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Why Cowboys' Tony Pollard is no longer an RB1 for fantasy players
After Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard broke out and made his first Pro Bowl last season, many fantasy experts thought he would be a surefire RB1. That hasn't been the case, though.
"It feels cruel to put Pollard in this space nearly three months into the season," wrote NBC Sports' Denny Carter. "He's been a regression candidate for the entire season, and no matter the game script — good, bad, ugly, sideways — Pollard can't get there for one reason or another."
Through nine games, the 26-year-old running back has averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry and only scored two TDs. Per Pro Football Reference, he's on track to finish with 158.4 fantasy points, a considerable dropoff from last season when he recorded 209.8.
"The running game has not been as effective, which can be traced in part to the lack of continuity on the offensive line," wrote ESPN NFL Nation reporter Todd Archer. "Tony Pollard has one 100-yard game."
In a Week 10 victory over the New York Giants, Pollard only rushed for 55 yards on 15 carries, while RB2 Rico Dowdle led the team in rushing with 12 carries for 79 yards and one TD. On Tuesday, Dallas owner Jerry Jones implied Dowdle should get more carries.
@ricodowdle
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 13, 2023
: FOX & NFL+ → https://t.co/yLMhJNTZjs pic.twitter.com/1ktj9l3i1z
"He's a violent runner," Jones told KRLD-FM in Dallas. "He runs with great skill. I'm so proud of him. He's finally put together the RB he can be. He's outstanding. It really just gives us a one-two punch in there."
Pollard is still the clear-cut RB1, but the Cowboys should develop an RB2. He's played on a career-high 70% of offensive snaps this season, possibly wearing him down.
Regardless, fantasy owners must move Pollard to an RB2 or flex role until he regains his mojo.
More must-reads:
- Jerry Jones pleased with emergence of running back Rico Dowdle, Cowboys’ 1-2 punch
- Four NFL players besides Bills' Josh Allen who are underperforming
- The '2024-25 NFL TD catch leaders' quiz
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Troubling report surfaces on Patriots' first-round rookie
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye might not feel comfortable with his blindside protection early in the upcoming season. Following troubles at left tackle in 2024, the Patriots invested in the position by drafting LSU standout Will Campbell with the No. 4 pick in April's draft. Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, Campbell has been trending down at training camp this summer. "All eyes are on him every practice, which is a tough spot for a rookie," Graff wrote of Campbell. "So far, he’s been about what you’d expect from a rookie. He has some strong moments, particularly in the running game. But there have been struggles in the passing game. He’s been beaten for a sack in just about every practice, which isn’t great considering he’s usually on the field each practice for only 15 or so passing plays in full-team drills. "He tends to get beaten to the inside after oversetting, and it probably doesn’t help that the Pats don’t yet know who their left guard is next to him. Still, extrapolate those numbers, and that’s allowing two sacks each NFL game if you throw the ball 30 times. Not great." Graff believes the future is "bright" for Campbell, but doesn't think he will be a top-20 left tackle in 2025. NFL scouts had questions before the draft about Campbell's 32⅝ inch (or 33 inches, depending on whether one believes the league or LSU) arm length. Some suggested he'd be better suited to play guard in the league than left tackle. If Campbell continues to give up sacks, the Patriots might consider moving the 21-year-old to the interior part of the offensive line. Per OurLads, Campbell is projected to win the left tackle starting job for Week 1. If Campbell doesn't develop quickly in the preseason, Maye's progress as a thrower in the pocket could take a hit in the upcoming season.
Warriors-Suns Jonathan Kuminga Trade Update Emerges After $90 Million Offer
The Golden State Warriors remain in a stalemate with Jonathan Kuminga. As a restricted free agent, the Warriors can match any offer sheet a team signs him to. However, that hasn't stopped teams from trying to acquire Kuminga. Among the teams that have pushed hard for Kuminga are the Phoenix Suns. ESPN's Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported on Wednesday that the Suns have tried to acquire Kuminga. In fact, they have made "the most lucrative push via sign-and-trade" for Kuminga. The Suns can acquire players via sign-and-trade after waiving and stretching the last two years of Bradley Beal's contract. Doing so got them under the NBA's first tax apron, which permits them to do so. However, completing a sign-and-trade requires a willing trade partner to make it happen. While the Suns remain interested in Kuminga, pulling off a trade will be tricky for them because the Warriors aren't interested in what the Suns have offered for him. The Athletic's Sam Amick reported that sign-and-trade talks have gone nowhere because the Warriors don't want what the Suns are offering. "Per team sources, the talks between the Suns and Warriors have never progressed in any serious manner," Amick wrote. "So while it’s certainly notable that Phoenix is being so aggressive with its contract offer — four years and a combined $90 million, per ESPN — that part is irrelevant so long as Golden State continues to show zero interest in what the Suns have to offer." The Warriors have all the leverage because, with Kuminga as a restricted free agent, they don't have to agree to a sign-and-trade with the Suns or anyone else if the offer holds little appeal to them.
Cardinals Shakeup Sends Star To IL, 4 Players To St. Louis
The St. Louis Cardinals are going to look a little different when they take the field on Friday night. St. Louis had a busy trade deadline and traded Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and Phil Maton away. Now, in response, the Cardinals made a handful of moves on Friday. First and foremost, the Cardinals are placing Nolan Arenado and recalling Nolan Gorman, per The Athletic's Katie Woo. "The St. Louis Cardinals will place third baseman Nolan Arenado on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder injury before Friday’s game against the San Diego Padres, team sources told The Athletic," Woo said. "Arenado’s shoulder issues date to early July. He missed a handful of games trying to avoid the IL and hoped resting over the All-Star break would alleviate the discomfort... "Nolan Gorman (back spasms) will come off the 10-day IL as the corresponding move and will see the bulk of starts at third base. Gorman began a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Tuesday and homered in Wednesday’s game." Also, the Cardinals are bringing up Ryan Fernandez, Roddery Muñoz, and Andre Granillo to help out in the bullpen, per Woo. "The Cardinals are also recalling Ryan Fernandez, Roddery Muñoz and Andre Granillo from Triple-A Memphis. St. Louis needs to replenish its bullpen after trading away its top three relievers in Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton and Steven Matz at the trade deadline. Fernandez struggled with the big league club in April, posting an 11.42 ERA over 11 appearances before being demoted to Memphis. However, he’s been much more effective since, with a 3.12 ERA in 29 appearances and a 12.72 K/9 ratio." What a week for St. Louis.
Malik Nabers Rejuvated By NY Giants New Culture, Team Additions
Like his teammates last year, New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers was worn down by the end of the 2024 season from all the losing and pitfalls the team fell into. But the further away the Giants get from a franchise-worst 3-14 record, the brighter the outlook becomes in East Rutherford, especially given all the fresh faces general manager Joe Schoen brought in to help bolster the culture and improve the team’s chances of being more competitive. “The people we put in this building this year… adding a few more quarterbacks from Jameis (Winston), (Jaxson) Dart, Russell (Wilson), Jevon Holland, (Paulson) Adebo,” Nabers told Kay Adams during her recent training camp stop for her Up Adams podcast. “So having those athletic guys, having those leaders that's on defense and offense… we’ve been seeing a lot of leadership from those guys, so we’re moving in the right direction.” Wilson, in particular, is going to be instrumental for Nabers as he seeks to deliver an encore of last year’s franchise record-setting (receptions) performance. Thus far in training camp, Nabers, who sat out of the spring drills thanks to a toe issue, and Wilson look as though they have been playing catch for years instead of just over a week. “I try to get as much information out of him as possible,” Nabers said, adding that the relationship between him and Wilson is ‘dynamic. “He's been very helpful throughout my journey. With the leadership he has added to the quarterback role, the offense, the receivers, you know the sky is the limit for us, and I hope we reach that.” "He's an animal!" Besides the new faces at quarterback, Nabers is particularly impressed with the addition of first-round pick Abdul Carter, who so far has been living up to his pre-draft billing. “That dude is an animal,” Nabers said of the 2024 All-American. “I don’t really see it until I go home and watch it, but when you watch the explosiveness, the ability for him to work his body, twerk his body, spin his body, I can't wait for people to actually see him when he's playing alongside us.” One thing that specifically stood out to Nabers when it came to Carter was his athleticism and deep bag of pass-rushing moves. “He’s doing crazy moves,” Nabers said. “ Like a lot of guys have one specific move that they do at the d-line; he's got an arsenal in his package and I can’t wait for him to unleash it.” Adams then playfully asked Nabers if he intended to give his buddy, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, a heads up about Carter. “I’m not going to tell him nothing; I’ll let him see in person,” Nabers said with a smile. “I’mma let everybody see (him) in person.” What happens next with the NY Giants? Find out! Follow and like us on Facebook. Visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos. Want to send a question in for our mailbag? You can do so here.
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