Even Dalvin Cook knows Ezekiel Elliott isn't the Cowboys' best RB

How the Dallas Cowboys managed the running back position this offseason was nothing short of befuddling. Rather than use a mid-round pick in the draft on a potential starter, they signed veterans Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook, who combined have seven Pro Bowls and over 15,000 rushing yards.

The flip side of that? Elliott and Cook have 3,400 carries between them and they are a combined 58 years old. It's really no wonder why Cowboys fans have tempered expectations for the backfield.

Fans collectively rolled their eyes after Dallas signed Cook. He logged only 67 carries in 15 games with the Jets last season and he ranked near the bottom of the league in virtually every advanced rushing metric.

The four-time Pro Bowler is clearly past his prime, but he has said all of the right things since signing to the practice squad. While Cook and Elliott are the two elder statesmen in the RB room, it is actually Rico Dowdle who has stood out the most of the team's running backs since Cook arrived.

New Cowboys running back Dalvin Cook is a big fan of Rico Dowdle

"I feel like he [Dowdle] is one of those underrated players who does the dirty work," said Cook. "Knows the playbook inside out. He's helping me with the playbook right now. He's just one of those players that doesn't get enough recognition, but he puts his head down and works. Just from me being around him I can see how he goes about his business."

That's big praise from Cook, who at the time of this quote had only been at the Cowboys facility for one day. It took no time at all for Dowdle to leave an impression on Cook.

While Cook did not mean that as a slight to Elliott, it says a lot that Cook already knows that Dowdle is underrated. It is pretty clear that Cook thinks Dowdle deserves a big workload this season. That may come at Cook's expense, but the 29-year-old has said he is ready for whatever role is asked of him.

Ultimately, Cook's words echo what Cowboys fans have been saying all offseason: Dowdle is the clearcut best RB on the roster.

That's not to say Elliott and Cook can't be productive in a committee behind a revamped (dare we say improved?) offensive line. However, both players have experienced a sharp decline over the last two seasons.

In 2023, Cook averaged less than five carries per game in 15 appearances with the Jets. Meanwhile, Elliott ranked bottom five in yards per carry, missed tackles forced, explosive runs and yards after contact per attempt, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Cook would love nothing more than to lead the Cowboys backfield in carries, but it seems that he realizes that Dowdle getting RB1 treatment is in the team's best interest.

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