KC Chiefs: Five players who could challenge Patrick Mahomes for MVP

Ezekiel Elliott

Ezekiel Elliott immediately made his presence known after being selected number four overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 2016. His 1,631 rushing yards lead the league that year. Elliott added 15 rushing touchdowns to those yards, which was enough to make him a First-Team All-Pro.

After a suspension shortened season in 2017, he nearly hit the 1,000-yard rushing mark after only playing in ten games. He also continued to put a lot of points on the board with nine total touchdowns. Needless to say, he was still leaving his mark on the league, even in a shortened season.

Much like 2016, it didn’t take all 16 games to lead the league in rushing and to get his second rushing title. His 1,434 rushing yards over 15 games translated to nearly 100 yards a game. It was the second time in Elliott’s first three years that he got a Pro Bowl nod.

It’s likely that the Cowboys will continue to “feed Zeke” in 2019, but the star running back is hoping that they will feed him in a different way. As training camps around the are officially underway, Elliott is a no show for the Cowboys. He’s currently holding out in hopes that he can get a contract extension this year or simply to save himself from the risk of injury and get paid in 2020.

It’s unlikely Elliott misses games in an attempt to get a bigger payday, so the best thing he can do is to join the team when the season begins and run like wildfire.

If Elliott were to lead the league in rushing three out of his four seasons, it would give him even more bargaining power with the Cowboys. If a new deal isn’t reached soon, the motivation to put a league MVP award on that resumé will only serve to add value to his next contract.