Week 13 at Minnesota
Ezekiel Elliot came up three yards short of the 100 yard mark for the second straight week, but this time, he made up for it with two rushing touchdowns (pushing his season total to 11 plus one receiving). Elliot continues to get a minimum of 20 touches per game, which is one reason he is always going to be highly-ranked in fantasy.
The Vikings are this week's opponent and although their defense is one of the NFL's best, they are only ranked 15th in aFPA to running backs. Elliot should have some success Thursday night.
Start Elliot in all leagues and formats as a high-end RB1 for Week 13.
Week 12 vs Washington
Even going up against the best run defense in the NFL, Ezekiel Elliot continues to pile up touches and yardages. He ran for 97 yards against Baltimore, but the downside was zero touchdowns after scoring four the previous two weeks.
In the first meeting against the Redskins back in Week 1, he ran the ball 21 times for 83 yards and a touchdown. With the Cowboys being showcased on Thanksgiving Day, we expect a big afternoon from Elliot and the Dallas offense. The Redskins are only 23rd in aFPA to running backs.
Start Elliot in all leagues and formats as one of the top fantasy running backs for Week 12.
Week 12 vs Baltimore
Ezekiel Elliot was stymied for a lot of the last game against Pittsburgh until the last two drives when he scored on two long TD runs. He started another 100-yard rushing streak and has now totaled nine rushing touchdowns on the season. He continues to be one of the best fantasy running back options in the NFL.
Elliot faces a Baltimore defense this week that is ranked No. 1 in aFPA to running backs, but don't let that discourage you. The opponent is irrelevant. Elliot and his offensive line are that good. Start him as a top-5 fantasy running back for Week 11.
Week 10 at Pittsburgh
Ezikiel Elliot failed to get to the 100-yard mark for the second straight week - barely. But he made up for it last week with two rushing touchdowns. Elliot has been a consistent top 5 running back all season long averaging 111 yards per game but more important, 22 carries. The Cowboys have thrown the load on his shoulders and the rookie has handled it.
Another good matchup for Elliot as the Steelers are ranked 27th in aFPA to running backs. Pittsburgh has struggled against top backs this season so Elliot is poised to have a great game, even on the road. Start Elliot in all leagues and formats as one of the top fantasy running backs for Week 10.
Week 9 at Cleveland
Ezekiel Elliot's 100-yard rushing streak was stopped at four games, although only by four yards. Elliot still got 26 touches and continues to be the main focus of the Dallas offense. He actually added a career-high 52 receiving yards to make up for the miss on the 100-yard rushing day.
Elliot must be licking his chops, as he now faces a Cleveland defense that is 29th in aFPA to running backs. Elliot will continue to get a large amount of carries and even more touches in the passing game.
Start Elliot in all leagues and formats as the top ranked fantasy running back for Week 9.
Week 8 vs Philadelphia
Ezekiel Elliot has four straight 100+ yard rushing games and has scored five touchdowns in six games. The rookie has been everything as advertised, and the Cowboys have been crafting their weekly game plan around Elliot.
The Eagles have been much better against the pass than the run, so Dallas will likely get the ball to Elliot at least 25 times this week (which means high fantasy numbers for Elliot).
Start him as one of the best running back options of the week. He is a top-tier fantasy RB for Week 8.
Week 6 at Green Bay
Three straight weeks with a minimum of 134 yards rushing plus he also added his first multi-touchdown game. Elliot is already a star in the eyes of the Cowboys and they are not afraid to put the burden on him. The touches were under 20 for the first time this season, but that is irrelevant considering the results.
The Packers are next up and have been excellent against the run this season. They rank 1st in aFPA to running backs. Being that the game is on the road and the Packers defense, Elliot is still an RB1 for Week 6 although at the low-end. He should still get touches but the overall numbers might not be as high as recent weeks.
Week 5 vs Bengals
Back to Back monster weeks for Ezekiel Elliot is proving that he is a fantasy force. The rookie has rushed 53 times for 278 yards over the past two weeks and touchdown. He is the focus of the Dallas offense and will remain so at least until Tony Romo returns.
It's a tougher matchup this week against Cincinnati who ranks 5th in aFPA to running backs. Yet, that should not deter you because Elliot will get the touches and he will give you production, even if it is not as good as recent weeks.
Start Elliot in all leagues as a solid RB1 for Week 5.
Week 4 at San Francisco
It was a monster rushing day for rookie Ezekiel Elliot, as he carried the ball 30 times for 140 yards last week. That had to excite both Cowboys fans and fantasy owners. However, it was also the first time he didn't score a touchdown in a game this season, which devalued his performance a little bit. The good news is we expect even better results moving forward for Elliot.
This Sunday could be another big day, as the Cowboys face the Niners, who are 25th in aFPA to running backs in 2016. We know Elliot is going to get touches and goal line opportunities, so his value will remain high despite the opponent.
Start Elliot in all leagues and formats for Week 4 against San Francisco. Expect 30 touches again and another strong week.
Week 3 vs. Chicago
Ezekiel Elliot's numbers were slightly better on Sunday, which might mean we see a slow ascent for him to get to the point of stud running back that so many predicted. The good news is he has a touchdown in each of the first two games for Dallas and his TD total should end up high by the end of the season. He has not really gotten involved with passing game with only four total targets, but that will be a work in progress.
Elliot will face an average Bears run defense so expect 20+ carries again this week and possibly his first 100-yard rushing day. Dallas would rather ride the rookie running back than the rookie QB. Start him in all leagues and formats as a solid RB1 for Week 3.
