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Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott tops running back power rankings

By Steven Mullenax

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 29: Running back Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the first quarter at FedEx Field on October 29, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 29: Running back Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the first quarter at FedEx Field on October 29, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Acknowledging his place among the top running backs in the league, NFL.com ranked the Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott as the top player at his position.

Prior to the 2016 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys had a tough choice as the owners of the fourth overall selection in the first round. Should the defensive-needy Cowboys pick Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa who was the top pass rusher of the class?

Maybe the Cowboys top selection should be Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey, someone who could be a gamechanger in Dallas’ suspect secondary. Or, would America’s Team benefit most from drafting the top-rated running back, Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott?

One of those top three selections, Bosa, was taken off the board by the-then San Diego Chargers third overall. The pass rusher would go on to record a whopping 23.0 sacks in his first two NFL seasons.

For the Cowboys, the choice was clearly between Ramsey or Elliott. In the end, Dallas elected to go with the prospect who would impact their defense the most. That player being Elliott, the running back. The Cowboys figured if Zeke could help their offense stay on the field longer, that would limit the playing time for their defensive unit.

Their choice paid off. Although Ramsey would go off the board to the Jacksonville Jaguars the very next pick (5th overall) and he would be named to the All-Pro first-team and his first Pro Bowl in 2017, Elliott had more of an immediate impact in Dallas.

During his rookie season, the fourth overall selection led the NFL in rushing yardage with 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns. Elliott also led the Cowboys to a 13-3 regular season record including an 11-game win streak and earning the team a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Elliott would go on to be voted into the Pro Bowl as a rookie, named a first-team All-Pro and was in contention for both NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as well as the NFL MVP award.

His second-year in Dallas was marred by domestic violence allegations that eventually led to a six-game suspension midseason. Despite only playing in 10-games, Elliott was still able to lead the league in average yards per game with 98.3. And his yardage total of 983 rushing yards still ranked him in the top ten of all running backs in the NFL.

Due to those accomplishments, NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal recently ranked Elliott No. 1 in his running back power rankings for 2018. Here’s his explanation as to why …

"“Power still has a place in NFL offenses. If anything, the league’s trend toward spreading the field with speed on both sides of the ball only makes complete, rugged backs like Zeke more valuable, as undersized defenders bounce off him. The game appears to come easy for Elliott, who is already the league’s best pure runner at age 22. There should be another level of play he can reach, and this should be the season he reaches it.”"

Next: Who are the Cowboys top first-round picks ever?

The Dallas Cowboys are a run-first team. And Ezekiel Elliott is their foundational piece. The keystone of an offensive arch built with several first rounders. Even following a down year, the league recognizes how talented Elliott is. And how important he will be the success of America’s Team in 2018.

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