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Alfred Morris

Cowboys add Zeke insurance

Working on the Cowboys writeup over the weekend, I didn't really consider it likely that the Ezekiel Elliott situation would turn ugly. And maybe it hasn't and maybe it won't, but if Elliott fired a shot by vacationing in Mexico, the Cowboys have responded by signing Alfred Morris.

Morris isn't an Elliott-level back, of course; he's a veteran journeyman whose best days are behind him. Fantasy Index readers will always have a soft spot for him after his stellar rookie season back in 2012 (1,613 yards and 13 TDs). He's not that player anymore, but he could still be a viable running back in the league.

Over the last three seasons (two of which he spent playing in Dallas), Morris has been called upon to start 6 games. He's averaged over 71 rushing yards in those contests. That's a top-20 figure among running backs with at least 5 starts over that timeframe.

RB RUSHING PER GAME, 2016-2018 (5+ STARTS)
PlayerStAttRunTD
Ezekiel Elliott4021.7101.2.85
LeVeon Bell2721.694.8.74
Gus Edwards717.493.4.29
Jacquizz Rodgers521.492.4.40
Kenyan Drake518.288.8.60
Jay Ajayi2019.484.8.35
Nick Chubb1017.682.3.80
Saquon Barkley1616.381.7.94
Kareem Hunt2617.481.4.92
Marlon Mack1116.879.5.91
Phillip Lindsay914.676.8.89
Todd Gurley4518.176.51.02
Chris Carson1816.475.5.56
James Conner1316.574.81.00
Jordan Howard4517.073.4.56
Melvin Gordon4117.472.9.93
Eddie Lacy514.272.0.00
Alfred Morris616.571.7.17
Sony Michel1316.171.6.46
Kerwynn Williams518.471.4.00
Leonard Fournette2119.170.4.76
C.J. Anderson2515.969.7.44
Kerryon Johnson912.669.3.44
Phillip Lindsay (total)1512.869.1.67
Christian McCaffrey1613.768.6.81
Aaron Jones1212.168.3.83
David Johnson3317.066.7.91
Matt Jones714.165.7.43
Lamar Miller4515.965.2.40
Spencer Ware1615.265.2.38
LeSean McCoy4515.264.9.56
Dalvin Cook1513.864.6.40
Carlos Hyde3616.264.5.61
Joe Mixon2814.864.1.46
Jonathan Stewart1316.863.4.69
Devonta Freeman3213.762.9.66
DeMarco Murray3115.462.8.61
Orleans Darkwa1113.862.5.45
Adrian Peterson2516.762.5.32
Latavius Murray3114.961.8.77
Mark Ingram (C)4313.061.7.63
Samaje Perine716.961.1.14
Matt Forte1316.560.9.62
Marshawn Lynch2114.160.3.48
Isaiah Crowell1612.459.5.44
Frank Gore4614.858.9.28
Matt Breida1410.958.1.36
Bilal Powell (C)1812.857.7.33
Phillip Lindsay (C)610.257.7.33
Peyton Barber2015.057.4.35
Tevin Coleman1611.956.6.69
Jeremy Hill1514.855.9.60
Alvin Kamara (C)2810.955.51.11
Christine Michael714.655.31.00
Mike Gillislee613.555.2.83
Alex Collins2313.554.8.61
Jay Ajayi (C)1110.553.8.45
Doug Martin2715.553.6.37
Isaiah Crowell (C)2912.053.0.28
Jamaal Williams1513.651.9.40
Josh Adams (C)912.151.7.33
Ty Montgomery1110.451.2.55
Ryan Mathews (C)1311.950.8.69

Atop the list, of course, is Elliott himself -- no one would argue that there's not a steep dropoff from him to Morris.

But if Dallas can't make Elliott happy, there's at least some chance they see how they can fare with Morris. I think he now looks like the correct handcuff -- not Mike Weber, Darius Jackson or passing downs type Tony Pollard -- and the guy to select with a late-round pick if you happen to draft Elliott.

--Andy Richardson

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