After years of dominance at the position, the Dallas Cowboys running back room became the team’s top weakness heading into the 2024 campaign. Now, with four weeks under Dallas’ belt, we should be able to have a read on who is performing best.
Between the veteran and franchise legend, Ezekiel Elliott, the first-time starter Rico Dowdle, and second-year man Deuce Vaughn, all three have had a chance to shine.
Unfortunately, as a group, the numbers have not resulted in much shining.
The Cowboys rank in the bottom three in rushing yards per game, and in the bottom five in the league in yards per carry. To put it bluntly, it has been a major struggle to get the running game going.
Cowboys RB snap count after 2 drives
Rico Dowdle 12
Hunter Luepke 8 (3 as 3rd down primary back)
Deuce Vaughn 1
CeeDee Lamb 1 snap as the primary RB with no other RBs on the play
Ezekiel Elliott 0Out of 17 plays
— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) September 27, 2024
Now, remember, those numbers are from the unit as a whole, so is one guy bringing the Cowboys running back averages down, or are all three slumping?
That’s what we’re here to discuss, so let’s get into it.
Ezekiel Elliott: Small Doses, Some Success
In his return to the Cowboys’ offense in Week 1, Elliott saw the most usage and success that he’s had through the first four weeks of this season. Against Cleveland, he carried the ball 10 times for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Since that opening matchup, “Zeke” has seen his carry totals slip to six, three, and then five on Thursday. He has not seen the end-zone since the Browns game either.
Ezekiel Elliott playing well in his first game back with the Cowboys
First half: 8 touches, 41 yards, TD pic.twitter.com/siLHfZbMrI
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 8, 2024
He did register an improved performance against the Giants compared to the two beat downs against the Saints and Ravens; he rushed for 3.8 yards per carry, a much stronger number than the 2.0 and 2.7 he put up in the two weeks prior.
Despite his increasing numbers in New York, it is fair to say he is not a key part of this Cowboys offense.
Elliott, 29, trails the younger Dowdle in attempts, yards, longest rush, receptions, and both yards per game and per carry. That is a statistical wipe-out of Elliott by Dowdle.
Jerry Jones tried to make the claim that Ezekiel Elliott would return to the Cowboys running back room as the RB1, bell-cow player that he was in year’s past. Through the first four weeks of the season, that is simply not the case.
The veteran has proven useful in certain situations and in pass blocking, but playing those specific roles is likely all he will be doing as the season continues.
Rico Dowdle: Slowly Increasing Workload
As this season has progressed, it is slowly, but surely, becoming clear that Dowdle is the true starter in this offense. By the end of the year, I’d be willing to bet he is getting a pretty substantial workload.
Dowdle has increased his rushing yards total every week this season, starting with 26 against Cleveland, then 30 and 32 against New Orleans and Baltimore, and with 46 against New York.
That is significant, and it shows both improving performance from the player and increasing trust from the coaching staff.
Mike McCarthy talking about RB Rico Dowdle:
“He’s a complete running back, plays all three downs. I think his pass protection from his rookie year to now has become one of his best assets.”
– Dowdle the receiver ✅
– Dowdle the runner ✅
– Dowdle the blocker ✅#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/AKCsD08gJ1— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) September 2, 2024
He is also fourth on the team in receptions with nine. That leads the running back room, and he is also the only back with a receiving touchdown on the season.
Has Dowdle been fantastic? Not really, but he is playing at or above league average.
While that may not sound impressive, it is a drastic improvement over where Elliott and Vaughn have been to this point.
Like I said, expect the upward trend on Dowdle to continue. This is his job.
Deuce Vaughn: Decreasing Role In Dallas
Look, nobody was expecting Vaughn to lead the Cowboys running back corps this season, but some were convinced after a strong preseason that he would have a fairly significant role.
To this point, that has not happened, and I’m beginning to question his future on the 53-man roster.
Through the first four weeks, Vaughn has had very few opportunities, and the ones he’s had aren’t going anywhere. He did not carry the ball at all against the Giants, but in the prior three weeks, he had one carry in Week 1 and two in Week 3 and 4.
In the two games that had more than one rush, he averaged 2.8 and 2.5 yards per carry, though he was able to snag a catch in both weeks for six and eight yards a pop.
The problem for Vaughn as it relates to his future is not as much about his lack of performance as it is about who is behind him.
Dalvin Cook, the former All-Pro that Dallas signed in August, is waiting on standby.
Is this the week the Cowboys will elevate Dalvin Cook from the practice squad? "I'm not here to make any proclamations on what could be next," Mike McCarthy said.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) September 23, 2024
At 29 years old with a sharp decline in recent years, nobody is expecting a superstar in Cook, but as he continues to get reps on the practice squad, it is hard to believe he won’t get his chance to play.
If he does get that chance, someone is the odd man out, and it will be Vaughn.