Fantasy Alert: Ezekiel Elliott Listed as Cowboys RB1 on Depth Chart Before Week 1

It looks like Ezekiel Elliott could be the Dallas Cowboys feature back in 2024.

The team listed Elliott as the starting running back on its depth chart before the season opener, putting him ahead of the recently signed Dalvin Cook and returning back Rico Dowdle.

Elliott returned to the Cowboys in 2024 following a one-year stint with the New England Patriots. Prior to that, he was with Dallas for six seasons and earned three Pro Bowl selections.

Elliott had 184 carries for 642 yards and three touchdowns for the Patriots in 2023. This was the lowest mark of his career but it came for a putrid Patriots team that went 4-13 and missed the postseason for the third time in four seasons.

He was first on the team in rushing yards and his 313 receiving yards ranked fifth. His numbers should see an uptick as he returns to a strong Cowboys team with championship aspirations.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said that the team will see significant contribution from players not in the official starting lineup.

"Hey, let's be honest. You don't just play with 11 on offense or defense," McCarthy said, per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. "So, I mean usually closer to 14 guys you would consider starters. And this thing even goes further than the depth chart because when you want to announce an offense or announce the defense, teams I've been a part of you never just announce 11 guys. So I think it's a product of that. So it'll take more than one running back, too. That's just not the way we want to play. I don't want to get into rotation. We can talk more about this next week, but those guys will all play."

While Elliott may be the face of the position, players like Cook, Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and others should make a run for being the unit's leader.

Dallas will open up the 2024 season against the Cleveland Browns Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.