Could there be a change in the running back depth chart of the Dallas Cowboys soon?
Ezekiel Elliott has been the starter in the backfield since 2016.
However, Tony Pollard might take over soon because his production is not far off.
At the 2021 regular season’s end, Elliott finished with 1,0002 rushing yards while Pollard had 719.
But Pollard’s average yards per carry (5.5) was higher than Elliott’s 4.2.
Both players struggled during their Super Wild Card Weekend game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Yet there’s reason to believe that at 24 years old, Pollard has more upside.
Elliott has had multiple injuries throughout the years, causing his production to take a dip from 2018 to 2020.
Besides, he had an extra game to try and reach 1,000 yards in 2021.
In contrast, PFF Fantasy Football quantifies the hype around Pollard with this tweet.
The post above showed that the former Memphis Tiger ranked first in rushing with a 90.3 grade.
Meanwhile, his 5.5 yards per carry ranked second.
What Should The Cowboys Do?
It would be better for the Cowboys to retain both Elliott and Pollard at least for 2022.
Elliott will have a potential out from the Cowboys after the upcoming season.
Likewise, the Cowboys must keep on using Pollard in key situations to get him more comfortable with the starting role.
Once the 2022 season is over, Dallas can let Elliott play elsewhere and stick with Pollard.
That’s a huge cap saving but without sacrificing the talent level.
Another NFL team might find Elliott’s services useful, especially squads that ranked the lowest in rushing yards.
The Cowboys can use the money they will save to upgrade critical positions of need.
After all, running back should be the least of the team’s concerns.
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