Not many NFL groups within the 12 months 2024 would select to signal Ezekiel Elliott over Derrick Henry, however the Dallas Cowboys are a uncommon breed. Fans can blame the 2 males who've ultimate say in personnel choices for that: proprietor Jerry Jones and govt vice chairman Stephen Jones.
It solely took one sport for bypassing Henry to blow up within the Cowboys' face, however the two-time speeding champ dumped a pound of salt within the wound Sunday night time when he ran roughshod over the previously-undefeated Bills.
Henry broke free for a 87-yard landing on the Ravens first play from scrimmage. That's extra yards than what Elliott has produced all season (81). Henry completed with 199 speeding yards and two touchdowns and he now leads the league with 480 speeding yards and 5 scores.
To say Henry and Elliott are trending in reverse instructions could be an understatement. While Henry is busy making historical past, Elliott is … tumbling down the Cowboys' depth chart. Last Thursday's win over the Giants was the most recent proof that Elliott is much from the crew's most well-liked again.
Cowboys halftime RB snap depend
Hunter Luepke 16
Rico Dowdle 12
Deuce Vaughn 2
Ezekiel Elliott 2Out of 28 performs
— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) September 27, 2024
It is obvious that Rico Dowdle is the lead operating again. Even Hunter Luepke noticed an elevated function Thursday after he flashed in Week 3. Luepke hasn't logged greater than two carries in a sport, although, so the large story right here is Dowdle overtaking Elliott atop the depth chart. He has left Zeke within the mud.
In Weeks 1 and a couple of, Dowdle earned running back rush shares of 32.0% and 33.3%, respectively. That skyrocketed to 61.5% and 61.1%, respectively, the final two video games. If you thought that was telling, examine this out.
Dowdle had a 48% backfield snap share break up in Week 4 whereas Elliott checked in at 18%, per Scott Spratt of FTN Fantasy. Among RB2s, Elliott's break up was the fourth-lowest of the week. Only 49ers rookie Isaac Guerendo (8%), the Vikings' Ty Chandler (12%) and the Steelers' Cordarrelle Patterson (13%) had a decrease snap share break up than Elliott.
READ MORE: The 10 best operating backs in Cowboys historical past
It was Elliott – not Dowdle – on the sector for the Cowboys' ultimate drive in Week 4, however the former solely performed two snaps earlier than halftime. It's no shock that Mike McCarthy trusts Zeke to shut out video games. His expertise and ball safety carry a number of weight.
However, it speaks volumes that he is been lowered to a “closer” function after Jerry Jones mentioned again in April that he nonetheless views the 29-year-old as a starter. It has taken lower than a month for Jones to be confirmed unsuitable.
Henry, in the meantime, lives in Dallas through the offseason and was open to taking part in for the Cowboys, who had a urgent want at operating again after shedding Tony Pollard. And but, Jones did not even entertain it, selecting as a substitute to cry poverty whereas reuniting with Elliott.
