As the NFL’s top scoring offense last year, the Dallas Cowboys finished 14th in rushing (112.9 yards per game), led by running back Tony Pollard, who signed with the Tennessee Titans during the offseason. It was a swift fall from grace for the Memphis product after he was anointed RB1 following a tremendous 2022 campaign while splitting time with running back Ezekiel Elliott. Thrust into the primary role, he never recaptured that form.
Even with Pollard moving on, the Cowboys elected to invest zero draft capital at the position, instead handing out a pair of one-year deals in free agency, one to journeyman RB Royce Freeman and the other to Elliott, who returns after a season with the New England Patriots. They join last season’s No. 2 back, Rico Dowdle, and preseason darling Deuce Vaughn.
On paper, it’s a suspect unit, made doubly so by head coach Mike McCarthy’s well-established love of the passing game. Still, that doesn’t mean there won’t be fantasy value to be found. With that in mind, let’s look at Dallas’ backfield options for 2024.
Ezekiel Elliott
With $2 million guaranteed, Elliott is the safest bet to have a meaningful role in 2024. A cap casualty before last season, the veteran latched on with the Pats, where he led them in carries (184), rushing yards (642), and receptions (51) to go with five total TDs. Much of that usage came over the final month after RB Rhamondre Stevenson went down with an ankle injury.
While still a capable producer, particularly in short yardage, Elliott has just one 1,000-yard campaign on his resume over the last four seasons and hasn’t been a dynamic threat since the calendar hit the 2020s. His pathway to value comes from his proven ability as a checkdown target and exploits near the goal line with 22 rushing TDs during his last two years in Dallas.
Rico Dowdle
After carrying the ball just seven times in his first three seasons combined, Dowdle won the backup job last summer and was reasonably effective in that role: 89 carries, 361 yards, and 2 TDs. He added 144 yards and two more scores on 17 receptions and, more importantly, stayed healthy for the first time since his rookie year after hip and ankle injuries limited him to five games in 2021-22 combined. He’s well built at 6-foot, 215 pounds and should have the inside track on sliding into the lead role if Elliott battles the injury bug in his age-29 season.
Deuce Vaughn
A sixth-round pick in 2023, Vaughn drew a lot of attention last August for his play in camp and the preseason. Many owners were seduced into investing a late-round pick on his potential. The return on that investment was 30 combined touches for 80 yards and no TDs. Severely undersized at 5-foot-6, 176 pounds, Vaughn has reportedly added muscle during the offseason and spent time working at receiver, which should help him earn more snaps. His speed and shiftiness are in stark contrast to the downhill style of Elliott and Dowdle, so it’ll be interesting to see if offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer finds more ways to get Vaughn involved.
Royce Freeman
Entering his seventh season, Freeman is on his fifth club. He was with the Los Angeles Rams last year, posting a 77-319-2 line in 14 games, all of which represented his seasonal bests since 2019. He’s another bulldozer type and feels like more of an insurance signing in case something goes awry with Elliott and/or Dowdle, both of whom could be considered durability risks. While he had a couple of nice games with the Rams, Freeman looks like someone Dallas might carry on its practice squad as a gameday call up as needed.
Fantasy football outlook
Given the franchise’s proud history at the position, it’s weird to think the Cowboys might not produce a top-40 fantasy back, but here we are. Elliott is the safe call here. He knows the team, the offense, and he’s a steady hand. As your fourth back, you could get RB3 production if he continues to be a force in the red zone.
Dowdle could have sneaky value, but more as a priority free-agent addition if Elliott gets injured as opposed to someone to target in the draft.
Vaughn is once again the wild card, offering a different skill set and big-play potential. Depending on your league size, that element might be enough to warrant late-round consideration.
