Why We Can Trust Ezekiel Elliot
Ezekiel Elliot is one of the biggest head-scratchers in all of fantasy football. Half of the fantasy community believes that he will be an elite RB1 in 2016, thanks to his superior talent and colossal offensive line. The other half believes that Elliot is not to be trusted, as this backfield is crowded. And also because he hasn’t played a single official NFL snap. No one can accurately predict how this guy is going to perform.
Elliot’s preseason debut was impressive. Seven carries for 48 yards against one of the best run-defenses in the league. Although one can say the cliche, “It’s just preseason,” Elliot went up against the first-team defense of the Seattle Seahawks. This game inspired me to write this article.
Here’s How it Started
Elliot is a hot-topic in fantasy football, I felt there would be a fair amount of chatter due to his debut. Boy, was I right. Elliot stepped into the game and ran violently, with power and with authority. He seemed like a man playing in his 100th NFL game. Elliot showed off his skill-set ripping of runs in solid chunks. His performance inspired me. Suddenly, a light bulb flashed above my head. I turned to the Fantasy Life App to express my thoughts:
I realized that we should trust these newcomers. The NFL has changed so much in these past few years. Guys are expected to produce the moment they are selected by a team. Especially if they are a top five NFL draft pick. The players go through OTAs, Training Camps and preseason games. Sure those are nothing like an actual game, but they get enough exposure to the NFL play-style. Oh, and it’s not like they’re playing football for the first time. The NFL has its differences from college, but football is football at the end of the day.
He has the Talent
Elliot has the pleasure of playing behind the NFL’s best offensive line. The Dallas Cowboy O-line is unarguably the best in the league. One can make the case that any RB can rush for 1,000 yards behind that line. Now imagine what an elite RB can do behind that line? We saw DeMarco Murray in 2014 almost destroy defenses with the Cowboys’ ground and pound style of play. Elliot has all the skills and natural ability to be successful in the NFL. He’s more talented than guys like Todd Gurley and Eddie Lacy
There is not one thing that Elliot lacks as far as his skill-set. He’s a good pass-blocker, he is athletic, fast and has the size and toughness enough to gain those gritty goal-line yards. A good offensive line is just an added bonus (and a big one at that too).
The Verdict
I suppose I’m somewhat senile for showing so much promise in a guy who’s only played in one game, a game that doesn’t count for anything. I can’t argue with that. Elliot has much to prove. Whether or not you want to draft him is up to your personal preference. He has the highest upside out of all players this season, but he also has the lowest floor. Uncertainty always scares us in fantasy football, this is why Elliot is so interesting. We don’t know what he’s going to do this season. However, I would take him with confidence, but I would also understand that for every Gurley there is a Melvin Gordon. Who will Elliot be? He has all the tools to be an elite talent, which is why I believe you should draft him with a smile on your face.
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