Ezekiel Elliott

Fantasy Upside
Ezekiel Elliott has been an elite fantasy producer since entering the league in 2016 and it's hard to envision that changing in 2020, even with a new head coach in town. Elliott should return as the feature back for a Dallas offense that is poised to explode this season. The Cowboys showed the willingness to use Elliott as a workhorse back even after drafting talented backup Tony Pollard last year. Elliott finished 2019 ranked first among running backs in red-zone touches, second in carries, fifth in snap share, and ninth in targets. He turned that workload into a fifth-place finish in fantasy points at the position by amassing the fourth-most rushing yards and fifth-most touchdowns of any running back. While that usage might be enough to satisfy those considering using a top pick on Elliott by itself, there is reason to think he could achieve an even higher finish this season. Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore is set to maintain playcalling duties so we can have some confidence Elliott’s role should not change drastically, plus the Dallas offense has an even higher ceiling this season with Dak Prescott continuing to improve and Ceedee Lamb added to the passing game. Elliott has one of the safest floors in all of fantasy due to his extensive usage in a high-scoring offense and drafters should feel confident using a high pick on him in 2020.

Fantasy Downside
Concerns with Elliott’s fantasy projection are hard to come by, but it's possible that the Cowboys experience regression this season and his individual production would almost certainly suffer as a result. Another concern is Tony Pollard taking on a larger role in his second season. Pollard impressed in limited snaps last season, and it is possible the new coaching staff gives him more touches in 2020. Given that the Cowboys played at one of the fastest paces in the league in 2019, any additional touches for Pollard would likely come out of Elliott’s total.

2020 Bottom Line
Elliott projects to carry a massive workload for one of the best offenses in the league. He should finish among the league leaders in carries again this year, and he gets enough looks in the passing game to maintain an elite floor. His attachment to the Cowboys’ offense means he should see a ton of red zone and goal line touches. Elliott is once again an elite RB1 and has an argument to be picked as high as second overall.