When teams report to training camps in late July, the prep window is locked in. 45 days after the first camp practice comes the regular season opener, setting a timeline for getting in football shape.
Dalvin Cook was given an extra 15 days to ramp up. Signed on August 28, the former Minnesota Viking second-round pick is set to make his Dallas Cowboys’ debut on Sunday night, 60 days after he was signed. Cook needed a little bit of extra seasoning after sitting on the sideline all offseason, not participating in OTAs or minicamps, waiting on the right opportunity to come along.
The extra time makes sense, given that in-season practice doesn’t offer the same number of reps as training camp, but now he’ll be part of the Cowboys’ crowded and questionable running back room, which shifts fantasy outlooks for a number of players, most notably Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle.
Neither back has logged a single special team’s snap on the 2024 season, which makes for an interesting dynamic. Cook has never played on special teams in his career. Elliott’s played under 10 snaps, all on kick returns, in his career.
Dowdle, a career backup until assuming RB1 duties this year, has an extensive history of playing teams, with almost 400 career snaps and 180 over the last two seasons.
But again, he’s been the lead back.
Elliott certainly holds the biggest question mark with Cook’s elevation.
Offensive snaps have been steady for Elliott save for a two-game lull in Week 3 and Week 4, when he totaled just 21 snaps. He’s seen between 21 and 29 snaps in each of the other four contests.
Elliott’s carries have returned to his average of around six per game, but he hasn’t totaled over 20 rushing yards since Week 1. He has only one target and no receptions over the last two weeks. It’s hard to see how he’s a viable play in fantasy this week.
There’s even a chance (because of the special teams factor) that Elliott is made inactive on Sunday.
Dowdle’s fantasy production has been fairly stable as an RB3 for PPR leagues. He had just 55 total yards in the blowout loss to the Lions in Week 6 before the bye, but that included five receptions. He had scored touchdowns in each of the two previous games, though he saw just 19 offensive snaps in Week 6.
Fans should likely hold off on playing any of the three backs in Week 8, especially since there aren’t any teams on a bye this week; regular starters should be available.
If one has to choose, taking a flyer on Cook just makes sense, as Dowdle hasn’t shown the ability to be a difference maker and the chasm between no Cook production and Dowdle’s season-best isn’t an earth-shattering one.