Elliott has worked hard this offseason to improve his footwork and get in better shape, and as a result he’s looked quicker and more explosive in OTAs and minicamp, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. “Zeke looks great,” Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said this week. “He’s in the best shape of his life. Looking fast.”The running back posted career lows of 979 rushing yards and 4.0 yards per carry in 2020, but much of that regression was due to a rash of injuries along the Cowboys’ offensive line as well as a sluggish overall attack in the wake of Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury. If the unit as a whole returns to form it can only improve Elliott’s production, but if he’s committed to regaining some of the juice he’s lost over the years, the 25-year-old might be able to post huge numbers again without the benefit of a 300-carry workload.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott: Scores TD in season-ending loss
Ezekiel Elliott carried 14 times for 42 yards and a touchdown while adding three receptions (on four yards) for 19 yards during Sunday’s 23-19 loss to the Giants.Elliott, who was in and out of the game with apparent minor leg issues, averaged just 3.0 yards per carry against a solid defensive front. He generated fantasy utility with his first rushing touchdown since Week 5 and a handful of receptions, but this production was still less than what we’ve come to expect from him in previous seasons. Dramatically affected by injuries all over the Dallas offense, Elliott finishes the season with career lows in total touchdowns (eight) as well as rushing yards (979), and he’s a prime candidate for a bounce-back 2021 season.
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Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott: Avoids injury report
Ezekiel Elliott (calf) wasn’t listed on Wednesday’s injury report, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reportsEarlier Wednesday, there was an expectation that Elliott would be limited, as he has been for the previous three weeks while managing a bruised calf. According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, Elliott kicked off practice Wednesday by doing some resistance training on the side, seemingly backing up that assumption that he would be limited. However, Elliott managed to do enough to avoid the first practice report of Week 17 entirely. With his health seemingly not a concern, Elliott appears set to handle his typical workload of roughly 20 touches per game Sunday against the Giants.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott: Will be limited Wednesday
Ezekiel Elliott (calf) is expected to be a limited participant in practice Wednesday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.The report notes that Elliott, who has managed a calf issue for the past few weeks, is expected to play Sunday against the Giants. In the Dallas Cowboys’ 37-17 win over the Eagles in Week 16, Elliott delivered one of his better performances of the season, carrying 19 times for 105 yards while catching all four of his targets for 34 yards.
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Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott: Tops 100 rushing yards in return
Ezekiel Elliott carried the ball 19 times for 105 yards and caught all four of his targets for 34 yards in Sunday’s 37-17 win over the Eagles.His afternoon could have been even more productive, but the fifth-year back was ruled down just short of the goal line on a three-yard run in the second quarter on a play that might have been overturned had coach Mike McCarthy thrown the challenge flag. Elliott still wound up topping 100 rushing yards for only the second time in 2020, and he looked re-energized after sitting out last week’s game due to a calf issue. Elliott will look to keep rolling in Week 17, with a possible NFC East title on the line against a Giants defense he gashed for 91 yards and two TDs back in Week 5 — the last rushing touchdowns he’s scored to date.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott: Returns to lineup
Ezekiel Elliott (calf) is active for Sunday’s game against the Eagles.After taking off one game to rest a bruised calf, Elliott is back in the lineup, as expected. His workload remains to be seen, though, after Tony Pollard ripped off 132 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns Week 15 versus the 49ers. There’s a chance Elliott yields some reps to Pollard, meaning the former could fall short of his 19.7 touches per game this season.
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Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott: Expected to play Sunday
Ezekiel Elliott (calf), who is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Eagles, is expected to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.Elliott is on track to return to the lineup after missing last week’s win over the 49ers. Tony Pollard shined in his absence, generating 132 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. It’s possible that Pollard handles a few more reps after proving himself last week, but Elliott should still be the lead back if he’s, indeed, in the lineup.
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Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott: Officially listed as questionable
Elliot (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Philadelphia, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.Ezekiel Elliott was a limited practice participant Wednesday and Thursday, before the Dallas Cowboys took Friday off. He said Wednesday that he was “looking good” to return for Sunday’s game, but we won’t necessarily have confirmation before the Cowboys release their inactive list approximately 90 minutes prior to Sunday’s 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. Tony Pollard filled in for Elliott last week, playing 90 percent of offensive snaps en route to 132 total yards and two touchdowns.
