3 cheaper Dalvin Cook alternatives Cowboys should pursue to complete backfield

2. Leonard Fournette

If the Cowboys strictly want a power back, Fournette is their guy. In fairness to Fournette, he's capable of catching passes out of the backfield -- he caught 142 passes the last two seasons with the Buccaneers and saw 100 targets (!) in his final season with the Jaguars in 2019.

The Cowboys will take all the pass-catching RBs they can get, but Fournette's punishing rushing style is the greater need. He admittedly has averaged more than 4.0 yards per attempt just twice in his career, but he's had efficient seasons behind strong lines and in good offenses.

At 6-foot and 228 pounds, Fournette is the perfect complement to Pollard, who clearly is more comfortable hitting the edge than running between the tackles. He also has a propensity for showing up in the playoffs. He got the nickname "Playoff Lenny" because of his play during the Bucs Super Bowl run in 2020.

Fournette might not move the needle for some fans, but we'd argue he'd fill the Ezekiel Elliott role better than any free agent running back.