EzekielElliott

News: 3 days agoElliott ran for 49 yards on 19 carries while catching two passes for 32 yards on two targets in a win over Washington on Sunday.

Spin: The Washington defense showed a lot of respect to the Dallas ground game Sunday, which was unfortunate for Elliott's fantasy investors but played a big role in why Cooper Rush was able to produce efficiently as a passer in the 25-10 win. Washington succeeded in their attempt to sell out against the run, but the fact they still lost shows Elliott did his part in the win. Tony Pollard was similarly held to six yards on eight carries. Unfortunately for Elliott, he gets a potentially tough Week 5 matchup against the Rams.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Elliott returns as the lead back in Dallas after a solid but unspectacular showing in 2021. Elliott finished seventh among RBs in fantasy points, but the result reeks of survivor bias. Elliott had one weekly finish better than eighth (Week 3) and finished outside the top-20 backs in six of the final 11 weeks. Elliott averaged a career-low 13.9 carries per game, but still finished top 10 among backs in carries, rushing yards, rushing TDs, carries inside the 5, routes, targets and receptions. Elliott has finished all six NFL seasons as a top-12 fantasy back, but he's been outside the top 15 in PPG each of the last two seasons. Now 27 years old and extremely overworked (1,938 career touches), Elliott should be viewed as a mid-to-back-end RB2.