NFL Power Rankings 2020: Ranking every starting running back

3. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Elliott became a top-five running back the moment he took the field for Dallas in 2016. While he didn’t receive the same hype coming out of college as Saquon Barkley, Leonard Fournette, or Trent Richardson, Elliott proved he’s a generational talent who should finish his career with an interesting Hall of Fame case.

As a rookie, the former fourth overall pick led the NFL in carries (322), rushing yards (1,631) and rushing yards per game (108.7). His 1,994 yards from scrimmage finished second in the league, and his 16 total touchdowns ranked third.

Despite Dallas’ evolving offense and Elliott’s increasing experience, the Ohio State product hasn’t eclipsed the grandeur of his rookie season yet. He did produce more yards from scrimmage in 2018, but the back’s rookie season is still the gold standard for his career. Entering his age 25 season, and the final year of his original rookie contract, we’ll see what Elliott has in store for Cowboys fans.

Dallas signed Elliott to a six-year, $90 million extension last year. The contract runs through the 2026 season, meaning Elliott is going to spend the remainder of his prime with the Cowboys. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and avoid the pitfalls that hurt Todd Gurley and David Johnson after they signed massive extensions.

Elliott led the NFL in rushing yards per game in each of his first three seasons. However, his per-game averages continue declining. While Elliott is still one of the undisputed best running backs in the league, it’s worth wondering how much longer he can play at an All-Pro level.