Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on 1053thefan on rookie RB Deuce Vaughn getting an opportunity Saturday night with No. 2 RB Rico Dowdle (ankle) being out: “Deuce will be up this weekend. We got a plan and looking forward to it.”

Related Players: Tony Pollard

Dowdle had seen some increased usage over the back half of the season, but we probably shouldn't expect the 5'5", 176-pound rookie back to be eating into Pollard's workload too much. Vaughn has carried the ball 21 times for 38 yards (1.8/att.) to this point in the season.

Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle, who was limited this week with an ankle injury, is expected to go, source said. He's emerged as a complementary back to Tony Pollard.

Dowdle has received more work as of late, including 10+ carries in three of his last four outings. Consider him a low-end FLEX play on Thanksgiving.

Cowboys have released RB Ronald Jones, they announced.

Related players: Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn

There were reports of this leading into Week 2. Jones was suspended for the first two weeks of the season but was able to come back today. However, the Cowboys are set up pretty good at RB with Pollard as the starter and youngsters like Dowdle and Vaughn as a supporting cast. Jones is still 26-years-old himself, and could provide depth on another roster at some point.

Cowboys waived RB Malik Davis, a person familiar with the decision said.

Related players: Rico Dowdle, Tony Pollard, Deuce Vaughn, Ronald Jones

In the end, Davis - who seemed like he had a chance to earn the RB2 job early on - trailed Dowdle and Vaughn this summer, but the team has interest in re-signing him to practice squad if he clears waivers, according to the rest of the post.

Per a source close to the situation, the Cowboys are set to part ways with the two-time NFL rushing champ, and the running back is preparing to start fresh with a new team.

Related Players: Tony Pollard

Elliot has clearly been playing with less in the tank over the last few seasons, but rumblings around Dallas had been that he wasn't going anywhere. Then they franchise-tagged Tony Pollard for $10.1M, and the rumors began to swirl. The Cowboys will undoubtedly add to the backfield, but for now, Pollard is the de facto RB1 and finally get the chance to prove if he is a top-15 back in fantasy.

Cowboys now have placed their franchise tag on RB Tony Pollard, per source. RB franchise tag is $10.09 million.

In 16 games, Pollard finished as the fantasy RB7 and had the ninth-highest per game average, all while playing in a timeshare with Ezekiel Elliott. Per PFF, he had the fourth-highest run grade and the ninth-highest receiving grade among running backs. Per Pro Football Reference, he led the league in yards after contact per attempt (2.6) and was 15th among running backs in rush attempts per broken tackle (17.5). In other words, he's really, really good. Early ADP has him going off the board as the RB13 in the early fourth round. Considering his age and 2022 finish, and the possibility that the Cowboys part ways with Ezekiel Elliott, he looks like a good value in the so-called "RB dead zone."

Cowboys RB Tony Pollard (thigh) will be inactive tonight against the Titans.

Related Players: Ezekiel Elliott, Malik Davis

NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo has called this a breakout game for Malik Davis, who the team is high on. Whether or not this hyperbole could be debated, but the Titans are sitting a ton of starters, so there could be something to his statement. Elliot is a locked-in RB2, regardless.

Tony Pollard is going to really have to show the Cowboys he can go tonight in his pregame workout. If not, they’ll exercise caution and sit him. Malik Davis would then see an increased role behind Ezekiel Elliott.

It's hard to say exactly what kind of a role Malik Davis would have tonight, but the Cowboys are 12.5-point favorites, so you have to wonder how long they'll keep Zeke in the game if that game script plays out. If Pollard sits, Elliot should be a confident RB2, but you would have to be in a desperate mode to play Davis in your Flex during Championship Week.

Jerry Jones on 1053thefan on Ezekiel Elliott (knee): “We are a better team when we’ve got him and got him available. Defenses are well aware, more than anybody of his impact and his availability. I’m glad to have him back, and it does look like he’s gonna be available (Sunday).”

Related Players: Tony Pollard

From the main man himself, it looks like Zeke will be available and, presumably, on the field for Sunday's action against the Vikings. The struggle continues for Tony Pollard managers, and neither can be considered an RB1 play if they're both on the field.

Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott is expecting to return vs. the Vikings after missing two games with a hyperextended knee. “I’m definitely very optimistic about this week. Barring any setbacks the next couple of days, I’m feeling good…I think I’m in a good spot.” He will wear a brace.

Related Players: Tony Pollard

The Cowboys have shown time and again that they are willing to run Zeke until his wheels fall off, much to the chagrin of Tony Pollard managers. If Elliott is indeed good to go, expect the team to revert back to the 1A/1B committee, which leaves both options closer to the RB2 range than the RB1 range.