Cowboys RB depth chart: Running backs at training camp

When Tony Pollard moved on to the Tennessee Titans in the offseason, the Cowboys lost their No. 1 running back, with the options behind him less than solid. Rather than acquiring a rookie in the 2024 NFL Draft or a proven veteran to replace Pollard, the team went ahead and re-signed Ezekiel Elliott, who spent seven years with the Cowboys before being released and playing the last year with the New England Patriots.

Zeke looks to be the No. 1 running back to start the 2024 season. Despite the many questions surrounding this group of running backs, head coach Mike McCarthy has expressed confidence in them and plans to use a committee approach. The Cowboys have now finished a week of training camp, and of the running backs behind Zeke, it’s veteran Royce Freeman who’s impressed the most so far.

Dallas Cowboys running back depth chart 2024

Ezekiel Elliott

In his prime, Elliott was an elite running back for the Dallas Cowboys, rushing for 300+ yards to lead the league for two seasons. But by 2019, he’d started to decline, and he hasn’t been the same since. Last season, when he played for the Patriots, he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and a career-low 37.8 rushing yards per game. It is true, however, that he was working with a pretty weak o-line and quarterback combo. Though that will definitely improve for Zeke in 2024 under Dak Prescott and Dallas’ offensive line, his steady decline in the NFL over the last five years is still concerning.

After a week of training camp, there isn’t much else to say for Zeke.

Royce Freeman

Freeman was one of the few free agency signings the Cowboys made. This will be his seventh season in the NFL, and the Cowboys will be his fifth team in the last five seasons. Most recently, he played for the Rams, finishing the 2023 season with 77 carries for 319 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Freeman has impressed in training camp so far. Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said on Monday that he will be part of the rotation with Zeke and Rico Dowdle and Malik Davis will be battling for the RB3 spot.

“He’s a great two-three combination in terms of what he can do as a backup,” Jones said. “He’s a big, thick guy. And he’s a hell of a special teams player as well. He’ll be a good addition and great complement to [Elliott].”

Rico Dowdle

Dowdle was the backup to Pollard last season and did a solid job, with 89 carries for 385 rushing yards and two touchdowns plus 17 catches for 144 receiving yards and two more touchdowns. He’s more likely to be Elliott’s backup than to play a split role with him, despite the fact that Dowdle actually had more yards per carry and yards after contact per attempt than Elliott. In training camp, he’s shown the same kind of quick cuts and confident plays he did last season. If he keeps it up, he may be more of an alternate back than a RB3.

Malik Davis

Davis joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and ended the season with 224 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on 44 touches in 12 games. In 2023, however, he spent most of his time on the practice squad, only making a few appearances on special teams.

Hunter Luepke

Hunter Luepke is entering his second year with the Cowboys after joining as an undrafted free agent last year. The fullback didn’t have the most impressive season, but has been getting a lot of reps at training camp. The fact that the team wants two backs on the field helps Luepke’s chances as well.

Deuce Vaughn

After an impressive showing during training camp last year, Vaughn’s rookie season left much to be desired. He finished the season with just 23 carries and 40 rushing yards (1.7 yards per attempt), but caught all seven of his receiving targets for another 40 yards. He was also responsible for several punt returns in the 2023 season, so he still has value as a special teams player as well. The sixth-round pick is just heading into his second year, so he’s still got the potential to improve. However, after the comments about Freeman in training camp, Vaughn is definitely not a lock on this roster.

Snoop Conner

Simply considering how many other running backs are on this list, Cooper has a lot of proving to do. Drafted by the Jaguars in 2022, he played just eight games before being placed on the practice squad last season. He’s young, so there’s room for improvement, but he may not even get the opportunity for it.

Nathaniel Peat

Nathaniel Peat was added as an undrafted free agent this offseason. The 5′10″, 197 pound rookie out of Missouri recorded 398 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns in his last year in college. He has speed on his side, having recorded a 4.32 40-yard dash time at the Missouri Pro Day. Still, with all the competition ahead of him, Peat is a long shot to make it on the squad this season.