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Ezekiel Elliott enters Week 12 without an official injury designation after limited practice sessions early in the week. Fantasy football outlook.
The Dallas Cowboys prepare to ride their momentum into a divisional matchup with the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day. Starting running back Ezekiel Elliot missed two games after sustaining a knee injury in Week 7 but logged a two-touchdown performance against the Vikings in Week 11.
Zeke’s trips to the end zone helped fantasy managers lock in a win for the week, but his season-low 42 rushing yards give reason to question if the injury is a lingering concern. The Cowboys look ahead to a playoff push and will need to be at full-strength down the stretch.
Should we expect the Cowboys to feed Zeke a heavy workload as an appetizer for Thanksgiving dinner? What do we know about Zeke’s injury status and how will it impact the structure of the Dallas backfield?
How Has Ezekiel Elliott Performed In Fantasy Football In 2022
Ezekiel Elliott stands at RB28 in half-PPR formats through Week 11, and his 11.5 fantasy points per game through eight appearances represent a career-low average. Zeke’s six total touchdowns have produced some respectable fantasy totals, but he isn’t quite the fantasy stud we know from his early years.
Zeke entered his seventh season as one of the longest-tenured running backs to maintain a starting role on the same team, and the Cowboys continue to show loyalty to the veteran. Despite the emergence of fourth-year running back Tony Pollard, Zeke leads the backfield in rush attempts with 124 carries to Pollard’s 118.
As expected, Zeke returned from injury to a limited role after a two-game absence. He matched Pollard’s workload on the ground with 15 carries, but Pollard pulled away with superior efficiency. Pollard gained 5.3 yards per carry and added an additional 109 receiving yards on six receptions. Zeke managed just 2.8 yards per carry and caught a single reception for five yards.
Is Ezekiel Elliott Still Injured? Will He Be Restricted In Week 12?
Zeke will start in Week 12 without an official injury designation after logging limited practice sessions throughout the week. Expect him to see double-digit touches as the Cowboys take on a Giants defense ranking 18th in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs.
Tony Pollard has been an absolute menace for defenses in recent weeks, and he should continue to help Zeke carry the load in the ground attack. Pollard should remain the preferred option due to his anticipated receiving volume, and he supports a much higher floor in PPR formats. Value Pollard as a fantasy RB2 for Week 12.
We all know Zeke wants to eat on Thanksgiving, but he should be viewed as a volume-based flex option with upside for goal-line work.
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