5 Key Positional Battles to Watch in the 2024 NFL Season

Dallas Cowboys Running Backs: Ezekiel Elliott vs. Rico Dowdle

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, and the Dallas Cowboys are living proof of such. Casting away Ezekiel Elliott in 2023, the Cowboys quickly learned the error of their ways. Dallas re-signed its former star running back this offseason. However, we're not anticipating a classic Elliott workload in 2024.

That's because the Cowboys also have Rico Dowdle waiting in the wings. Dowdle has proven to be a competent complementary back, averaging 4.1 yards per carry in 2023. Moreover, he was a reliable pass-catching option, hauling in 17 of 22 targets for 144 yards, or 8.5 yards per reception.

Like most modern-day running games, each player's ceiling depends on usage and deployment. It remains to be seen how Elliott and Dowdle will be incorporated into the Cowboys offense, but bettors and DFS punters could find a way to monetize both players. 

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Houston Texans Running Backs: Joe Mixon vs. Dameon Pierce

The Houston Texans saw their window under C.J. Stroud was open and acted accordingly this offseason. The team made a pair of big moves for veteran presence on offense. First, the team acquired Joe Mixon from the Cincinnati Bengals, following up with a trade for Stefon Diggs. While both players will be in timeshare roles with the Texans, monitoring Mixon's usage relative to Dameon Pierce deserves the closest attention. 

With seven years of experience and entering his age 28 season, Mixon's nearing the end of his shelf life as a lead back. After a more subdued 2022 campaign, the former second-round pick bounced back with 1,034 rushing yards last season. That modest improvement was anticipated, but Pierce is poised for a similar correction in 2024. 

Pierce burst onto the scene in his rookie season, compiling 939 rushing yards in 13 games; however, regression hit hard in 2023. Pierce managed just 416 yards in his second professional season, giving way to Devin Singletary as the starter after a three-week hiatus due to injury. 

If Pierce responds as expected, we should see a substantive increase in his rushing metrics in 2024. As such, Mixon's tenure as the lead back could be short-lived.

Miami Dolphins Running Backs: Raheem Mostert vs. De'Von Achane

An analogous running back situation is playing out with the Miami Dolphins. Raheem Mostert has been the bell cow in his two seasons in South Florida. But as we saw last year, De'Von Achane has been a more impactful player when healthy. Their usage and outlook depends heavily on how Mike McDaniel deploys his running backs, as well as their health status week to week.

Age is a factor for Mostert. The 32-year-old is heading into the autumn of his career, and he's due for regression after an outlying 18-touchdown effort last year. Conversely, Achane is on an upward trajectory after accumulating 800 rushing yards and 7.2 yards per carry in his rookie campaign. Still, injury concerns dampen his outlook heading into this season.

Inevitably, injuries will play a factor in how both running backs are deployed in 2024. But even if both stay healthy throughout the campaign, there's no clearcut advantage for either being deployed as the primary rusher. 

Minnesota Vikings Quarterbacks: Sam Darnold vs. Nick Mullens

The injury to J.J. McCarthy was a deathblow before the Minnesota Vikings season even started. Now, bettors will have to watch carefully how Sam Darnold performs in a Vikings uniform. 

Darnold has been largely ineffective as a starter. Now with his fourth team in seven years, Darnold has a career 59.7% completion percentage, averaging just 6.7 yards per pass attempt. More concerningly, he has a 63-56 touchdown to interception ratio. 

While Nick Mullens doesn't possess the same experience as Mullens, he's shown to be a more competent quarterback. The Southern Miss product has completed 65.8% of his passes for 8.0 yards per attempt throughout his career, albeit with an equally concerning 34-31 touchdown-to-interception ratio. 

If the Vikings find themselves trailing more often than not, they could be better off leaning into Mullens to maximize Justin Jefferson and the passing attack. For now, it's Darnold's job to lose.

Dallas Cowboys Running Backs: Ezekiel Elliott vs. Rico Dowdle

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, and the Dallas Cowboys are living proof of such. Casting away Ezekiel Elliott in 2023, the Cowboys quickly learned the error of their ways. Dallas re-signed its former star running back this offseason. However, we're not anticipating a classic Elliott workload in 2024.

That's because the Cowboys also have Rico Dowdle waiting in the wings. Dowdle has proven to be a competent complementary back, averaging 4.1 yards per carry in 2023. Moreover, he was a reliable pass-catching option, hauling in 17 of 22 targets for 144 yards, or 8.5 yards per reception.

Like most modern-day running games, each player's ceiling depends on usage and deployment. It remains to be seen how Elliott and Dowdle will be incorporated into the Cowboys offense, but bettors and DFS punters could find a way to monetize both players. 

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