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Ezekiel Elliot's 2020 Season - A Thread
Zeke has effectively had two separate seasons this year: One with and one without Dak Prescott. So let's examine those two seasons, and how to evaluate Zeke going forward. @TheUndroppables
Zeke has effectively had two separate seasons this year: One with and one without Dak Prescott. So let's examine those two seasons, and how to evaluate Zeke going forward. @TheUndroppables
1st season - With Dak.
Over the first 5 games (Dak was carted off towards the end of game 5), Ezekiel Elliot was averaging:
17.8 carries/game
72.8 rushing yards/game
4.09 ypc
6.4 tgts/game
4.8 receptions/game
34.6 receiving yards/game
This made him the (PPR) RB 3 overall/RB 5 ppg
Over the first 5 games (Dak was carted off towards the end of game 5), Ezekiel Elliot was averaging:
17.8 carries/game
72.8 rushing yards/game
4.09 ypc
6.4 tgts/game
4.8 receptions/game
34.6 receiving yards/game
This made him the (PPR) RB 3 overall/RB 5 ppg
2nd season - with Dalton/Dinucci
Over the next 3 games, Ezekiel Elliot averaged:
14.3 carries/game
52.3 rushing yards/game
3.65 ypc
4.67 tgts/game (including a 10 tgt game)
3.3 receptions/game
15.67 receiving yards/game
Over this time, Zeke was the (PPR) RB 28 overall/RB 42 ppg
Over the next 3 games, Ezekiel Elliot averaged:
14.3 carries/game
52.3 rushing yards/game
3.65 ypc
4.67 tgts/game (including a 10 tgt game)
3.3 receptions/game
15.67 receiving yards/game
Over this time, Zeke was the (PPR) RB 28 overall/RB 42 ppg
So what is Ezekiel Elliot going forward? It's important to note that Dalton is on the COVID List and should be back in the coming weeks, so the offense should receive a boost. In the two games where Dalton played, Zeke had 10 tgts and 2 tgts, but Dalton left in the 3rd quarter.
Regardless, I now value Zeke as a volume-based option. This moves him out of weekly RB 1 consideration, although once Dalton gets back I think he is still a start every week in standard sized leagues as an RB 2. For this week in particular however, especially with Zeke dealing
with a hamstring injury, I would greatly temper expectations and look to bench him against the vaunted Steelers defense. With his QB situation uncertain (Cooper Rush or Garret Gilbert), I don't have confidence in this offense, which caps his TD upside. Additionally, with the
gamescript seeming to heavily favor the Steelers, Zeke's rush attempts will be capped, and with Zeke's injury there is a good chance the Cowboys give the passing down work to Tony Pollard. Its difficult to bench Zeke, but I think you should this week. @MyFantasyLeague
I forgot to mention: Zeke's TD average (rushing and receiving combined) over the first 5 games was 1.2 TDS/game whereas over the last 3 he hasn't scored once.
