Ezekiel Elliott, selected fourth overall by Ohio State in the 2016 NFL Draft, made a powerful entry into Dallas. He quickly proved himself as one of the top feature backs of his time, running behind a talented offensive line. His debut season was remarkable, leading the NFL with 1,631 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. These accomplishments earned him First-Team All-Pro honors, a Pro Bowl selection, and second place for AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and a fifth place MVP finish.

Elliott was the driving force behind the Dallas offense, combining a tough downhill running style with patience, top-tier pass protection, and reliable hands out of the backfield. In 2018, he earned his second league rushing title with 1,434 yards and also caught 77 passes, solidifying his role as a versatile three-down feature back. Throughout his first four seasons, Elliott consistently finished in the top-10 for rushing yards each year, demonstrating his durability and leading the NFL in touches and total scrimmage yards on a regular basis.

Beyond his rushing performance, Elliott played a key role in the passing game, surpassing 2,000 yards from scrimmage in 2018 and often ranking second in the league for all-purpose yards. Despite the increasing physical strain from his heavy workload, he continued to be a dependable goal-line and short-yardage option, surpassing 1,000 yards again in 2021 and helping Dallas secure several division titles.

After the Cowboys released him following the 2022 season for salary-cap management and a year with the New England Patriots, Elliott returned to Dallas for a second stint in 2024. Serving in a veteran rotational role, he provided short-yardage tough yards and pass-blocking leadership before moving on.

“Zeke” played in 118 regular-season games, compiling 8,488 rushing yards, 71 rushing touchdowns, 317 receptions, 2,405 receiving yards, and 10,893 yards from scrimmage alongside 83 touchdowns.