Tony Pollard has been battling a foot injury that kept him sidelined as a precaution in Week 18 against the Eagles. But is Pollard playing in the Cowboys’ Wild Card matchup against the 49ers, and can he be deployed in playoff fantasy football formats?
Is Tony Pollard playing tonight vs. the 49ers?
According to the Cowboys’ injury report, Pollard has returned to full practice participation. Thus, he will play tonight. Barring any further complications, the third-year back is ready to go and will be an excellent boost for the Dallas offense.
Pollard returns to the lineup, and reports have indicated that left tackle Tyron Smith will also return just in time. Smith did not play in Week 18 as a precaution as he deals with a knee/ankle issue.
How has Pollard performed so far this season?
Pollard has been more influential for the Cowboys in 2021 than in previous years. He’s seen a higher snap count and has earned his way onto the field with consistent contributions. Pollard had 130 carries for 719 yards and 2 touchdowns this season. That’s not a bad number for a guy taking the RB2 reps on the roster.
Without Pollard, the Cowboys would have felt the struggles of Ezekiel Elliott a lot more over the past couple of years. Pollard has stepped in and gelled well in the offense and offers one of the league’s best second options at the position.
Not only did he have a breakout year on the ground, but Pollard added a further 337 yards in the passing game. That puts him over 1,000 all-purpose yards for the season on a somewhat limited snap count.
As Pollard approaches the final year of his contract, will the Dallas Cowboys be able to make a deal with him that keeps him on the roster behind Elliott? Or does the young back have higher hopes for himself?
Fantasy expectations for Pollard
This season, Pollard jumped in fantasy rankings in his most productive year yet. Pollard finished as the RB29 after ranking as the RB41 in 2020.
Considering he isn’t a starter, getting top-30 production out of him is excellent value. Plus, having him on your dynasty roster is never a bad thing while he’s still a Cowboy. Pollard’s value will shoot up if he declines a contract offer from Dallas and hits the free-agent market next offseason. The Cowboys could even cash in by trading him before they lose him for nothing.
Pollard’s season-high in fantasy points came in Week 2 against the Chargers when he scored 23 points thanks to 109 yards rushing and a touchdown. He had another 31 yards receiving. Pollard scored 10+ points on six separate occasions this year. I’d be buying him cheap in dynasty leagues if I could get him.
The Cowboys will be glad to have Pollard back for the playoffs, and the hope is that he’ll continue to be a positive influence and an excellent relief option behind Zeke.
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