Rank'Em
Rank’Em: Morris Among Best Garrett-Era RBs?
With this decade coming to a close, let's rank the very best tailbacks the Cowboys have had with Jason Garrett as head coach. Where does Alfred Morris fit in?
11. Phillip Tanner – Known for scoring a touchdown with his helmet off in a preseason game as a rookie, Tanner burst onto the scene as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played three seasons in a backup role. But he's still around today, serving as an assistant special teams coach on the Cowboys' staff. And if there's a question whether or not Tanner still has skills, he was rather dominant in the Cowboys' company flag football league this past summer.
10. Lance Dunbar – Although he never lived up to the expectations as a change-of-pace back, Dunbar spent a few years with the Cowboys. Battling through injuries, Dunbar wasn't always a consistent force, but when healthy, he could be dynamic. Never was that more evident than the 2015 season opener when he caught 10 passes in the Cowboys' dramatic 27-26 win over the Giants.
9. Marion Barber – The reason he's so low in this list is the fact he only played one season for Garrett as head coach. 2010 was Barber's final season with the Cowboys, but he still rushed for 374 yards and four touchdowns. He did most of his damage from 2006-09, but Barber was still a productive player, even at the end of his time in Dallas.
8. Rod Smith – Not exactly built like a prototypical running back, Smith flashed his skills in 2017 when the Cowboys were forced to play six games without a suspended Ezekiel Elliott. Smith had a breakout game that year against the Giants, scoring an 81-yard TD reception and another rushing score – all in the fourth quarter of a 30-10 win. Ironically enough, the Giants signed Smith this offseason as a free-agent back.
7. Tashard Choice – Always a rotational back, but serviceable even in his final years with the Cowboys. He arrived in 2008 so by the 2010 season, Choice was established, but not as a starter. He finished second on the team in 2010 with three TDs, including a nifty run against the Colts on the road. He was also one of the first backs to run the "Wildcat" formation for the Cowboys.
6. Joseph Randle – He's known more for his off-the-field incidents, but when he got on the field, Randle was productive. While he never had more than 350 rushing yards in a season, Randle did score nine touchdowns, including three in one game against the Falcons, becoming one of only nine players in franchise history with three TDs in a game.
5. Alfred Morris – Let's see what his next stint with the Cowboys will provide but his first go-round was pretty good, considering he was a backup. In Week 2 of 2016, Morris filled in for Zeke in the second half and scored a key touchdown to help beat his former team, the Redskins. In 2017, Morris had more touches due to Zeke's suspension and actually had the longest run of the season for the Cowboys with a 70-yard run.
4. Darren McFadden – He's one of three players on this list with a 1,000-yard season for the Cowboys, as he rushed for 1,089 in 2015, and did so despite not starting the first six games and playing with less-than-stellar starting QBs. But his time with the team was limited, preventing him from being higher on the list.
3. Felix Jones – One of two first-round picks in 2008, Jones and Marion Barber formed a thunder-and-lightning combo in the running game. Known best for his speed, Jones made an early impact on special teams with a 98-yard touchdown return as a rookie. He played five years in Dallas, mostly as a change-of-pace back, and produced 3,790 total yards from scrimmage with 14 touchdowns.
2. DeMarco Murray – A steal in the third round of the 2011 draft, Murray emerged as a important complement to Tony Romo as the former Cowboys quarterback entered his mid-30s. Murray won an NFL rushing title in 2014, his final year with the team, and transformed the offense into a balanced attack that came within a controversial "Dez Catch" of reaching the NFC Championship Game.
1. Ezekiel Elliott – He's not in camp currently, but there's a reason the Cowboys have had discussions about a contract extension for the 24-year-old Pro Bowler. Elliott has led the NFL in rushing in two of his first three seasons, a six-game league suspension in 2017 preventing him from being a three-time champ. He's also a bit underrated league-wide as a receiver, having caught 77 passes last season.
