Ezekiel Elliott is a training camp holdout, and there’s a whole lot of uncertainty surrounding his contract impasse with the Dallas Cowboys.
Despite that, Elliott has the best odds to win the NFL rushing title in 2019 (per BetOnline.ag), as shared by Jon Machota of The Athletic:
- Ezekiel Elliott: 4/1
- Saquon Barkley: 11/2
- Joe Mixon: 10/1
- Nick Chubb: 10/1
- Derrick Henry: 12/1
- Todd Gurley: 12/1
- Le’Veon Bell: 14/1
If Elliott plays all 16 games, then it’s not hard to envision he will win the rushing title. In 40 career games, he’s rushed for 4,048 yards and 28 touchdowns — that’s an average of more than 101 yards per game. He’s both extremely skilled and plays behind one of the league’s best offensive lines.
However, it’s not a guarantee that Elliott will play all 16 games this year. The Cowboys have made public statements that indicate they are pushing back against the notion that Elliott will ink a record-breaking extension.
Saquon Barkley will certainly get a chance to earn the title. He’ll be heavily utilized this year, especially in light of recent developments concerning New York’s receivers.
The intriguing options other than Elliott to win the rushing title are Nick Chubb and Le’Veon Bell. Chubb was a dynamo last year once he took over as the full-time starter, and Bell should be fresh after taking a year off.