Dallas Cowboys helmet on the team's bench.Dallas Cowboys helmet (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)


The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly decided on who won the No. 1 running back competition between Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook and Rico Dowdle.

One of the top training camp battles of the 2024 offseason was the Cowboys’ RB1 role between Rico Dowdle, Elliott and Cook. “Zeke” was brought back on a one-year deal after spending last season with the New England Patriots, and Cook was signed to bolster the RB depth chart last week.

The Cowboys lost their leading rusher of 2022 and 2023, Tony Pollard, to the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Pollard signed a three-year deal worth $21.75 million after logging back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

According to a report from Todd Archer of The Athletic, it appears as though the 26-year-old Rico Dowdle will be the No. 1 RB in Dallas. The South Carolina product is entering his fifth season with the Cowboys, having signed with them as an undrafted free agent in 2020:

“In a room that includes Elliott and Dalvin Cook, Dowdle should be the favorite to lead the Cowboys in rushing attempts and rushing yards this season. Dowdle was asked last week about this being his best opportunity to get significant playing time.”

Given Elliott’s career body of work and familiarity in Dallas’ offense (he spent seven seasons there from 2016 to 2022), many naturally assumed that head coach Mike McCarthy and owner Jerry Jones would roll with the two-time rushing champion as the starting running back.

But Elliott has been past his best-before date for a while now, with only 1,000-yard season in the past four years. He averaged 3.8 and 3.5 yards per carry in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, respectively.

A four-time Pro Bowler and 1,000-yard rusher, Cook showed in his one-year stint with the New York Jets that he is no longer a No. 1 running back.

Rico Dowdle Gets His Chance To Shine

After seeing limited snaps over his first three NFL seasons, Rico Dowdle saw more playing time in 2023 and finished with 385 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He was also productive as a pass-catcher, with 17 receptions for 144 yards.

The Cowboys’ o-line has a long history of blocking for star running backs (DeMarco Murray, Zeke and Pollard), so Dowdle is in good hands to produce early and often as the lead RB in Dallas.