We have been getting inundated with questions about our guy Ezekiel Elliot. Sure, he’s had a disappointing two weeks, but are we ready to just give up on a guy that is arguably a top five fantasy player when he is on his game? Don’t get me wrong, the last two weeks really have been concerning. 24 carries for 94 yards 0 touchdowns plus 9 receptions for 37 yards and 0 touchdowns left a lot to be desired over the past two weeks. That’s going to be the running theme of this blog: it’s only been two damn weeks.
There are reasons for concern with Zeke. Dalton is a joke at QB and the offensive line has been decimated by injuries. The defense isn’t even NFL caliber leaving the Cowboys to be behind constantly therefore cutting opportunities to run the offense through Zeke. So the question is; do we move Zeke after just two weeks of poor performances?
The Buyer:
If you’re looking to add Zeke to your roster you could get him at a great price these days. People are panicking and we think doing so is irrational. It’s just a few bad weeks, and while Zeke may not put up the same numbers as previous years, but he is still a top fantasy asset. Looking ahead to the rest of season Zeke’s matchups are a mixed bag. He draws Pittsburgh, Washington, Baltimore, and San Francisco down the stretch. All teams with good rushing defenses, but he also gets Philadelphia twice, Minnesota and Cincinnati which are definitely plus matchups. If you make a move for Zeke you definitely shouldn’t be paying a premium price. Use a deal like a solid RB2 and high end WR2 as a template to get something done.
The Seller:
Listen, we get it. You’re panicking and I don’t blame you. You drafted Zeke within the first three picks of the draft expecting Zeke to be Zeke. It doesn’t look good right now and fifty percent of his schedule is filled with tough matchups. Yet, you shouldn’t give away a stud like Zeke for pennies on the dollar. Go after another RB1 aggressively. Think of a player like Nick Chubb who is returning in a few weeks. He has a dream playoff schedule this year and you may be able to pull a solid WR2 with him like Mclaurin, Allen, or Robert Woods. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to change course on Zeke, but don’t be a fool.
The Verdict:
It’s time to shop Zeke for sure, but don’t give him away for cheap. He has limitless potential and should be respected for it. He’s not in the same tier as guys like Kenyan Drake, Josh Jacobs, and Jonathan Taylor. His ceiling is the RB1. So when you’re shopping him around make sure you get a fair value. And if you can’t get fair value, hang onto him and hope McCarthy runs the damn ball a little more. And as always stop by our DMs on the GCF Twitter and we can help you make a decision!