Past Production
| Year | Games | Carries | Rushing Yards | YPC | Rushing TDs | Fantasy Rank | Fantasy PPG | PPG Rank |
| 2019 | 15 | 86 | 455 | 5.3 | 2 | RB53 | 5.9 | 61st |
The Cowboys selected Pollard in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Memphis. Coming into the NFL, most analysts saw Pollard as a dynamic receiving threat, and as a passing-down complement to starter Ezekiel Elliott. However, during Elliott’s contract holdout before the 2019 season, the Cowboys made it clear that Pollard was Elliott’s direct backup. Pollard’s redraft and dynasty value soared as Elliott was in danger of missing games due to his contract situation.
Eventually, Elliott signed a long-term deal with the Cowboys, relegating Pollard to the backup role. Somewhat surprisingly, Pollard saw little receiving work, with only 15 receptions on 20 targets for 107 yards and a touchdown. Pollard was quite efficient on his carries, though, with a superior YPC to Elliott.
Looking back, I was surprised to find that Pollard saw far more rushing work than receiving opportunity, as that split goes against his draft profile. Pollard proved that he could legitimately handle an NFL running back role, which I didn’t think he could before I saw him as a rookie. Even so, Pollard only had limited carries, so it’s challenging to make a final judgment on whether he could be a real workhorse if he ever got the chance.
2020 Outlook
In 2020, Pollard is the best handcuff in fantasy football, as I broke down in my Cowboys’ redraft analysis. After his receiving game usage in Year 1 and the Cowboys’ offseason acquisitions, there doesn’t seem to be room for Pollard to play a role in the passing game. I expect the Cowboys to throw to their running backs less in 2020, especially as they move to Mike McCarthy as their head coach.
However, if Elliott were to get injured, Pollard would be the definite starter on one of the best offenses in football. Pollard would immediately become an RB1, and he would carry top-five potential. Therefore, I like the idea of drafting Pollard as a high-upside stash, but you can’t count on him for any 2020 production. If Elliott remains healthy all season, I think Pollard will essentially match his 2019 numbers, which were not helpful in fantasy leagues.
Dynasty Analysis
Elliot’s contract ties him to the Cowboys through at least the 2021 season and likely until 2022 based on dead cap hits. As Pollard’s rookie contract runs until 2022, he finds himself stuck behind Elliott for most, if not all, of his time in Dallas. Even though Pollard is a talented player and provides handcuff value, the path to dynasty value isn’t there unless Elliott suffers an injury.
Therefore, Pollard is a strong dynasty hold, especially for Elliott owners, but he’s not a player I’m actively seeking to acquire. I believe that those who have Pollard on their teams think that he has more receiving upside than he does. I don’t see any way Pollard has an Austin Ekeler-type breakout, which he needs to do to have significant dynasty value. By the time Pollard is a free agent in 2023, he will be 26 years old and far past his prime as a dynasty running back. It’s a bit of a sad situation to see a talented player stuck in such a bad spot, but that’s, unfortunately, Pollard’s reality.
Thanks for reading this article. You can find me on Twitter at @DFF_Karp. I love to interact with anyone in the community, so reach out at any time! I take fantasy questions and help with all formats, so keep sending those questions my way.
