3 years agoDallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott's up-and-down 2021 season has made him one of the most polarizing players heading into 2022. The veteran totaled 1,002 rushing yards, 287 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns combined. He also impressed with 592 yards before contact (fourth in the NFL), 1,116 effective yards (fourth), and 160 yards above replacement (ninth). These stats translated to an overall RB7 finish in PPR leagues, though his points per week ranked 15th. Perhaps most frustrating was the fact that his production was inconsistent. He had nine games with 16-plus fantasy points, but he also had 10 or fewer points on five occasions. There's also no denying that he is 26 years old and not getting any younger. And although Elliott has only missed two games over the last four seasons, he was hampered by a partially torn PCL for a large portion of 2021. Heading into 2022, the Cowboys have high hopes for their offense, and it's safe to assume that they'll run the ball more than they did last year. Amari Cooper's departure means one less mouth to feed in the passing game, perhaps equating to an increase in touches for Elliott and top-tier handcuff Tony Pollard. Although Pollard could eat into Elliott's workload, the latter still remains the clear-cut No. 1 back in Dallas. As such, fantasy managers should view Elliott as a fringe RB1/RB2, knowing that he has top-12 upside but will also produce some dud weeks, especially if injuries continue to send him to the medical tent. With that in mind, it might be wise to take a flashier running back in the first round of drafts before selecting Elliott as a steady RB2. Currently, he ranks as the RB16 in the latest RotoBaller staff rankings. Nevertheless, he's a pure steal at his current ADP of 44.--Andersen Pickard - RotoBaller