Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard ranked as one of NFL’s best backfield duos

The Dallas Cowboys offense is loaded with talent all over. Dak Prescott is regarded as a top-10 — if not better — quarterback in the league, Ezekiel Elliott is one of the best backs in the NFL, the three-headed monster of Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb is scary good, and we all know what the offensive line brings to the table — even with the question marks at left guard and center.

We have often discussed just how dangerous the passing attack should be in 2020. Prescott is coming off of his best statistical season throwing the football, while the duo of Cooper and Gallup each eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in 2020. It will be exciting to see what the pairing of head coach Mike McCarthy and Kellen Moore will be able to come up with schematically and play design.

The running game should be very effective as well for the Cowboys. Elliott has proven to be among the best at his position since being taken with the fourth overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft due to his ability to run the football, pass protect, and catch passes.

The Cowboys added a back through the 2019 draft in the fourth round to add some versatility as a runner and a pass catcher. Tony Pollard played all over the offense during his time with the Memphis Tigers, lining up in the backfield and out wide. Pollard showed flashes of his talent throughout the 2019 season — rushing for over 100 yards against the Dolphins in week three and the Rams in week 15. He also showcased his receiving ability in a win over the Lions, catching four passes for 44 yards and a score.

Dallas’ duo of Elliott and Pollard ranks among the best backfield tandems in the NFL, according to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller. Miller writes that “the pair also has the most potential to break out this season” thanks to the new offense.

5. Dallas Cowboys

RB1: Ezekiel Elliott (95)

RB2: Tony Pollard (73)

Total: 168

Zeke is still one of the NFL’s elite, and we’re waiting to see more of a breakout from last year’s rookie do-it-all back, Tony Pollard. The combination of speed, power, pass-catching ability and versatility in each back makes the Cowboys duo one of the most fun to watch in the league. The pair also has the most potential to break out this season, with Mike McCarthy’s offense and a better, more dynamic passing game coming to town.

Miller explains how he totaled grades and compiled the rankings based on PFF grades and analytics, among other data.

How do we do this? A composite grade—a combination of my own evaluating, Pro Football Focus grades, the analytics of Football Outsiders and opinions from pro and college scouts around the NFL—is used to rank each player.

The Cowboys’ duo ranked higher than notable pairings such as the Broncos’s one-two punch of former Chargers star Melvin Gordon and former undrafted free agent Phillip Lindsay and the Titans’ powerful Derrick Henry and third-round rookie Darrynton Evans.

Dallas will very likely be pass-heavy this upcoming season thanks to factors such as McCarthy’s history of developing quarterbacks, spending a first-round pick on a wide receiver, and the likely contract extension that is coming for Prescott.

Regardless, the Cowboys have a pair of talented running backs to get the ball to as well. Opposing defenses will have their hands full when trying to stop all of the weapons that McCarthy and Moore have at their disposal.