Mike McCarthy all but reveals Cowboys starting RB (and fans will love it)

Week 1 of the 2024 NFL regular season has arrived and the Dallas Cowboys are fittingly a national talking point. The Cowboys now have only a handful of days to extend Dak Prescott, who doesn't seem happy that he's entering his third contract year in six seasons.

While Prescott's contract is all the rage in Dallas, another storyline has Cowboys fans up in arms leading up to Sunday's game in Cleveland: How Mike McCarthy plans to split the carries in a crowded backfield.

For most of the offseason the debate involved Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle. However, veteran Dalvin Cook joined the mix last week after signing to the practice squad. It's unclear if Cook will be active for Sunday, but his arrival further muddies an already-precarious situation.

The Cook signing does little to move the needle and many Cowboys fans want Elliott to take a backseat entering his age-29 season.

So, what exactly is McCarthy's plan? While we won't know until kickoff, McCarthy told the media that Dowdle won't play as much on special teams this season because of his expected expanded role on offense.

Mike McCarthy all but confirms Rico Dowdle as Cowboys starting RB

McCarthy isn't one to deceive the media. Despite being the clear No. 2 last season behind Tony Pollard, Dowdle saw just 89 carries and played 85 special teams snaps. Meanwhile, Pollard handled 252 carries, which was seventh-most at the position.

With Pollard not showing the same burst and explosion coming off ankle surgery, Cowboys fans wanted Dowdle to get more run. Dowdle only averaged 4.1 yards per carry, but he seemed to provide a spark whenever he touched the ball, whether as a runner or receiver.

It appears McCarthy knows that Dowdle is the best RB on the roster. That sentiment has trickled down to The Athletic's Jon Machota (subscription required).

"The fifth-year back [Dowdle] looked to make the most of his opportunities in Oxnard, Calif," Machota writes. "He was Dallas’ most explosive back and showcased an ability in the passing game to be a complete back... In a room that includes [Ezekiel] Elliott and Dalvin Cook, Dowdle should be the favorite to lead the Cowboys in rushing attempts and rushing yards this season."

That is music to Cowboys fans' ears.

Dowdle posted a respectable 68.1 rushing grade last season to go with 2.91 yards after contact per rush, 14 forced missed tackles and seven explosive runs, per PFF (subscription required). Not earth-shattering numbers by any stretch, but they were superior to that of Elliott and Cook, who ranked near the bottom of the league in each category.

While Dowdle is far from a proven RB, it is a massive relief that McCarthy isn't being deceived by Elliott and Cook's reputation as (former) elite runners. That doesn't mean Elliott and Cook won't have a role to play in 2024, but it's been obvious from day one of camp that Dowdle deserves to carry the RB1 mantle. McCarthy has seemingly come around to that fact.

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