Reading the room: Cowboys are playing Russian roulette at RB

As we look at the state of Jerry Jones’ “All-In” plan – which seemingly includes a game of Survivor at quarterback – it doesn’t get any better at running back.

Because they’ve switched to a game of Russian roulette in the backfield. And that’s a game that rarely ends well.

The Cowboys passed on what was a lucrative crop of free agent running backs prior to the draft. Apparently Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and others weren’t even worth a phone call over.

But Royce Freeman was?

Then in the draft – with Trey Benson on the board – they said no thanks. They decided another edge rusher was more important.

Why?

Because apparently Jerry Jones thinks its 2016 all over again. He seems certain that an eight-year veteran can somehow play like he did in his first four years.

Denial. It ain’t just a river in Egypt my friends.

The Cowboys currently have eight running backs on their roster. They’ll spend the next four months sorting out which of them will make the roster.

As well as which will hit the practice squad while the rest hit the road.

Frankly, no matter who stays, the Cowboys’ running game isn’t going to scare any of their 13 opponents in 2024.

But because we’re masochists here – a required trait for any Cowboys fan in the 21st Century it seems – we’ll take a look at the eight players currently in the room.

Ezekiel Elliott

Judging from Jerry’s statements at the time Elliott was re-signed after his year in New England, the former first round pick will be RB1.

And that’s isn’t good news.

Elliott rushed for 642 yards and three touchdowns last year for the Patriots. He added another 313 yards and two touchdowns on 51 catches.

Here’s what the top three free agent running backs did in 2023 by comparison:

Player (rush yards-TDs / rec yards-TDs)

Derrick Henry (1167-12 / 214-0)

Saquon Barkley (962-6 / 280-4)

Zach Moss (794-5 / 192-2)

One poster on social media ridiculously predicted Elliott would rush for 1,300 yards and 14 TDs for Dallas this year.

(Take a couple of minutes to enjoy this photo while we all laugh our backsides off.)

Okay, I’m good now. Let’s continue.

To be honest, I’ll be shocked if the entire Cowboys’ rushing game – including Prescott’s numbers – racks up 1,300 yards and 14 TDs in 2024.

Elliott is going to be, at best, a short yardage back. He may be the starter, but he won’t be the RB1 the Cowboys needed.

But at least the last memory of him in a Cowboys’ uniform won’t be his lone snap at center.

Rico Dowdle

Dowdle was a solid RB2 behind the departed Tony Pollard in 2023.

If anything, we might see a repeat of the 2022 season where Pollard racked up the numbers in relief of Elliott. Still, Dowdle is not RB1 material.

Deuce Vaughn

The Cowboys’ nepotismfeel good pick of the 2023 season never really made much of an impact.

He finished with 40 yards rushing and another 40 receiving. He was supposed to be used like Darren Sproles.

That never materialized last year as he was inactive for nine games in 2023.

If Dallas doesn’t use him the way he was supposed to be used, his days in Dallas may be numbered.

Hunter Luepke

Luepke’s numbers are even worse – 19 yards rushing and 18 receiving – but he at least scored one touchdown.

His star faded after the Miami mishap which may or may not have been his fault.

Dak Prescott was credited with a critical goal line fumble on a handoff attempt to Luepke.

But, looking at one camera angle, Luepke’s arms are closed. A running back expecting the ball has his arms opened up to receive the handoff.

It appears as if he thought it was a fake all the way while Prescott was clearly handing the ball off.

That play had worked well twice before on the drive.

But Dallas hadn’t given Luepke the ball that often in a game all year up to that point.

So, was the rookie thinking he was carrying out a fake? Or did he miss the play call?

No one has asked him that question yet so I don’t have the answer.

But the fact is, the Cowboys never put the ball back in his hands for the rest of the season after that play.

Luepke is a fullback though. So he may keep his spot on that basis.

But if McCarthy decides to abandon the fullback position, Luepke might not be in a Cowboys’ uniform in September.

Malik Davis

After gaining 161 yards and scoring a touchdown in 2022 – along with 63 yards on six receptions – Davis only saw the field in three games as a special teams player in 2023.

That doesn’t bode well for Davis’ future in Dallas.

Especially if any of the three newcomers to the team outshine him over the summer.

Speaking of which…

The New Kids In Town

Royce Freeman will suit up for his fifth NFL team when he puts on the Cowboys uniform this year.

After two pedestrian years in Denver to begin his career – averaging 508.5 yards a season – Freeman struggled badly.

He had 170 yards in his final year in Denver, then had 169 combined yard with Carolina and Houston in 2021. He had 117 yards in 2022.

Last year with the Rams, Freeman had 319 yards and scored twice is a bit of a career resurgence.

If Elliott doesn’t step up, Freeman might have a chance to shine.

Dallas signed free agent Snoop Conner back in January. Drafted by Jacksonville in 2022, Conner has 42 career rushing yards.

He did not play in the NFL in 2023.

The Cowboys signed undrafted free agent Nathaniel Peat a few hours after the draft concluded. The rookie had 317 yards and three rushing touchdowns for Missouri in 2023.

Neither Conner nor Peat appear to be direct threats to whoever lands the RB1 role in Dallas this fall.