NFL Spin Zone
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Every NFL team’s most underrated offensive weapon entering 2020

By Dan Ambrosino

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Mecole Hardman #17 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Mecole Hardman #17 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys: Tony Pollard

Before the start of the 2019 season, the Dallas Cowboys paid Ezekiel Elliott a lucrative contract extension worth $90 million over six years. While that contract is sizable enough to invoke a tremendous workload from Elliot, they may have another player on the roster who could end up stealing touches from their franchise running back.

Tony Pollard was selected in the 4th round of the 2019 NFL draft and won the backup job to Elliot before the start of the regular season. He was slated to start Dallas’s Week 1 contest until the Cowboys and Elliot came to a resolution on their contract dispute. Nonetheless, Pollard still performed shockingly well in a change-of-pace role.

Pollard carried the ball 86 times for 455 yards and two touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 107 yards and one score in 2019. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry, which was a better mark than Elliott. He also ranked top-10 among running backs in yards created per carry, yards per touch and breakaway run rate.

With Elliott manning the load, it’s hard to see Pollard garnering a greater role in this offense for the time being. Still, he could be a breakout candidate if given more opportunity. If Elliott were to miss any time, Pollard could step in and make a name for himself.

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