Dallas Cowboys: 5 burning questions in 2018

3. Will Ezekiel Elliott bounce back?

Most second year running backs would be pretty pleased to go over 900 yards on the ground. Elliott isn’t most second year running backs. His sophomore season represented a significant step backwards after his explosive rookie campaign.

Remember, Elliott rushed for over 1,600 yards in his first season. The Cowboys may need him to get back to that level in 2018. That won’t be easy by any means, but it’s something Elliot has already proven he can do.

There’s significant optimism inside the organization that Elliott can have a bounce back season. Mainly it stems from the fact that there isn’t the cloud of possible suspension hanging over his head this season. Barring injury, he should be ready to go for the Cowboys when Week 1 arrives. That’s a significantly different feeling than Elliott had just a year ago.

The frustrating truth for Elliott is that he needs a lot of help to get his work done. The best running back in football will struggle to grind out yards behind a shaky offensive line or without the benefit of a strong passing game. Elliott may have to cope with both handicaps in 2018.