If you are looking for a sleeper who could emerge to be a factor early in the 2023 season, look no further than the Lone Star State. After saying goodbye to Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys have turned the keys to the run game over to Tony Pollard. The issue is that Pollard is coming off a season-ending injury. So as much as the team keeps insisting that he will be ready for Week 1, who knows if it is true and who knows how effective he’ll be when he does play. So they need to have another back ready. In steps second-year undrafted free agent running back Malik Davis.
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It could be argued that Davis’ presence made it easier for the Cowboys to move on from Elliott. Many believed that Davis was just as much of a prospect as his former Florida Gators teammate Dameon Pierce. He was just not afforded the same level of hype as the current Texans lead back coming out of college. Clearly he impressed the Cowboys’ front office and coaching staff because he operated for most of the season as the RB3 behind Elliott and Pollard.
Now with Elliott gone and Pollard not at 100 percent, this training camp has continuously produced headlines pertaining to how explosive Davis has looked so far. This preseason should give him the opportunity to solidify himself as the clear cut RB2 behind Pollard, which means that if Pollard is not ready to go or is limited to start the season, he would be in line for heavy volume.
Davis has a skill set tailor made for the NFL. He’s got the speed to take it the distance, the power and balance that makes it difficult for defenders to bring him down, and excellent vision to find holes. He’s also a good receiver out of the backfield and is not afraid to get physical in pass protection.
One of Davis’ best attributes is balance. He’s not the biggest back in the NFL, but at 5-foot-10 and over 200 pounds, he is built in the mold of many successful backs in the league. His low center of gravity and footwork allows him to ricochet off unsound shoulder tackles and would-be big hits. He also uses his shiftiness to make defenders miss in the open field.
The most refined feature of Davis’ game is his vision. He’s not just a one-cut runner. He’s got the ability to read the blocks and find the open hole. He is also adept at setting up blocks and exploiting bad pursuit angles. Davis resembles Giants running back Saquon Barkley in this regard. Barkley also possesses the innate ability to put defenders in precarious positions.
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Ezekiel Elliott carried he ball 231 times last season compared to Pollard’s 193 attempts. Pollard’s production is partly based on having a running mate who can absorb some of the punishment the position takes so that later in the game/season he is fresher than the opponent. It is a recipe that has served the Cowboys well and there is no reason for them to change it. Davis is clearly equipped to be in this role as he has worked in committees throughout his time at UF. It also means that he is fresher than your typical collegiate workhorse back.
Pollard will certainly garner more carries as the lead back, but how many more? Most fantasy projections have him slated to carry the ball between 215-220 times in 2023. There will still be around 200 carries available. In limited touches last season, Davis averaged 4.2 yards per carry — a higher mark than Elliott. If you extrapolate that over 200 carries, it equates to rushing numbers similar to Elliott’s production last season on 230 carries.
If you rostered Pollard in past seasons, then it would only make sense to roster Davis as well. His ADP is currently 276th, which means he is most likely still available if you have already drafted your team. He will likely operate in the role that Pollard has filed over the past few seasons.
Bonus Sleeper
Justyn Ross, WR, KC
At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Ross represents something that Patrick Mahomes has never truly had, a big-bodied X receiver (no disrespect to Marquez Valdes-Scantling who is really more like a Z). Ross has dealt with a few injuries that have really stalled his career, but now that he is finally healthy, he is showing the promise that he flashed when he carved up Alabama in the 2019 CFP National Championship game. He is smooth, has sticky hands, and he uses his body to shield defenders from the ball. He has an excellent catch radius that provides quarterbacks with a magic eraser on inaccurate throws. Most importantly, he has the eye of his quarterback, who is on record as saying that he expects good things from him.
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s 101 targets from 2022 need a new home, so does Mecole Hardman’s 34. Kadarius Toney has not proven he can stay healthy, while Skyy Moore and MVS already have roles they fill. It is a big opportunity for Ross and whomever scoops him up in fantasy. His current ADP is 213, so unless someone else has been digging for sleepers, he will likely be available.
(Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)
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