TonyPollard

News: 4 days agoPollard rushed the ball 24 times for 119 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 32-27 win over the Texans. He added three receptions on five targets for 10 yards.

Spin: Pollard's volume jumped in the absence of Tyjae Spears (concussion) to tally at least 20 rushing attempts for the fourth time this season. He was perfectly capable of shouldering that workload, ripping off long gains of 27 and 19 yards while also finding the end zone from 10 yards out early in the second quarter. That was enough for Pollard to reach 100 yards on the ground for the second time this season, and he will be a must-start fantasy option in Week 13 against Washington if Spears remains sidelined.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Even though Pollard enters his sixth season in the NFL, it's fair to ask, just who is this guy? Is he the ultra-efficient game-breaker from his Pro Bowl 2022 effort? Or is he the tailback who struggled to sustain steady production as the Cowboys' lead back last season? The reality could be somewhere between these extremes. The presence of Tyjae Spears is notable, as he consumed 150 touches last season, including the majority of work on third downs. There was room for Derrick Henry to command a major workload in a backfield with Spears, yet Henry is a singular talent and archetype. Given Spears' proficient receiving profile, it's likely Pollard's ability to be efficient on early downs and in the red zone will dictate his fantasy stock this season. Targeting Pollard as a borderline RB2 or flex candidate could still prove rewarding on a team that aggressively went after him in free agency.