NFC East

Fantasy managers hunting for help at running back before the Nov. 30 trade deadline could do well to look at the Dallas Cowboys' situation with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.

The Cowboys have done a good job of finding a balance between their top two running backs since the start of last season. Elliott remained the No. 1 option in 2021 and played well with 1,289 yards from scrimmage (1,002 rushing yards) and 12 touchdowns on 284 touches.

Pollard has been the more productive player on a per-touch basis. He cracked 1,000 yards from scrimmage (1,056) on just 169 touches. He only found the end zone twice, but that's likely because Dallas kept feeding Elliott in the red zone.

Elliott entered this season at a crossroads, both in real and fantasy football. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones thinks the offense should work around the three-time Pro Bowler, but Pollard's upside makes him a valuable asset.

Through seven games in 2022, Elliott has been fine with 475 yards from scrimmage on 115 touches.

Pollard showcased his skills as an every-down back in Week 8 when Elliott was out with an injury. The 25-year-old had 147 yards from scrimmage and three rushing touchdowns on 15 touches in a 49-29 win over the Chicago Bears.

In eight games, Pollard leads the Cowboys with 627 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 93 touches.

ESPN's Mina Kimes noted after the Bears game that Pollard ranks second among running backs with 5.47 yards per carry on runs between the tackles since the start of 2021. Elliott ranks 38th in the same category.

Despite how well Pollard played against Chicago, Jones reiterated after the game that Elliott will remain the No. 1 running back in Dallas.

Pollard is the more valuable fantasy back, though, which makes his trade value for interested suitors difficult to gauge. He ranks 21st in point-per-reception scoring on a per-game basis among running backs, per ESPN.

Elliott ranks 27th despite having 22 more touches. He's been such a non-factor in the passing game that his value is dependent on rushing yards and touchdowns.

Even when Pollard isn't scoring, he's more likely to get targets in the passing game. Elliott will continue to get touches like he's an RB1, but Pollard is the more valuable fantasy player for the rest of the season among Cowboys running backs.

As the Dallas Cowboys pursue Odell Beckham Jr., the NFC East rival New York Giants could also look to sign the free-agent receiver.

"He knows how I feel about him, how we feel about him," Giants running back Saquon Barkley told reporters Friday.

Beckham spent the first five years of his career with the Giants, earning three Pro Bowl selections, and overlapped with Barkley during the 2018 season.

"Personally I think it would be a great story to come back," Barkley said.

The Cowboys have been aggressively recruiting Beckham, with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb recently discussing the wideout. Linebacker Micah Parsons also tweeted at the veteran recently.

Barkley indicated he doesn't need Twitter to talk to Beckham:

Beckham recently discussed potential landing spots with Complex, mentioning both the Giants and Cowboys as well as the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers.

The 30-year-old was a game-changer for the Los Angeles Rams last year, scoring five touchdowns in eight regular-season games. He also scored in the Super Bowl as the squad took home a championship.

Beckham tore his ACL in the title game and has been recovering since, although Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported he was expected to be cleared this week.

The Giants are a surprising 6-2 this season, but they need help at receiver with no one on the roster totaling more than 250 yards. After trading Kadarius Toney to the Chiefs, Beckham could immediately become the team's most explosive pass-catcher and help change the landscape of the NFC East.

The Philadelphia Eagles continue to thrive offensively, and fantasy managers should want a piece of the action on their teams.

A.J. Brown is entrenched in starting lineups and would likely be difficult to acquire in a trade, but DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert could be quality targets ahead of your league's fantasy football trade deadline.

After the Eagles ranked dead last in pass attempts in 2021, the offense is up to 24th in attempts per game this year. More importantly, the squad ranks second in net yards per attempt. This is enough to keep three fantasy-relevant pass-catchers, especially with a clear separation from the rest of the team.

Brown, Smith and Goedert each have at least 50 targets this season entering Week 10, while no one else on the roster has more than 13.

Goedert is especially valuable as a productive tight end at a position that doesn't have many reliable options. He is up to TE3 on the season in points per game behind only Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews. He's also coming off his best game of the year with 100 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Houston Texans.

The 27-year-old won't have these numbers every week, but he should remain one of the league's top tight ends for the rest of the season. The 6'5", 256-pound athlete should also remain a top target in the end zone and add to his two scores on the year. In a shallow position, this makes him extremely valuable and worth acquiring even at the peak of his value.

If you don't have either Kelce or Andrews, Goedert is worth the trade even if you have to give up an RB3 or a WR3. A running back on the decline—like Leonard Fournette, Cordarrelle Patterson or Ezekiel Elliott—might be worth selling for a top tight end.

Smith, meanwhile, is more of a speculative add after his up-and-down play. The former Heisman Trophy winner has just 45 total receiving yards in his last two games and hasn't reached 100 yards since his explosion for 169 and a touchdown in Week 3.

The good news is he remains a key part of the offense, playing 90.5 percent of offensive snaps to lead all Eagles skill players. His receptions and receiving yards per game are also better than his impressive rookie season in which he had 916 yards on 64 catches.

Inconsistency will continue, but there will be better days than we have seen in recent games.

It makes Smith an exciting buy-low candidate as he tries to reach his potential as a top-10 draft pick. If someone in your league is frustrated by the recent performances, you could probably land him for a player coming off a strong game, like Mecole Hardman, Rondale Moore or Latavius Murray.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is happy the team's players are pushing free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to join the organization.

Jones told a story Friday on 105.3 The Fan about the Cowboys' free-agent pursuit of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders in 1995:

Several Dallas players have talked about the potential of adding Beckham, a three-time Pro Bowl selection who's nearing the end of his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in February's Super Bowl, for the stretch run of the regular season.

• QB Dak Prescott said: "Anytime you have a chance to add a talent like that and knowing Odell and knowing his resume, it's exciting. But also understand it's a business, and I’m sure there's 31 other teams that would like to add him as well."
• RB Ezekiel Elliott said: "We want him. We want OBJ."
• WR CeeDee Lamb said: "That's my boy. I'm a fan of Odell. Why wouldn't you want to add more firepower to the offense?"
• LB Micah Parsons said: "S--t we can use him. I think he's a great player. He'll expand this offense. He's a guy you want on the team beside all the other critics stuff that people make up and s--t about him. He can add real value to the team and help us do what we want to do."

Jones didn't rule out the potential of signing Beckham during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday.

"Odell is someone that we have all the appreciation in the world for what he is as a competitor," Jones said. "I know the Cowboys star on that helmet, when he puts it on, could look pretty good."

Dallas' passing game could use a boost with Michael Gallup making a limited impact following his return from a torn ACL and James Washington yet to play this season because of a foot injury.

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Sunday that Beckham would be medically cleared this week and is likely to sign with a Super Bowl contender.

The Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers are the teams most frequently linked to the 30-year-old LSU product. A possible return to the New York Giants, where he played from 2014 through 2018, has also been mentioned.

Even if he signs in the coming days, it'll likely take a couple weeks of conditioning before OBJ is ready to make his season debut. The hope would be gradually getting him involved so he's back up to full speed in time for the playoffs.

As the free-agent pursuit continues, Dallas (6-2) will look to continue its winning ways Sunday when it travels to Lambeau Field to face off with the Green Bay Packers (3-6).

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. said he spoke with head coach Ron Rivera about a much-maligned team statement that referenced an attempted robbery in August that left him with two gunshot wounds.

"I told him how I felt about it and put it past me," Robinson told reporters Thursday. "I can't control that. I'm just going to continue doing what I've been doing."

The Commanders' statement used Robinson's situation to spotlight what it described as "out-of-control violent crime" in Washington, D.C., in an attempt to discredit D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine ahead of an announcement about the organization.

Robinson, a rookie who returned from his injuries to make his NFL debut on Oct. 9, said he's been trying to move on from the shooting.

"I wish it would be like that, but the reality is it will take a while for it to die all the way down," he said. "I've got to be stronger than what I'm up against. That's been the case ever since it happened. I have to continue to do that."

Racine announced Thursday he'd filed a lawsuit against the Commanders, team owner Daniel Snyder, the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell for "colluding to deceive District residents—Commanders' core fans—about an investigation into toxic workplace culture and allegations of sexual assault to maintain a strong fanbase and increase profits."

"The Commanders and Dan Snyder lied to D.C. residents about what they knew about a toxic culture of sexual harassment and then they entered into a secret agreement with the NFL and commissioner Goodell that kept the truth from D.C. residents—all in an effort to protect their profits," Racine said. "In D.C., you can't lie to consumers to enrich yourself and get away with it. That's what this lawsuit is about: standing up for D.C. residents who were deceived and misled. No one—not even Mr. Snyder—is above the law."

In July 2021, the NFL fined Washington $10 million after an investigation unearthed an internal culture that featured bullying, intimidation, multiple allegations of sexual harassment and a general lack of respect in the workplace.

Separate investigations, including the one by Racine and another by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform, were launched in the wake of the NFL's findings.

Snyder and his wife, Tanya, released a statement last week saying they'd hired Bank of America Securities to "consider potential transactions" involving the franchise, including a possible sale.

Commanders president Jason Wright told ESPN's John Keim the team's statement in response to Racine "expressed our external counsel's ongoing frustration with the Attorney General's office" but should not have included the reference to Robinson's situation.

"[The statement] should have been separate and apart from referencing the terrible crime that affected our player," he said.

Wright added he'd been in contact with D.C. Metropolitan Police chief Robert Contee to express the team's continued support of police "working to reduce gun violence and crime across the region."

Meanwhile, Robinson has recorded 226 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown across his first five NFL appearances. He's received a solid 70.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

The Commanders (4-5) are back in action Monday night when they visit Lincoln Financial Field for a primetime clash with the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles (8-0).

Ryan Williams, the agent for Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr., ripped the organization for invoking his client's name as part of a statement released Wednesday in response to D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine.

Racine's office announced earlier in the day that he will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. ET Thursday to "make a major announcement related to the Washington Commanders."

In a response criticizing Racine's decision and highlighting the "out-of-control violent crime" in D.C., the Commanders referenced Robinson being shot multiple times during an August robbery attempt.

Williams responded with a Twitter post:

Commanders president Jason Wright told Keim the team's statement "expressed our external counsel's ongoing frustration with the Attorney General's office, as they have been nothing but earnest and transparent in their communications with his team."

Wright added the comments "should have been separate and apart from referencing the terrible crime that affected our player" and noted he reached out to D.C. Metropolitan Police chief Robert Contee to express the team's support in their fight against gun violence.

MPD has arrested two suspects, juveniles who were 16 and 14 at the time of the Aug. 28 shooting, in connection to the case. Both teenagers have been charged with assault with intent to rob while armed.

"I was just happy they found somebody," Robinson told reporters after the first arrest last week. "I [haven't] been thinking much about it, just focusing on the season. ... There was a relief."

Robinson, a third-round pick in the 2022 draft, returned from the injuries suffered in the attack to make his NFL debut on Oct. 9. He's recorded 226 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown across his first five appearances.

Racine's office didn't provide any further details on the announcement set for Thursday, per Keim.

Meanwhile, team owners Daniel and Tanya Snyder announced last week they'd retained Bank of America Securities to "consider potential transactions" involving the club, which includes potentially selling the NFL franchise.

The Snyders have been majority owners of the Commanders since 1999.

On the field, Washington sits last in the NFC East with a 4-5 record ahead of Monday night's road game against the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles (8-0).

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry and his Fenway Sports Group may be trading footy for American football.

According to Josh Kosman of the New York Post, Henry "is seen as a possible bidder for the Washington Commanders as the investing tycoon moves to sell his UK-based soccer team Liverpool."

According to that report, Fenway Sports Group "has hired Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to unload Liverpool in a deal that's expected to fetch between $4 billion and $5 billion."

"This may be a precursor to him buying the Commanders," a source familiar with recent NFL franchise sales told Kosman. "John wants to own an NFL team. They will look at the Commanders."

While it isn't finalized that Daniel Snyder will sell the organization, the Commanders released a statement last week that it had hired Bank of America Securities to "consider potential transactions."

That announcement came hours before a report from ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. that the U.S. attorney's office in the Eastern District of Virginia had commenced a criminal investigation into potential "financial improprieties."

While that investigation hasn't been confirmed publicly, it may be as soon as Thursday:

After multiple investigations into the team's toxic workplace, alleged sexual harassment and possible financial improprieties, the sale of the Commanders feels inevitable at this point.

For Henry, selling Liverpool could net him the chunk of capital needed to enter the bidding for the Commanders, which could hit as much as $5.6 billion, sources told Kosman. He may face stiff competition, with an ownership group comprised of Jeff Bezos, Jay-Z and Matthew McConaughey expected to enter the running.

The Dallas Cowboys have not been shy about recruiting free-agent receiver Odell Beckham Jr., with Ezekiel Elliott the latest to push for a deal.

"We know what type of player Odell is," Elliott told reporters Wednesday. "We know how explosive he can be and what he could bring to this offense. It would be great to get him down here in Dallas. … He would definitely fit in this locker room. We want OBJ."

Beckham has been recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in last year's Super Bowl, but Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported the veteran will be cleared by the end of this week.

Glazer added that there will be a "bidding war" for Beckham, listing the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams as possibilities, but he is "firmly on the Cowboys radar," per Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Dallas has also been public in its pursuit of Beckham, with linebacker Micah Parsons recruiting the wideout on Twitter.

"Odell is someone that we have all the appreciation in the world for what he is as a competitor," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on Shan & RJ on Audacy's 105.3 The Fan.

Beckham can certainly help the Cowboys if he is healthy. The three-time Pro Bowler scored five touchdowns in eight regular-season games with the Los Angeles Rams last year, adding two more in the playoffs on the way to a Super Bowl title.

Dallas' CeeDee Lamb has been productive this season, but receiver depth has been an issue after dealing away Amari Cooper in the offseason. Michael Gallup has been up-and-down since recovering from his knee injury, leaving Noah Brown as the team's No. 2 receiver with 339 yards this season, nearly double his previous career-high (184).

Adding Beckham to an offense that already has a productive rushing attack with Elliott and Tony Pollard could be difficult to defend for the stretch run of the season.

New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney told reporters he has no timetable for a return after breaking multiple fingers in an ATV accident during the team's bye week.

"We were on a sightseeing tour. That's what I can tell you. It was nothing that was reckless. ... It was just an unfortunate event that happened," said McKinney, who called the event a "freak accident."

The Giants placed McKinney on injured reserve Monday, which will keep him out for at least the next four weeks. He and the team have been mum on the severity of his injuries.

The 2020 second-round pick released a statement Monday saying he was injured while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

McKinney told reporters he was unaware riding on an ATV violated his contract and said the organization has not been critical of his actions.

"We didn't get into that. Obviously, they were more concerned about my well-being and my health, and obviously that's what I was more concerned about," he said.

McKinney started the Giants' first eight games, recording 38 tackles, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and one sack. He missed the first 10 games of his rookie season because of a fractured foot.

Dane Belton will step into the starting lineup while McKinney is out.