Giving Ezekiel Elliott carries hurts the Cowboys offense more than it helps it

The run game is a serious issue for the Cowboys.

When the Dallas Cowboys signed RB Ezekiel Elliott to a contract this offseason, it led to a split reaction among fans. For most, it struck an emotional chord by bringing back a fan-favorite among the fan base. From 2016 to 2019, Elliott produced one of the best four-season stretches in Cowboys history. He amassed 5,405 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns. While his production steadily declined with the team from 2020-2022, the fan base still loved his personality on the field, as well as his memorable moments. After seeing him on the New England Patriots in 2023, of course many Cowboys fans were excited to see him back with a star on his helmet in 2024.

However, many analysts and fans were quick to point out that he had a very inefficient season with the Patriots, averaging just a mere 3.5 yards per carry. After six games this season, it’s clear that Elliott has lost a step due to age and is no longer an efficient NFL running back.

Through the first five games of the season, the veteran running back received just 30 carries. Starting in week two against the New Orleans Saints, it appeared that RB Rico Dowdle had taken over the starting position. Granted, the Cowboys haven’t run the ball much, regardless of who is lined up in the backfield. It had seemed the Cowboys had found their running game in week five against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dowdle had a career game, receiving 20 carries for 87 yards. The 4.3 yards per carry was viewed as a success against a stout front-seven on Pittsburgh’s defense.

Shortly after seeing Dowdle have a career game, reports came out that Elliott was “dumbfounded” by his role so far this season.

Team owner Jerry Jones was quick to downplay this rumor, saying on 105.3 the fan that it was an exaggeration.

“That’s an exaggeration. Dumbfounded is a mischaracterization and a bad description of how he feels about things. … We’re saving him, and we should be,” Jones said. “Rico [Dowdle] is an outstanding running back. He’s always had the challenge because of his size of doing his blocking and protecting the quarterback. But his big problem has been what? He’s had injuries of the course of his career. So it would be madness to depend on [that]. … Zeke is there and we want to protect him over this particular period of time.”

Regardless, there was a clear shift on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, with Elliott receiving more carries than Dowdle throughout the game. Elliott finished the game with eight carries for only 17 yards (2.1 yards per carry). Meanwhile, Dowdle rushed for 25 yards on just five carries (5.0 yards per carry). It seems like an odd coincidence that Elliott would suddenly get more carries than Dowdle in the same week this report came out, especially given a career game from Dowdle just a week prior.

Zeke has been inefficient for the Cowboys this season. Honestly, the stats suggest that he has been one of the least efficient running backs across the entire league.

His yards per carry is currently the lowest of his career.

It is okay for fans to appreciate what Elliott has done during his early career with the Cowboys. He’s cemented himself as one of the best running backs in franchise history, which says a lot given the team’s illustrious history at the position. With all that said, it is time to acknowledge that him getting more carries than Dowdle hurts the team and doesn’t put them in a situation to have success on offense.