Cowboys need to get Ezekiel Elliott more involved in passing game

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 15: Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) scores a touchdown during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams on December 15, 2019 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 22: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

While Dallas Cowboys’ running back Ezekiel Elliott had a very good season in 2019, it could have even been better had the team decided to get him more involved in their passing game.

Ezekiel Elliiot had his role in the air-attack diminished compared to what it was in 2018. His numbers were a little lower than what some had hoped for and the Cowboys as a team struggled down the stretch.

This was one of the main reasons why they had a difficult time winning games when it mattered most and it ultimately cost them a chance to qualify for the postseason this year. Fantasy managers too may have felt slightly let down by the drop-off in his usage through the air as well.

In 2018, a lot of us were excited about how the Cowboys were finally getting Elliott more integrated into their passing plans to give him an added dimension. We all know how elite of a pure runner he is since he entered the league in 2016. There were some critics out there though who questioned his pass-catching effectiveness. That was an argument people had made in the past when he was being compared to Le’Veon Bell during his days in Pittsburgh.

Elliott and Bell were regarded as the two top backs in the league at one point. Some made the argument that Elliott was more the elite back with his size and speed where others claimed it was Bell who was more special because of his dual-threat ability.

The 2018 campaign made the Elliott fans’ argument stronger when Dallas had elected to provide him a good mix of both carries and passes out of the backfield. Last year, he led the league in carries (304) and had the fifth-most receptions (77 for 567 yards).

As a result, Elliott was able to finally erase that stigma he had about being a one-dimensional running back in the NFL. He proved he could be just as effective catching passes as he is running the ball downhill. Elliott was revered as the full-package last offseason by fantasy managers and it was a toss-up between him and Saquon Barkley for the number one overall draft selection in the summer.

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