Cowboys 53-man roster prediction: The 2024 all-potential team

Running back (4): Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke, Snoop Conner

The Cowboys’ RB room isn’t exactly oozing with potential at the moment. While there’s still time to add a new face or two either through free agency or the trade market, the room is mostly set at this point.

Ezekiel Elliott missing the cut is the elephant in the room, but in this potential-driven 53-man roster prediction, there’s really no choice. At age 29, Elliott’s best days are behind him, and he’s posted back-to-back seasons of negative RYOE (rushing yards over expected), meaning the run blocking he had in front of him was better than his running.

Dowdle, age 26, has been held back by injuries most of his career but is coming off a healthy stretch where he may actually reach that potential.

Vaughn is a low-floor/high-ceiling guy who can be dynamic in space as long as his size can be overcome. Luepke flashed good ability as a runner and pass catcher as a rookie and if he can put it all together, he could be a special and versatile weapon on any down and in any situation.

Finally, it’s Snoop Conner, the forgotten RB, who could sneak onto the roster with his special ceiling. The 5-foot-11, 222-pound RB from Mississippi is a nasty player who loves contact and thrives in short-yardage. While Dowdle and Vaughn are better on early downs and in space, Conner likes the between the tackles running and short yardage.