Top 20 NFL Players! : #17
Top 20 NFL Players! : #17
Previous: 20. Jalen Ramsey, 19. Quenton Nelson, 18. Julio Jones
17. Ezekiel Elliott
Height and Weight: 6’0”, 228 lbs
Position: RB
Team: Dallas Cowboys
College: Ohio State
Coming in at Number 17 is Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. Drafted with the 4th overall pick in the 2016 draft out of Ohio State, “Zeke” has taken the throne of the best running back in the NFL in dominating fashion. In his first three seasons, the former Buckeye has led the league in rushing in two of those three years, totaling 1,631 yards in 2016 and 1,434 in 2018. If it weren’t for the six-game suspension in 2017, Elliott was well on his way for another bid at the rushing title. Through his first three seasons (40 games), Ezekiel Elliott has 868 carries for 4,048 yards and 28 touchdowns. In 2018, Zeke’s role in the passing game increased, as he has more catches last year than his first two year’s combined and had 567 yards in 2018. He never reached 400 before last year. Zeke has shown success in the postseason also with 309 yards in 3 career games with 2 touchdowns.
Zeke is the perfect mixture of an old but new style running back with his push the pile mentality complemented with his ability to break outside, catch passes out of the backfield or slot and his ability to block blitz rushers, Through three seasons, the star running back already has an All-Pro selection (2016) under his belt along with 2 Pro Bowl Selections (2016, 2018). Zeke was drafted the same year as franchise QB Dak Prescott and the two of them are on the verge of building a dynasty in Dallas.
Zeke and America’s Team go into 2019 with a load of expectations. The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best rosters in football with an offense that runs through their star back. If Zeke plays well, there’s a very good chance that the Dallas Cowboys are going to win the game. On the other hand, Elliott has been derailed by a few distractions off the field, one of them including the suspension, since he was drafted. Most recently, Zeke almost got suspended for assaulting a security guard, but there was no real evidence against Zeke. Like stated earlier, even with Amari Cooper, Dak Prescott, and crew, this is still an offense ran through Ezekiel Elliott. With the All-Pro caliber defense that Dallas possesses, Zeke can come out of nowhere and start dominating the game and get Dallas the victory. If Zeke plays well, Dallas plays well, so if Ezekiel Elliott can get going in 2019, Dallas can be in serious contention for the Super Bowl.
- By: Richie Dordas