Tony Pollard News

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (ankle) has been placed with the franchise tag. Pollard and the Cowboys have until July to agree on a long-term contract, but if they fail to do so, the running back franchise tag will pay him $10.09 million in 2023. Ezekiel Elliott is expected to restructure his contract to stay in Dallas, but Pollard receiving the tag increases the odds of Dalton Schultz signing a contract with another team. Among the 45 running backs with at least 100 carries this season, Pollard averaged the sixth-most Rushing Net Expected Points per carry. He also averaged 13.6 FanDuel points over 16 games, including 23.1 from Weeks 8-14.

The transaction sets Pollard up to play out the 2023 campaign on a one-year, $10.1 million dollar contract. Pollard being franchise tagged has widely been the expected outcome out of Dallas, and the team could still attempt to work out a restructure with Ezekiel Elliott this offseason. In any case, with Pollard reportedly on track for training camp, he enters his age-26 season in prime position to be a difference-maker for fantasy purposes. He broke out with a career-high 1,378 scrimmage yards and 12 total touchdowns across 16 games while sharing the backfield with Elliot last season.

Pollard broke his fibula and suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Cowboys' divisional-round loss to the 49ers and underwent surgery to address the ankle issue. The pending free agent finished the 2022 season with 1,378 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns, and based on Machota's report, it sounds like Dallas is expected to retain the star running back, though it's unclear if that'll be through an extension or via the franchise tag. Either way, it's a positive sign to see Pollard still on track with his rehab, and if healthy, he should one of the more sought after running backs in fantasy drafts this summer.

The fourth-year running back put together a career-best campaign, setting new personal bests in rushing yards, receiving yards and TDs while averaging better than 5.0 yards per carry for the third time in his four NFL seasons. Pollard suffered a broken fibula and high-ankle sprain in the Cowboys' divisional-round loss to the 49ers, the latter injury which required surgery, but he's expected to be fully recovered from both by the start of training camp. The biggest question for Pollard will be which team he's in the training camp with; he's an unrestricted free agent this offseason, although Dallas could elect to give him the franchise tag if the team can't work out a new contract with him.

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard underwent surgery on a broken left fibula and high ankle sprain Tuesday. Pollard was forced to leave the Cowboys' Divisional Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers early on Sunday, but according to Todd Archer of ESPN, he should be back to full health "well before" training camp. Pollard is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March and it remains to be seen if the Cowboys will attempt to bring him back. The dual-threat back turns 26 in April. Among the 45 running backs with at least 100 carries this season, Pollard averaged the sixth-most Rushing Net Expected Points per carry.

According to Archer, Pollard should be back to full strength well before training camp in late July, as his recovery from surgery is expected to last around 3-to-4 months. The rough timeline means that Pollard may not be able to participate in OTAs, but the Cowboys' main focus will likely be in ensuring that the running back is under contract by that time. The 25-year-old is ticketed for unrestricted free agency in March, but the Cowboys will have the ability to place their franchise tag on him or sign him to an extension before he reaches the open market.