Who has been Dallas’ best rb the last 25 years?

D4KADON · Jun 13, 2022

Julius Jones
Marion Barber
Tashard Choice
Felix Jones
DeMarco Murray
Joseph Randle
Darren McFadden
Ezekiel Elliott
Tony Pollard

These are the primary ones I can remember from memory so apologies if I forgot one you like

I’m going with Murray

DoctorChicken · Jun 13, 2022

Out of those guys, Elliott is probably the best overall package.

Aerolithe_Lion · Jun 13, 2022

Zeke’s rookie year was comparable to Murray, and you could argue he carried the team more as Demarco had prime Romo and Zeke had rookie Dak.

Statistically it has to be Zeke, but as far as legacy… I’m not entirely opposed to voting the Barbarian. He was particularly vital to many playoff teams. Over 100 games played including playoffs, 60 total TDs. He was Romo’s bruiser for most of his career

Creeper · Jun 13, 2022

Emmitt Smith was on the Cowboys until 2003 so if we are talking about the past 25 years, then I think Emmitt was the best.

MountaineerCowboy · Jun 13, 2022

RJ_MacReady · Jun 13, 2022

Murray.

His commitment to his conditioning was Herschel Walker-esque and made for a very consistent battering ram game in and game out. He'd wear down the 2nd level of a defense so much that by the 4th qtr they didn't want to tackle him head on anymore. As much as Zeke was touted as having great hands, Murray didn't drop balls at all like Zeke did. He could block like a SOB, too.

Aerolithe_Lion · Jun 13, 2022

Creeper said:
Emmitt Smith was on the Cowboys until 2003 so if we are talking about the past 25 years, then I think Emmitt was the best.

Actually you’re right. If the 25 year cutoff is 1997, Emmit averaged 1000 yards a season from 97-02 and had 49 total TDs. That’s the easy choice

G2 · Jun 13, 2022

Best season - Murray. Body of work - Elliott.

Cowpolk · Jun 13, 2022

DoctorChicken said:
Out of those guys, Elliott is probably the best overall package.

Yep

Ranched · Jun 13, 2022

Elliott
Herschel Walker
Marion Barber
Murray

CowboysFaninHouston · Jun 13, 2022

D4KADON said:
Julius Jones
Marion Barber
Tashard Choice
Felix Jones
DeMarco Murray
Joseph Randle
Darren McFadden
Ezekiel Elliott
Tony Pollard

These are the primary ones I can remember from memory so apologies if I forgot one you like

I’m going with Murray

Tashard Choice. the next coming of Emmitt smith according to @leeblair :lmao:

D4KADON · Jun 13, 2022

I just realized Elliott only crossed over 100 yards rushing twice last year

McKDaddy · Jun 13, 2022

Of those, it has to be between Zeke & DeMarco. If you could put them in the same situation, I would probably take Zeke ..... but its close.

DeMarco is underappreciated by most football fans.

Good offseason question by the way!

KJJ · Jun 13, 2022

Zeke is clearly the best back the Cowboys have had since Emmitt. He’s had the most yards and TDs. He’s had three seasons of over 1300 rushing yards. Those who are picking DeMarco Murray are wrong. He had only one big season with the Cowboys.

Motorola · Jun 13, 2022

Aerolithe_Lion said:
Zeke’s rookie year was comparable to Murray, and you could argue he carried the team more as Demarco had prime Romo and Zeke had rookie Dak.

Statistically it has to be Zeke, but as far as legacy… I’m not entirely opposed to voting the Barbarian. He was particularly vital to many playoff teams. Over 100 games played including playoffs, 60 total TDs. He was Romo’s bruiser for most of his career

During Barber III's time in Dallas, the Cowboys played in only four playoff games.
His best showing was in the divisional round game v. the Giants:
27 carries for 129 yds (including 36yd run, eight 1st downs, and 1 TD, 1 catch for 9 yds.
In the other 3 playoff games, Barbar totaled 14 rushes for 22 yds and 3 catches for 23 yds.

75boyz · Jun 13, 2022

Murray had the 1 year team record of most rushing yards but had major durability issue throughout his career otherwise.

Elliott had a 3 year window of dominance. Afterwards his body broke down, effectiveness severely reduced and shelf life sped up based upon
the high volume of carries/touches/punishment his body endured.

That sums up the post Emmitt Smith RB talent comparisons. All the others were not as good as Murray or Elliott so I did not mention them.

baltcowboy · Jun 13, 2022

D4KADON said:
Julius Jones
Marion Barber
Tashard Choice
Felix Jones
DeMarco Murray
Joseph Randle
Darren McFadden
Ezekiel Elliott
Tony Pollard

These are the primary ones I can remember from memory so apologies if I forgot one you like

I’m going with Murray

Murray. Zeke is a close second but Murray 2014 season was one of the best running back seasons in Cowboys history.

Cowboy4ever · Jun 13, 2022

It's Zeke and not's even close. Murray only had 1 full season with the Cowboys - his contract year (go figure). In 6 years with the Cowboys, Zeke has missed a lot fewer games due to injury than Demarco did in 3 yrs. Zeke has 235 more carries in his first 4 years compared to Demarco's 4 years as a Cowboy and that was with serving a 6 game suspension (which should have never been).

Zeke is a better runner, blocker and all around player, which is why he went 4th overall and Murray went in the 3rd.

D4KADON · Jun 13, 2022

Cowboy4ever said:
It's Zeke and not's even close. Murray only had 1 full season with the Cowboys - his contract year (go figure). In 6 years with the Cowboys, Zeke has missed a lot fewer games due to injury than Demarco did in 3 yrs. Zeke has 235 more carries in his first 4 years compared to Demarco's 4 years as a Cowboy and that was with serving a 6 game suspension (which should have never been).

Zeke is a better runner, blocker and all around player, which is why he went 4th overall and Murray went in the 3rd.

Murray had a good rookie season, a very good 3rd season, and that career defining season

he wasn’t just a one season wonder

he actually would post 1k yards for the titans as well

Hoofbite · Jun 13, 2022

Cowboy4ever said:
It's Zeke and not's even close. Murray only had 1 full season with the Cowboys - his contract year (go figure). In 6 years with the Cowboys, Zeke has missed a lot fewer games due to injury than Demarco did in 3 yrs. Zeke has 235 more carries in his first 4 years compared to Demarco's 4 years as a Cowboy and that was with serving a 6 game suspension (which should have never been).

Zeke is a better runner, blocker and all around player, which is why he went 4th overall and Murray went in the 3rd.

Draft position means nothing, and if it did I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who would take Zeke with the 4th overall pick again.

Who has been Dallas’ best rb the last 25 years?

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

It's all in the reflexes

Well-Known Member

Taco Engineer

Landry Hat

"We Are Penn State"

CowboysFaninDC

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

You Have an Axe to Grind

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member