Ezekiel Elliot, Dallas Cowboy or Fantasy Outlaw?
Fantasy football editor Aaron Lieberman takes a look at the latest Dallas Cowboy to find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
Greg Hardy, Damien Wilson, Nolan Carroll, Greg Hardy again, Joseph Randle, Rolando McClain, Jourdan Lewis … and Ezekiel Elliott.
This is an abbreviated list of Cowboys that have made the wrong types of headlines lately, and this doesn’t include players that have been suspended on PED-related issues (we see you David Irving and Randy Gregory).
Unfortunately, one of these names represents a top-three pick in most fantasy leagues this upcoming season, Ezekiel Elliott.
Zeke the Freak was recently involved in an altercation with a DJ, leaving the victim looking like Tony Romo on most drop-back passes. We can only assume the incident occurred because the DJ refused to play We Dem Boyz.
This issue, coupled with a hefty parking ticket that Zeke recently picked up, has some future fantasy owners concerned about his draft stock.
Let me be the millionth to say it DOES NOT CHANGE A THING.
Last season, Le’Veon Bell didn’t play a down of football until week four. In some of my drafts, he slid to the late-second and in some cases even to the mid-third round. Bell still managed to finish with 1,268 yards and 7 touchdowns, on the ground alone. This positioned Bell as fourth best RB in 2016 and with 616 receiving yards he fell only behind the league-leading receiver at the RB position, David Johnson (hello PPR players).
Is he dumb? Yes.
Is he still a top-three pick? Also, yes.
If I am drafting in a league and he falls to me at 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14, should I take him? You get the picture.
Unfortunately there is little room for a proper moral compass when it comes to fantasy football, and Zeke is a prime example.
Despite his recent run-in with the law, this is still a guy you want or your team (even if it’s just to trade him to some dumb Cowboys fan).
So, come draft day, make sure to keep Zeke on your big board. There is no public relations crises to worry about for fantasy owners.
Aaron Lieberman is a cofounder of The Ocho, as well as our fantasy editor. You can catch him (almost) every week on The Ocho Podcast on Thursday nights with fellow cofounder Riley Nicklaus Evans. Follow Aaron on Twitter at @aliebs93.
