Ezekiel Elliott is back in Dallas. While no one expects him to lead the league in rushing (as he did two times in his first three seasons), make the Pro Bowl three times in his first four seasons, or break 1,000 yards four times in his first six years, he is expected to contribute on the field.
The 225-pounder had career lows in rushing attempts, yards, touchdowns, and yards per attempt in New England last season, but he showed enough power to earn a second stint in the Cowboys backfield,
where he'll likely be used on short-yardage downs, goal-line situations, and as a reliable target in the passing game, not to mention his pass protection skills.
His Cowboys comeback might also boost his historical rankings in other high-profile categories. Here's Elliott's status and some 2024 numbers to watch from the new No. 15.
Elliott is 40th in NFL rushing history. Last season, he surpassed Willis McGahee, Jim Taylor, and Terry Allen with 642 rushing yards. Elliott would go above of Ahman Green, Earl Campbell, and Shaun Alexander to 36th on the list in 2024, where Derrick Henry will keep climbing.
Consider giving Elliott more credit for argument's sake. He's back to a team he knows, rushing behind familiar blockers, and has a superior offense. Imagine Elliott finds a groove and goes for 876 yards, his 2022 total, which many Dallas fans called cleaned.
With another 876 yards, he would pass Chris Johnson and Joe Perry and move into 34th place all-time, just behind Matt Forte. Assuming Henry also rises.
Elliott has rushed 8,904 yards. Zeke may not reach the 10,000-yard mark until 2025 at his current rate, but Henry should become the 32nd man to do so this season.