(Editor's Note: In the upcoming weeks before the start of training camp, the staff of DallasCowboys.com is looking to answer the 20 biggest questions facing the team heading into the 2024 season. Today, the staff writers continue the series with a look at the running back position.)
18) Who will be the sleeper at the RB position?
Patrik Walker: This one is a bit of a head-scratcher. I believe it's well-known what Ezekiel Elliott was brought back to do — be the hammer, especially in the red zone — and Rico Dowdle showed last year he can be an all-round back, so the only question for him revolves around continued health. There is not a lot of proven talent behind them and that's what makes this a muddied question. Deuce Vaughn is still trying desperately to create a niche in this offense, Malik Davis has several years in it but struggled to find the field in 2023, and Snoop Conner, Royce Freeman and undrafted rookie Nathaniel Peat all have uphill battles. I'm gonna land on Hunter Luepke here, technically a fullback that, in reality, isn't. Luepke had a gaffe in Miami last year but recovered nicely to end the season, and I think he'll see more reps in 2024 to impact games.
Kyle Youmans: This answer truly be "anyone." But to be a true sleeper, there needs to be low expectations to overcome. Entering the season, the belief is that a stable of tailbacks carrying the load. Some combination of Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, and Hunter Luepke are anticipated to handle most of the carries. That's what makes Deuce Vaughn the true sleeper of the group. Vaughn was bottled up for his rookie season, finishing with 23 carries for 40 yards and only one first down recorded. Not enough production to build any excitement around the sixth-round pick. However, his first NFL offseason may be exactly what the doctor ordered. He initially struggled with the quickness of high-end pro talent during the regular season but shined against the league's youth and reserves in the preseason. That tells me that with a little seasoning and growth, Vaughn could see a significant improvement off his rookie year.
Nick Eatman: I think the spirit of the question was to find one of the lower-end backs and make a case for him to get some extra snaps. But with this position right now, everyone is a sleeper, including Zeke. So, saying that, I'll go with Rico Dowdle as the "sleeper" here and by that, I'm talking about him eventually being the starter. I think he'll get plenty of carries, along with Zeke, but I think as the year goes on, Dowdle will be the more explosive back, with longer runs, bigger plays out of the backfield and can hold his own as a blocker. So I know the focus is on Zeke and some of the other backs, but I think Dowdle will check more of the boxes as the season progresses.
Mickey Spagnola: Can we call a veteran entering his ninth NFL season, with three Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro honors and having twice led the NFL in rushing in his career qualify as a running back sleeper? Well, I can. Not sure many are expecting much from Ezekiel Elliott, but, beware. He's healthy. Seemed this offseason to be in great shape. Has a great attitude. And while the Cowboys aren't expecting to run him in the ground with like 300 carries, it's the quality of those carries that will become surprising. Plus, just go back to the 2022 season when all anyone would say about Zeke is he only averaged 3.79 yards a carry during what was thought to be his final season with the Cowboys. But truth be told, Zeke was averaging 4.2 yards a carry over the first 12 games of the season. Then in the final five, once losing starting right tackle Terence Steele with a torn ACL and deciding to insert future Pro Bowl left tackle veteran Tyron Smith at a position he hadn't played since 2012 after missing the first 12 games of the season, Zeke averaged just 3.0 yards a carry. Thus, a very deceptive 3.8 for the season. Don't go to sleep on Zeke.
