Ezekiel Elliott could approach 300 carries this season

It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys plan to run the ball a lot this season, so it’s no surprise that some are projecting perhaps 300 carries for rookie Ezekiel Elliott.

Writing in a mailbag Tuesday, DallasCowboys.com’s David Helman said that it’s not a question whether Elliott will be first string in the fall. Then he projected around 300 carries for the rookie back:

DeMarco Murray got 83 percent of the carries for this team in 2014, and he finished with more than 400 total touches. That’s a tad much for anyone, let alone a rookie. Fortunately, the Cowboys have vastly superior depth at the position this year. I think Zeke will finish with roughly 280-300 carries, which would put him right around 18-20 per game. That should leave plenty of carries for Morris and McFadden to get involved.

Elliott was taken No. 4 overall by the Cowboys in the draft following a stellar three-season career at Ohio State. The former Buckeye rushed for 41 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Ohio State and over 1,800 yards in each season, leading him to be the top running back on most teams’ draft boards, including the Cowboys.

Cowboys exec Stephen Jones has already said that the team will lean on the running game to help preserve quarterback Tony Romo, so 280-300 carries for Elliott certainly seems possible, if not likely.