Each week with the positional rankings, I’m going to offer Dallas Cowboys centered Fantasy Football information. I’ll offer you a breakdown of the matchup for your and my running backs. Make sure you go to InsideTheStar.com to get the breakdowns on all the important match ups for the coming week.
Your Dallas Cowboys Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott
Well it was a rougher debut than I and most everyone else expected, but don’t count out Ezekiel Elliott yet. The New York Giants played a heck of a game up front when Elliott was in the game.
In week two, the Dallas Cowboys face the Washington Redskins who just got gashed on the ground by the Pittsburgh Steelers. DeAngelo Williams ran the ball 26 times for 143 yards and two scores on the ground. He also tallied 6 catches for 28 yards.
Now, I know it isn’t going to be the same.
Washington wasn’t able to contain the Steelers passing game in week one which led to a lot of running room for Williams throughout the game. A lot of the Cowboys’ success in the running game moving forward is predicated on Dak Prescott‘s ability to get the ball downfield and the coaching staff’s ability to use mismatches.
There are many who are discouraged by Ezekiel Elliott, and that’s ok, you can feel that way, but don’t give up on the young man just yet. He is in good company for week one.
2016 Carries & Yards
Adrian Peterson – 19 for 31(1.6 YPC)
Ezekiel Elliott – 20 for 51 (2.5 YPC)
Todd Gurley – 17 for 47 (2.8 YPC)So relax.
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) September 13, 2016
In 2015 the Washington Redskins allowed the 7th most rushing yards in the NFL. They don’t look like they’ve done a whole lot to correct it. I expect the running game to be a lot better in week two than it was in week one.
Don’t hesitate to start Ezekiel Elliott in week two, in all formats.
Alfred Morris
Alfred Morris had a really nice day running the ball. He found the available holes and showed some really nice patience. There was a big difference in running room available between Ezekiel Elliott and Alfred Morris.
As Jeff Cavanaugh from Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan points out below, the New York Giants loaded the box with 8 or more defenders when Ezekiel Elliott was in the game. When Alfred Morris came in the game, he got more favorable looks.
https://twitter.com/JC1053/status/775467530781536256
Compared with Ezekiel Elliott’s look.
https://twitter.com/JC1053/status/775479891252813824
Morris had a really good day running the football. Seven carries for 35 yards. He has earned at least that workload going forward. I’ve predicted for months 8-10 touches per game, but after how well he ran it, could see them bump Morris up to 10-14 touches per game.
I don’t think this ever turns into a 50/50 split, because I think Ezekiel Elliott is going to have better days ahead.
Against the Washington Redskins, you can expect Morris to be ready to go. Morris was released after four seasons and three 1,000 yard seasons. I don’t think there is “extra motivation,” but he will definitely try to show them it was a mistake to let him walk.
If you need a flex starter for your 16 team league or deeper, you could do worse than Morris.
One to Start
Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons at the Oakland Raiders
Expert Consensus Rank: 33
My Rank: 17
Tevin Coleman started the 2015 season for the Atlanta Falcons as the lead back. A fractured rib slowed down his start to the regular season and Devonta Freeman took the job and had an epic four-game run.
Because of Freeman’s inability in the second half of the season, the coaching staff has given Coleman a chance to earn his job back. And boy did he have a day.
In the Atlanta Falcons 31-24 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there wasn’t much room for anyone to run. Coleman only had 22 rushing yards on 8 carries while Freeman had 20 yards on 10 carries. The difference in their stat lines was in the passing game.
Coleman led the team, a team with Julio Jones on it, in receiving yards with 95 yards on 5 catches. Freeman, however, only had 4 catches for 20 yards.
It’s a pretty even split on touches (Freeman 14, Coleman 13), but I would expect Coleman to begin seeing a bigger share as Freeman continues to flounder.
Facing an Oakland Raiders defense that is without defensive end Mario Edwards and just got torched by the New Orleans Saints, I expect the Atlanta Falcons offense to have a really good day.
Flawless Forecast: Freeman 16 touches 88 yards, and 1 touchdown.
One to Sit
Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams vs the Seattle Seahawks
Expert Consensus Rank: 17
My Rank: 14
You probably aren’t going to sit Todd Gurley, but you should in week two against the Seattle Seahawks.
Maybe the San Francisco 49ers defense is as good as it looked on Monday Night Football. Maybe. But we know the Seattle Seahawks defense is that good.
In week one, the Seattle Seahawks held the Miami Dolphins to 64 yards on 21 carries as a team. The Dolphins didn’t have much success throwing the ball either.
With an offense that is as bad as the Los Angeles Rams offense is, Todd Gurley is going to have very little room to run since he is the only credible offensive threat for the Rams.
In week one, Todd Gurley ran the ball 17 times for 47 yards. As a team, they only managed 10 first downs.
As good as the “Greatest Show on Turf” offenses were in the late 90s and early 2000s, this team may be the mirror opposite. It would not surprise me to see them shut out for the second week in a row.
Flawless Forecast: 20 carries, 63 yards, zero touchdowns.
The Running Back Rankings
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