5 ways Ezekiel Elliott can earn his contract

5. Stay Healthy

NFL running backs have famously short-lived careers. Even some of the best, fastest and strongest backs to ever play had to call it quits in their late 20s and early 30s because of the cumulative effect the constant beating had on their bodies. Legends of the game such as Barry Sanders, Earl Campbell and Gale Sayers are all prime examples of how quick an NFL career can fizzle out and come to an abrupt end.

Elliott, 20, had surgery on his left wrist prior to his final season as a Buckeye, but played in all 13 games in 2015. Elliott did have a massive workload in his final two collegiate seasons, totaling over 550 rushing attempts, but currently has no major red flags regarding his overall health. The Cowboys certainly hope he can maintain this trend after last season’s debacle, as both Tony Romo and Dez Bryant were sidelined with various injuries for multiple games.

In today’s NFL, the best ability is availability. To truly earn his impressive contract, Elliott needs to do just that: be available. The rookie running back needs to play in roughly 85-90 percent of Dallas’s games over this four-year stretch and become a trusted and relied upon workhorse in the backfield. Zeke absolutely must avoid developing into a player who needs to be handled with white gloves and is constantly listed on the injury report as questionable.

Next: 4. 1,000-Yard Rusher