The Dallas Cowboys saw enough from RB Tony Pollard last year to part ways with Ezekiel Elliott. What is Pollard’s fantasy football ceiling with Zeke no longer seeing 200+ carries a season in the same backfield? Let’s take a closer look.
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Tony Pollard’s Fantasy Outlook for the 2023 NFL Season
It turns out that Pollard didn’t need Zeke to be off the roster to have a breakout fantasy season.
Despite seeing 38 fewer carries than Zeke, Pollard still finished with more rushing yards than his workhorse counterpart because of his elite-level efficiency as a runner.
Pollard led the league in yards after contact per attempt (2.6), which helped him boast one of the highest yards per carry averages in the NFL (5.2).
Fortunately, Pollard appears to have recovered from the ankle injury and broken leg he took into the offseason. He’s primed for an expanded role as the leading man in this backfield.
Tony Pollard just needs one hand #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/ec9rUW9NyS
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC)
Now, it will undoubtedly benefit Pollard from a fantasy perspective to be the leading man in the backfield and not have to contend with Zeke for goal-line carries. But there is a question surrounding Pollard as a feature back in the NFL — can he hold up physically with an expanded role?
Last year was the first time Pollard ever saw more than 200 total touches in his pro or collegiate career, and he suffered an ankle injury that required offseason surgery.
Pollard has been a durable back in the NFL, albeit in a complementary role, so we should give him the benefit of the doubt in this regard. Still, it doesn’t exactly help that reports suggest the Cowboys want to be careful not to overwork Pollard.
Is Pollard a Good Fantasy Pick?
Pollard’s RB8 fantasy finish last year was exceptional. Any time you produce 1,378 total yards with 9 TDs on just 232 total touches is noteworthy.
He has a lengthy history of being highly efficient with his opportunities and is set for a feature role in a productive offense. The signs all point towards Pollard posting the best fantasy season of his career in 2023.
MORE: Fantasy Football Draft Strategy
Most times I would exercise caution with projecting a career year from a complementary back to finish inside the top seven at the RB position, but the table really is set perfectly for him.
If he can stay healthy, Pollard is a good pick in the second round of your fantasy draft.
- PFN Consensus Rankings: Seventh overall
- ADP: 15th overall
