FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys have had a season-long plan to keep rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott fresh for the playoffs.
It makes sense because he's a rookie running back who leads the NFL with 287 carries - 37 more than Tennessee’s DeMarco Murray - and is entering the portion of the season where the rigors of his first NFL season could start taking a toll on his body. Plus, they don't want him to carry the ball so much it affects him negatively next season.
It's the reason Alfred Morris has usually played the third series of every half, and why Lance Dunbar has handled third downs and the two-minute drill offense since returning from a torn ACL and patellar tendon he suffered in the fourth game of last season.