Ezekiel Elliott has the weight off him—literally and figuratively.

Having served a six-game suspension last season, the Cowboys running back can get back to football—and nothing but football—this season. He also has reported lighter than a year ago.

The story said Elliott was stressed last year at this time and wasn't quite his usual self and "looked big." Of course, Elliott is one of the top running backs to draft this season.

WR Cole Beasley will be a key player for Dallas to re-establish what it's calling a "Dak-friendly" offense. In the slot in 2016, Beasley epitomized that role as the line protected for Prescott and Beasley grabbed underneath balls when Dak Prescott didn't hand off to Ezekiel Elliott. Now, Beasley's working on expanding his route tree under new receivers coach Sanjay Lal.

The story said Dallas plans to shift several receivers across different positions with routes similar that Prescott will know where they're going regardless of who he is targeting. It's likely going to be a receiver by committee approach with Dez Bryant released and Jason Witten retiring.

After serving a six-game suspension, Ezekiel Elliott due back at Cowboys’ training complex this morning.

Related players: Alfred Morris, Rod Smith

The team hadn't had contact with Elliott during the suspension, but he was reportedly working on losing weight outside the country for the last six weeks. Elliott should be a nice addition to fantasy lineups in Week 16 against the Seahawks, who were just lit up by the Rams in Week 15. One would think Elliott gets a nice workload, but maybe because it's his first week back, the Cowboys ease him back in with Morris and Smith still getting some touches. Either way, Elliott is shaping up to be a solid play for what is likely your fantasy finals.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones expects running back Ezekiel Elliott to return lighter—and not just in his wallet. While the front office and coaching staff can’t have contact with Elliott, the Cowboys approved of his plan to leave the country and get in even better shape.

Elliott spent at least part of his six-game suspension in Cabo, Mexico. He can return to the team facility next week and play in the Christmas Eve game against the Seahawks.

Before parting ways, Elliott and the team wanted him to focus on getting in better shape, and the team felt he was playing heavier than last year.

Big news: #Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott is withdrawing his appeal, his agents Rocky Arceneaux and Frank Salzano tell me. Elliott will serve his full 6-game suspension.

Related players: Alfred Morris, Rod Smith, Darren McFadden

He will return on December 24th, a.k.a. Week 16. Owners who look good for the playoffs should hold onto him for a possible start. In the meantime, it looks like Alfred Morris and Rod Smith will split the work in the Dallas backfield.

According to Helman's tweet, the trio of Morris, McFadden, and Smith will all be involved in the Cowboys' run game in the absence of the suspended Ezekiel Elliott. However, there is no specific breakdown of how the workload will be split between the three.

We kind of expected this, as there has been talk of all three backs being involved in the run game. We most likely won't get any clarity on the situation until we see the Cowboys play a game without Elliott, but look to Morris to handle early-down work, while McFadden is involved in passing downs. Smith is the wildcard here.

We have Morris ranked the highest of the three Cowboys backs this week (No. 17 RB in standard leagues, No. 25 RB in PPR leagues).

Wallach, a gaming and sports attorney, said Elliott's emergency motion has been denied, which means his six-game suspension is back on.

Michael McCann added: Ezekiel Elliott's suspension is back on--for now. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit sides with NFL & denies Elliott an injunction pending appeal. But Elliott's appeal will be heard on an expedited basis, so he might have another ruling before the six-game suspension games ends.

Related players: Alfred Morris, Darren McFadden, Rod Smith

Amy Dash of CBS Sports also tweeted that an appellate court will hear the case "on an expedited basis." As of now, Elliott would begin his suspension this week and would be ineligible to play in Dallas' Week 10 contest versus the Atlanta Falcons. If he serves all six weeks of the suspension, he's eligible to return in Week 16.

Until we hear otherwise, Alfred Morris, Rod Smith and Darren McFadden look to split the workload in a great matchup for RBs against the Falcons.

UPDATE: We now have a date for the expedited appeal: December 1.

The next step in the ongoing legal fight that has the NFL on one side and Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and the NFL Players Association on the other side is a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on the motion for an injunction of Elliott’s suspension pending the appeal of a district court ruling denying such an injunction.

Judge Susan Carney of the Second Circuit issued an administrative stay of Elliott’s suspension last Friday, which left Elliott free to play in Sunday’s win over the Chiefs pending the resolution of the motion. Before the court rules on that motion, they will hear oral arguments on Thursday.

As noted by lawyer Daniel Wallach, the court added those arguments to their calendar for 2 p.m. ET on Thursday. The three-judge panel that will hear the arguments has not been announced and the timing of the arguments means that they should rule on the motion ahead of next weekend’s trip to Atlanta to face the Falcons.

If the motion is denied, Elliott’s suspension would go into effect and remain in effect unless he wins his appeal of the district court’s decision. If it is granted, he will be able to keep playing until at least the ruling on the appeal of the district court’s denial of the injunction, the story said.