Seeds of hope: Cowboys alive and kicking in woeful NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys are one of three teams in the NFC East that could make the playoffs after having a 2-7 recordDECEMBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT #15 - RUNNING BACK - DALLAS COWBOYS
185 YDS •
58 ATT •
2 TD
185 YDS
58 ATT
2 TD
Great Awakening
Dallas has won three straight on the back of its red-hot offense. Will the Cowboys really be able to gallop into the playoffs?DECEMBER 28, 2020
Tops 100 rushing yards in return Elliott carried the ball 19 times for 105 yards and caught all four of his targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 37-17 win over the Eagles.
Impact His afternoon could have been even more productive, but the fifth-year back was ruled down just short of the goal line on a three-yard run in the second quarter on a play that might have been overturned had coach Mike McCarthy thrown the challenge flag. Elliott still wound up topping 100 rushing yards for only the second time in 2020, and he looked re-energized after sitting out last week's game due to a calf issue. Elliott will look to keep rolling in Week 17, with a possible NFC East title on the line against a Giants defense he gashed for 91 yards and two TDs back in Week 5 -- the last rushing touchdowns he's scored to date.
DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
NFL Today, Week 16
NFL Today, Week 16DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cowboys beat Eagles 37-17, stay alive with Washington loss
Andy Dalton threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns, two to Michael Gallup, and the Dallas Cowboys stayed alive in the playoff race with a 37-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagl...DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Returns to lineup Elliott (calf) is active for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
Impact After taking off one game to rest a bruised calf, Elliott is back in the lineup, as expected. His workload remains to be seen, though, after Tony Pollard ripped off 132 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns Week 15 versus the 49ers. There's a chance Elliott yields some reps to Pollard, meaning the former could fall short of his 19.7 touches per game this season.
DECEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Dwayne Haskins starts for Washington despite breaking rules
Dwayne Haskins gets his second consecutive start for Washington with quarterback Alex Smith out again because of a right calf injuryDECEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Injury roundup: Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott expected to play against Eagles Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, who missed last week with a calf injury, said he’s
DECEMBER 27, 2020 • NFL.COM
Fantasy Injury Updates: Ezekiel Elliott, Antonio Gibson impacting Week 16 start 'em, sit 'em decisions Several key RBs are
DECEMBER 27, 2020 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
Expected to play Sunday Elliott (calf) is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Eagles, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Impact Elliott is on track to return to the lineup after missing last week's win over the 49ers. Tony Pollard shined in his absence, generating 132 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. It's possible that Pollard handles a few more reps after proving himself last week, but Elliott should still be the lead back if he's, indeed, in the lineup.
DECEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Officially listed as questionable Elliot (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Philadelphia, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Elliott was a limited practice participant Wednesday and Thursday, before the Cowboys took Friday off. He said Wednesday that he was "looking good" to return for Sunday's game, but we won't necessarily have confirmation before the Cowboys release their inactive list approximately 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. Tony Pollard filled in for Elliott last week, playing 90 percent of offensive snaps en route to 132 total yards and two touchdowns.
DECEMBER 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Logs another limited practice Elliott (calf) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Impact During the open part of Thursday's session, Elliott was spotted doing resistance work with the Cowboys' training staff, which has been the norm for the running back of late. He proceeded to back up coach Mike McCarthy's assertion from earlier Thursday that Elliot was slated to be in "limited-practice mode," per Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News. Elliott has mentioned this week that his bruised calf is "way better than last week," but because of the cap placed on his practice reps so far, he may have a few more hurdles to pass before Dallas deems him able to suit up Sunday against the Eagles.
DECEMBER 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Cowboys, Eagles meet in altered states, close to elimination
The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are meeting in Week 16 with their playoff fates in the hands of WashingtonDECEMBER 24, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fantasy Injury Updates: Ezekiel Elliott, Antonio Gibson, James Robinson, more RBs impacting Week 16 start 'em, sit 'em decisions Ezekiel Elliott, Antonio Gibson, James Robinson, James Conner, and Damien Harris are among key RBs dealing with injuries. Get the latest inj...
DECEMBER 24, 2020 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
Limited session on tap Thursday Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Elliott (calf) will be in "limited-practice mode" Thursday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Impact Assuming the Cowboys' official practice report matches McCarthy's comments, Elliott will be listed as a limited participant for the second day in a row. After sitting out the Cowboys' Week 15 win over the 49ers, Elliott said that his bruised calf is feeling much better this week, leaving him optimistic that he'll be ready to go for Sunday's game against the Eagles. If active for the contest, Elliott should step back into his usual starting role, though the gap in the distribution of the snaps and touches between him and Tony Pollard could become more narrow after Pollard shined as the lead back Week 15 (12 carries for 69 yards and two touchdowns, six receptions for 63 yards on nine targets).
DECEMBER 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Officially limited Wednesday Elliott (calf) was limited at Wednesday's practice, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Impact Elliott said that his bruised calf feels "way better than last week," per Gehlken, and he also said that he's "looking good" for Sunday's upcoming divisional matchup against the Eagles. The 25-year-old missed last weekend's win over the 49ers due to his lingering injury, but it would appear that he's trending in the right direction for Week 16. In the event that Elliott were forced to miss more time, however, Tony Pollard would stand to draw another start.
DECEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Plans to return Sunday Elliott (calf) said he likes his chances to play in Sunday's game against the Eagles, noting that he felt "way better than last week" during Wednesday's practice, Michael Gehlken o...
Impact Listed as questionable last week, Elliott ultimately landed on the inactive list in a game-time decision. His optimism after Wednesday's limited practice is a good sign, but fantasy managers will still want to keep tabs on the situation over the next few days. Tony Pollard played 90 percent of offensive snaps in last week's 41-33 win over the Niners, producing 132 yards and two touchdowns from 12 carries and nine targets. Elliott had been playing about two-thirds of the snaps before he missed Week 15, averaging 15.8 carries but only 3.4 targets over his past five games, with just a single score in that stretch.
DECEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Limited practice on tap Elliott (calf) will be limited at practice Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Head coach Mike McCarthy indicated Monday that Elliott has a chance to suit up Sunday against the Eagles, and the running back's looming practice participation Wednesday would appear to boost that possibility. If Elliott isn't cleared for the contest, however, Tony Pollard would be in line to head Dallas' backfield.
DECEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Week 16 Fantasy Busts: Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Russell Wilson among 'risky starts' in difficult matchups Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard will be tough to trust if both play, while Russell Wilson has a brutal matchup. See more potential busts ah...
DECEMBER 23, 2020 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
FANTASY PLAYS: Players to add include Hurts, Pollard
FANTASY PLAYS: Championship week has arrived in fantasy footballDECEMBER 22, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fantasy Injury Updates: Ezekiel Elliott, Cam Akers, James Robinson, more impacting Week 16 RB rankings Ezekiel Elliott, Cam Akers, James Robinson, and Ronald Jones are among the RB injuries that could impact our Week 16 RB rankings. Get the la...
DECEMBER 22, 2020 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
May return Week 16 Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that Elliott (calf) "has a chance" to suit up Sunday against the Eagles, Jane Slater of NFL Network reports.
Impact Elliott focused entirely on resistance work and didn't practice last week, eventually being included among the Cowboys' inactives Week 15 against the 49ers. While the move was somewhat surprising after both national and local media reported he was in line to play, it allowed Tony Pollard to handle 52 of 58 offensive snaps en route to 18 touches for 132 yards from scrimmage and two rushing TDs. McCarthy also noted he expects Elliott to be "further along" with his bruised calf after getting the week off, so the running back's status on Wednesday's injury report will be of interest.
DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead
Sportlight for week: Dec. 27-Jan. 2, Take 2DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
AP Sportlight
Sportlight for Jan. 1, 2021DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Turnaround on turnovers helps Cowboys keep faint hopes alive
The Dallas Cowboys are plus-7 in turnover margin the past two games after spending almost half the season last in the NFL in that categoryDECEMBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
