The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best, if not the best, offensive line in the NFL and yet in Week 1 their run game was almost non-existent. The running back position has been highly debated throughout the preseason ever since the Cowboys let leading rusher DeMarco Murray head off to the Philadelphia Eagles. They will get a taste of what could have been when the two teams meet up in Week 2. The Cowboys simply hope their rushers can respond better than they did against the New York Giants.
Against the Giants, the Cowboys put up exactly 80 yards rushing. That is a far cry from what Murray would do for the team last season. Joseph Randle had 65 yards off 16 carries while Darren McFadden added 16 yards off six carries. The real star of the show was third-string running back Lance Dunbar who came in on passing downs and had 70 yards off eight catches to lead the team. The question is whether or not it is time to sound the alarm on the run game for Dallas.
According to Jerry Jones via FOX Sports, Randle's role will increase in Week 2. The running back earned the start against the Giants and they are hoping he turns out to be the workhorse for the team this season. With Dez Bryant out with an injury that could last a good portion of the season, the run game and Randle's improvement will be critical.
"I think if you had seen more carries for those guys, you'd see what we see and that is that, first of all, they did play very well," said Jones, via FOX Sports. "And we saw some things that they can do better. But we certainly saw some things that we really want to encourage in our offense. And, so, we really like we gave our running game, push-ahead running game, a good grade for this ballgame. If the game goes the way we plan for it to go which we can dictate by the running game, then you'll see more carries from all those backs."
Jones predicts Randle will have upwards of 20 carries per game while McFadden works in as well. Dunbar could actually turn out to be the better back in terms of fantasy simply because of his versatility. Dunbar was more responsible for positive momentum than any other player. With the team's top wide receiver out, he could be working in more and more in Week 2.
The Cowboys are leaning on depth for the next few weeks. Terrance Williams will step up and take the spot of Bryant who is expected to be out for at least six weeks if not more. Cole Beasley and Devin Street will get increased roles as well. This is not the season that the Cowboys had predicted they would have, but injuries and inconsistencies could begin to plague them.
