Dallas Cowboys - Fantasy News

Ezekiel Elliott Reinstated Suspension Fantasy Impact

by Adam Markowitz

10/14/17

NFL

Dallas Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott

Ezekiel Elliott seems like he's running out of options in his legal fight against the NFL in regards to his six-game suspension handed down at the outset of the season. After losing a decision in appeals court on Friday, Elliott and his legal team are back to the drawing board to try to get the star running back on the field. The NFL immediately placed Elliott on the suspended list, meaning he can't have any contact with anyone involving the Cowboys or be at their facilities until the suspension is either served or is again appealed.

It's highly unlikely that Elliott is going to ultimately win this case. He's going to be suspended for six games, just as Tom Brady was suspended for four last year for his role in "Deflategate." The question here is whether Elliott can get this suspension pushed back into next season or not.

By fighting this fight, Elliott runs the risk of merely postponing his suspension for a week or two. The games that he could miss at the very end of the season might be more damning than the matchups he would miss in the next six weeks once Dallas comes back from its bye on Monday.

What's most notable is that Elliott cannot practice with the team this week unless an injunction is put on this suspension. The likelihood that happens by Monday is virtually nil, meaning Elliott is going to miss at least one day—and likely many more—of practice this week.

Should Elliott ultimately win his case by next Sunday, there's a good chance he will be playing having not practiced for the entire week. Though not practicing doesn't necessarily preclude Elliott from playing against the 49ers, it can't help his case.

The matchup against San Francisco is a juicy one. Here's a look at some of the top games running backs have had this season against the Niners.

Top Running Back Performances vs. 49ers in 2017
Todd Gurley: 36.4 DFP (Week 3)
Marlon Mack: 15.8 DFP (Week 5)
Jonathan Stewart: 15.2 DFP (Week 1)
Andre Ellington: 14.9 DFP (Week 4)
Chris Carson: 10.5 DFP (Week 2)
Christian McCaffrey: 9.0 DFP (Week 1)

With a minimum of 10.5 Dober Fantasy Points allowed to starting running backs in all five of their games this year (heading into this week's matchup against the Redskins), the Niners are almost certain to provide a big day to whoever is in the Dallas backfield.

Elliott is facing a Projected Fantasy Points total of 17.0 at the moment, though that obviously assumes that he is going to be on the field on Sunday.

Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden would be the two beneficiaries should Elliott end up not playing, and both could make for interesting plays on your Dober Play Card regardless. Should Elliott play, Morris' projection is set at just 2.0, while McFadden hasn't even been active for a game this season. If Run DMC is on the field, expect to see his PFP somewhere around just 1.5.

Elliott has all but 10 of the 115 carries by Dallas running backs thus far this season, and he is virtually always on the field when he's available. That said, if he doesn't have a chance to practice next week and still expects to play, we could see more of Morris and McFadden.

If Elliott doesn't suit up against the 49ers, Morris would seemingly be the better play since he's been the primary backup all season. Don't discount the possibility of Rod Smith playing a bit of a role as well.

Just as Carolina was able to easily put two running backs past their PFP values against San Francisco, it isn't out of the question that Dallas could put at least two if not all three of their backs in winning positions for Dober Games players in Week 7.