Dallas Cowboys: Best remaining options for running back depth

The Dallas Cowboys need to add a running back after letting former backup Rod Smith walk. Will they add a free agent, or will they rely on the draft?

With the NFL draft just weeks away, the Dallas Cowboys still have quite a few holes in their roster. Although they desperately need help along the defensive front, they also have a rather large hole at running back.

While he is among the best in the league when doing it, Ezekiel Elliott accounted for almost 75 percent of the Cowboys rushing attack last year. Out of a possible 439 rushing attempts, Elliott carried on 304 of them. On top of his rushing numbers, Zeke accounted for about a fifth of the passing offense with 77 receptions as well.

While the rushing numbers alone would be a load for most running backs in a very physical NFL, over 380 touches for any football player is quite the haul. With the touches piling up on Zeke, and with the Cowboys desiring an upgrade over the production that Rod Smith offered, who are some of the viable options still available?

The first name that comes to mind is former Kansas City Chiefs running back, Spencer Ware. Before an injury in the 2017 preseason, and ultimately the emergence of former Chief Kareem Hunt, he was the featured back of a talented Kansas City backfield. In the season prior to his injury, Ware started in all 14 games that he played for the Chiefs.

In just 14 games for Kansas City in 2016, Ware amassed 921 rushing yards on 214 attempts, while also contributing 447 passing yards on just 33 receptions. Although that only amounted to five total touchdowns that season, he was a great dual threat weapon at running back for the Chiefs who could block as well. With that tandem of skills being similar to the way Zeke operates, along with the fact that he wouldn’t be counted on for an absurd amount of snaps, he would be a perfect complimentary back for the Cowboys.

Another name that comes to mind is former Baltimore Raven and Green Bay Packer, Ty Montgomery. Ty Montgomery won’t quite wow you with his rushing numbers like Ware might, but he does provide that extreme dual threat factor. Even more so than Ware’s multiple abilities, Montgomery is down right unique.

Drafted as a wide receiver out of Stanford University prior to the 2015 season, Montgomery saw snaps at mostly wide out in his first season. However in the 2016 season, Montgomery was called upon to work out of the backfield after starting back Eddie Lacy and his backup James Starks went down with injury. He would play mostly running back for the Packers until being traded to the Ravens this past season.

Although he has taken most his snaps from the running back position over the past few seasons, he is still listed as a wide out/running back, and displays the skill set to still do both. He presents immense value to the Dallas Cowboys because not only would he provide a depth option behind Elliott, but he would also provide another play maker capable of helping the passing game from a split position.

Outside of the above listed options for the Cowboys, they would probably be better served to look to the draft. According to bloggingtheboys.com and their pre-draft visit tracker, the Dallas Cowboys have a few backs in their sights. They will reportedly have Damien Harris of Alabama, Mike Weber of Ohio State, and Tony Pollard of Memphis in for pre-draft visits.

Damien Harris is a good all around back, but he won’t blow you away in any one area. His combine 40 was timed at 4.57, but he does play with good power if not a ton of speed. Mike Weber is a polished runner, although he isn’t dynamite when it comes to explosion either. Weber excelled a lot on the outside at Ohio State, but is that a function of his skill set or the offense?

Although he was timed at 4.47 in the 40 at the combine, his seemingly most noticeable NFL skills are his one move and go shiftiness and his ability to get off of potential tackles. Tony Pollard is a bit of wild card. Like Ty Montgomery is on the NFL level, Pollard was a dual position player in college. Pollard lined up at wide receiver, running back, and even returned kicks for his Memphis Tigers.

Although Pollard was timed at 4.52 seconds in the 40 at the combine, he displays a very explosive nature on the actual field. He has a good amount of shake and shiftiness, can make plays over the top as well as in traffic, and although is a bit more streamlined in build at 6 feet tall and 210 pounds, he could absorb tackles and keep on moving. Pollard would make for an interesting complimentary back as well due to his skill set overall and his abilities to help the team from one of three different positions.

The Dallas Cowboys would not go wrong by drafting or signing any of the above mentioned players or prospects. Regardless of which way they go, they would be adding a player not only capable of providing a reliable option behind Zeke, but could seemingly offer the team something in their own rights. Regardless of who it ends up being, they must address the need for the whole team’s sake, and especially Zeke’s.