Ezekiel Elliot: Do the Cowboys need him to remain the favorites in Week 1?
By: Dan Orlando
When the 2019 NFL schedule was released, the Dallas Cowboys were tabbed the favorites in a Week 1 matchup that you can set your watch by against the New York Giants.
The availability of Ezekiel Elliot, their two-time NFL rushing leader and 4th year player, was assumed at the time.
It is currently very much in doubt as his contract holdout remains stuck in neutral.
But the Giants find themselves in -what they hope is- the final stages of an aggressive rebuild. The defense is arguably the bigger question mark of both sides of the ball with young or untested players at most positions.
So do the Cowboys, who will field a competent QB, a marquee wide receiver and a formidable defense truly need their star RB to remain in control against a team they’ve beaten four-straight times?
A man who has managed to become a Dallas player and legend simultaneously feels that the absence will certainly be noticed.
"My gosh, look what he's done in his time in the NFL," said Witten in a recent interview. "And you're not the same when someone like that's not on the field. No excuses. You've got to go find ways, different ways to do it."
Rookie, Tony Pollard is the first man off the bench with Zeke not in the lineup.
A fourth-round rookie out of Memphis, Pollard averaged over 1,600 all-purpose yards (including specials) during his time in school. He averaged almost 8.5 yards per carry and found the end zone against the Rams during a preseason matchup in Hawaii.
While what Pollard does in extended regular season action remains a bit of an unknown, the Giants inability to cove tight ends is well documented.
Does Dak Prescott take some pressure off of his running game by attacking New York’s second level?
Perhaps. The previously mentioned Witten may very well return to his Giants-killer status, but with a year spent in the broadcast boost instead of on the field hanging over him, his effectiveness is it’s own question mark.
In a meaningless Week 17 contest last year, Blake Jarwin came alive. He notched 7 receptions for 119 yards and three – yes three – touchdowns.
But the uncertainty remains. Those three scores are the only ones of Jarwin’s then two-year career. He has only caught 20 passes outside of that particular matchup as well.
Which brings us to the main aerial matchup. Amari Cooper.
The former Raider’s 75 receptions and 1005 yards after gelling into a new offense last season should mean a young Giants secondary will bleed field position and points on 9/8. Right?
Yet again, only maybe.
Cooper is optimistic that he’ll be on hand for Week 1, but he has been dealing with plantar fasciitis all summer.
Even if Cooper is on the field against the Giants, there is a chance he’s not 100%. If New York’s top CB, Janoris Jenkins, is on his game, Cooper’s effectiveness may be significantly limited. This is especially true if the running game is deemed less of a threat than usual.
Bottom line, this may be one of the toughest matchups to call on opening weekend.
Question marks abound for both teams on both sides of the ball.
A Zeke return tips this back into the Cowboy’s favor but right now, this matchup is in no-man’s land.