The 2023 NFL Draft was pure chaos. Leading up to the draft, no one really knew what any of the teams at the top of the draft were going to do. Once things got started on Thursday night, there were surprises and trades galore. QBs Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud went No. 1 and No. 2 overall to the Panthers and Texans, respectively, while Anthony Richardson was drafted by the Colts at No. 4. Fellow QB Will Levis, however, fell out of the first round entirely and landed with the Titans in the second round. The Lions shocked everyone by taking Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs, while the Seahawks made a similarly puzzling move to take UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet in the second round a year after drafting Kenneth Walker. The Cowboys didn’t add an early WR or RB, which bodes well for Tony Pollard heading into the 2023 season.
The 2023 NFL Draft was pure chaos. Leading up to the draft, no one really knew what any of the teams at the top of the draft were going to do. Once things got started on Thursday night, there were surprises and trades galore. QBs Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud went No. 1 and No. 2 overall to the Panthers and Texans, respectively, while Anthony Richardson was drafted by the Colts at No. 4. Fellow QB Will Levis, however, fell out of the first round entirely and landed with the Titans in the second round. The Lions shocked everyone by taking Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs, while the Seahawks made a similarly puzzling move to take UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet in the second round a year after drafting Kenneth Walker. The Cowboys didn’t add an early WR or RB, which bodes well for Tony Pollard heading into the 2023 season.
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NFL Draft Winner: Tony Pollard
Tony Pollard (RB – DAL)
“Tony Pollard got nearly 200 carries and was still 30 behind Ezekiel Elliott in the Cowboys’ pecking order. Even though Dallas may resign Zeke, they are not standing in his way of leaving, and they took the feel-good story of the draft in Deuce Vaughn – who is still undersized for the next level. I learned my lesson with Donnel Pumphrey, and can’t see Vaughn being any kind of threat to Pollard surpassing 250+ carries in 2023.”
– Andy Singleton (Expand The Boxscore)
“Assuming he’s fully recovered from the late season leg injury he suffered, the stars have lined up for a career season from Tony Pollard. The most notable addition the Cowboys made at the running back position this offseason was Deuce Vaughn, and he doesn’t figure to threaten much of Pollard’s workload. I’m expecting pretty gaudy numbers from Pollard, and a top-five finish at the position is within reach. ”
– Anthony Corrente (The Dynasty Drive)
“This has more to do with what the team has not done in the offseason and in the NFL Draft. Tony Pollard, as of now, is the clear-cut RB1 in Dallas on an offense that will lean more run-heavy in 2023 under new OC Brian Schottenheimer. Last season, while splitting reps (50.9% snap share) with Ezekiel Elliot, Pollard’s 15.6 FPPG was enough to land him as the RB8 on the year. With less completion for touches, expect more productivity from Pollard in 2023 with a ceiling as a Top 5 RB in fantasy.”
– Brandon Murchison (RotoBaller)
“Tony Pollard: It was such a cool moment to see Deuce Vaughn’s father, a Cowboys scout, share that Dallas was drafting him, but from a fantasy perspective, Pollard benefits from how long the Cowboys waited to draft a running back (Vaughn, 212th pick). Pollard set career highs in 2022 with 232 touches, 1,378 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns. It’s likely he’ll handle an even larger workload in 2023, especially if the team doesn’t bring back Ezekiel Elliott, which could allow him to repeat as a top-eight RB (half-PPR PPG).”
– Kevin Hanson (EDSFootball)
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