Stoney’s 2021 Dallas Cowboys RB Outlook

[Stoney]

Zeke Elliott-  $13.7m (‘21 salary) 244carries 979yards 6tds 5 fumbles/ 52catches 338yards 2tds

The worst statistical year of Zeke’s young career. Injuries on the offense and a bad defense played a part in the downturn of those numbers. 

Stoney’s take- $13.7m reasons why you don’t pay RBs in today’s NFL. The NFL is a passing league. RB is a position of diminishing returns. 10 players rushed for more yards in ‘20. 1QB, 2 rookies, 3 2nd year players. Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, Aaron Jones, Melvin Gordon all made less than $7m. It’s a bad contract that Dallas can get out of after ‘22 for $6.7m in dead cap space.

Tony Pollard- $1.01m (‘21 salary) 101carries 435yards 4tds/ 28 catches 192yards 1td

In a limited role Tony Pollard showed flashes of a playmaker. Averaged 4.9 yards per touch. He was the flash to Zeke’s dash.

Stoney’s take- In a week 15 start against the 49ers (no Zeke), Pollard had 132 total yards with 2tds. This is the type of RB that today’s NFL is utilizing. Cheap and explosive. Paired with another young RB or two, you would get Zeke’s production at far less than his top of the market price. 

[TIMRIGGINS]

On 1/22/2021 at 8:46 PM, Stoney said:

Zeke Elliott-  $13.7m (‘21 salary) 244carries 979yards 6tds 5 fumbles/ 52catches 338yards 2tds

The worst statistical year of Zeke’s young career. Injuries on the offense and a bad defense played a part in the downturn of those numbers. 

Stoney’s take- $13.7m reasons why you don’t pay RBs in today’s NFL. The NFL is a passing league. RB is a position of diminishing returns. 10 players rushed for more yards in ‘20. 1QB, 2 rookies, 3 2nd year players. Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, Aaron Jones, Melvin Gordon all made less than $7m. It’s a bad contract that Dallas can get out of after ‘22 for $6.7m in dead cap space.

Tony Pollard- $1.01m (‘21 salary) 101carries 435yards 4tds/ 28 catches 192yards 1td

In a limited role Tony Pollard showed flashes of a playmaker. Averaged 4.9 yards per touch. He was the flash to Zeke’s dash.

Stoney’s take- In a week 15 start against the 49ers (no Zeke), Pollard had 132 total yards with 2tds. This is the type of RB that today’s NFL is utilizing. Cheap and explosive. Paired with another young RB or two, you would get Zeke’s production at far less than his top of the market price. 

I run harder than ZEKE

[Stoney]

25 minutes ago, TIMRIGGINS said:

I run harder than ZEKE

A fat lady chasing after the dessert cart runs harder than Zeke.

[TIMRIGGINS]

1 minute ago, Stoney said:

A fat lady chasing after the dessert cart runs harder than Zeke.

good point

[cotton84]

In today’s NFL/salary cap era, I think a team is much better spending about $10,000,000 on 3 good/serviceable RBs than $15 mil on a Zeke.  
And sometimes you get a Pollard playing for $1 mil and it doesn’t even take $10 mil for the 3 backs. 

[Stoney]

1 hour ago, cotton84 said:

In today’s NFL/salary cap era, I think a team is much better spending about $10,000,000 on 3 good/serviceable RBs than $15 mil on a Zeke.  
And sometimes you get a Pollard playing for $1 mil and it doesn’t even take $10 mil for the 3 backs. 

Exactly. The running back by committee is a more sound investment in today’s game than the bell cow RB. You can find productive running backs after the 3rd round of the draft. Pollard on his rookie deal paired with another RB or two would equal Zeke’s production for a 1/5 of his price.

[SloppyJoe]

I think the Saints get Taysom Hill, L.Murray and Alvin Kamara for half what Zeke gets. There is quite a bit more production there.