Cowboys’ RB depth chart takes shape at minicamp with surprising twist

If the Dallas Cowboys' running back room isn't the worst in the NFL, it's certainly knocking on that door. While there's something to be said that the team has shifted how it values the position, it's more than fair to question how it's been addressed, or hasn't been addressed, this offseason.

There's plenty of time between now and Week 1 for the Cowboys to upgrade their running back room. Given what's left in free agency, a trade is the most feasible path. Potential targets include the Panthers' Miles Sanders, the Bears' Khalil Herbert and the Texans' Dameon Pierce.

In the meantime, the Cowboys' RB rotation is headlined by Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle. Head coach Mike McCarthy is adamant that the backfield will be a committee. In other words, Elliott, entering his age-29 season, won't handle a full workload.

While Elliott and Dowdle sit atop the depth chart, OTAs and mandatory minicamp offered a glimpse into the rest of the pecking order. The kicker? It wasn't Deuce Vaughn or free-agent signing Royce Freeman taking first-team reps behind Zeke and Dowdle.

Cowboys' Hunter Luepke climbing RB depth chart before training camp

According to Nick Harris of the team's official website, Hunter Luepke was third in the rotation and took the "bulk of first-team opportunities" with Elliott and Dowdle. Meawhile, Vaughn, Freeman, Snoop Conner, undrafted rookie Nathaniel Peat and Malik Davis ran with the second-team offense.

This may hint at a bigger role on offense this season for Luepke, which is surprising given he only logged six carries as a rookie. Cowboys fans hoped that Luepke would help solve the team's short-yardage woes, but that never came to fruition. He ended up playing more on special teams than offense.

It was evident in preseason, however, that Luepke can be a playmaker. In his first game as the lead rusher, he tallied 58 rushing yards and 60 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches.

The Cowboys have experimented with Deuce Vaughn at receiver this spring, but it would behoove them to get Luepke more involved on passing downs, especially given that Elliott and Dowdle have limited ceilings as pass-catchers.

McCarthy added some new wrinkles to the offense in his first year calling plays. His creative usage of CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin in particular stood out. Perhaps McCarthy has another trick up his sleeve for this season in the form of Luepke.

Luepke received one of the richest contracts of any undrafted free agent last season. He got a $20,000 signing bonus and $200,000 in guaranteed money. The Cowboys clearly value his skillset. What better time to see what he can do than in a reset year at the running back position?

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