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It made sense, because Elliott, who scored 41 touchdowns while posting back-to-back 1,800-yard seasons in 2014 and 2015 at Ohio State, was and still is expected to play a huge role with the Dallas Cowboys. And with Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and arguably the game's best offensive line, he'll be well supported.
Meanwhile, Goff was the top pick, and at the time, he was considered to be the only rookie quarterback in line to start Week 1.
In fact, it almost always makes sense to give an edge to highly touted running backs and quarterbacks slated to start from the get-go. Ten of the last 12 Offensive Rookies of the Year have played either running back or quarterback. Only nine wide receivers have won the award in the last 49 years, and it's never been won by a tight end or an offensive lineman.
But Goff is no longer expected to immediately start for the Los Angeles Rams, and fellow first-round quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch will also be holding clipboards (or tablets) to start their NFL careers. In fact, the only rookie quarterback currently expected to start the season on the field is fourth-round Mississippi State product Dak Prescott—also a Dallas Cowboy.
Even before veteran Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo went down with a back injury, Prescott was on fire. Through three preseason games, he had completed 39 of 50 passes for 454 yards (9.1 yards per attempt), while throwing five touchdowns to zero interceptions. That was good for a 137.8 passer rating, with his 53 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns serving as icing on the cake.
Among quarterbacks with at least 25 attempts during that span, he had the highest rating. And among quarterbacks taking at least 50 snaps during that span, Pro Football Focus ranked him second only to Ryan Tannehill of the Miami Dolphins.
During that same three-game run, Elliott averaged 6.9 yards per carry on his seven rushing attempts. It's not a large sample but easily enough for him to remain the odds-on favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
According to Bovada, Prescott's odds of winning the award have increased greatly. He still ranks well behind Elliott (even) and just behind Goff (+700) and New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (+900), but at +1000, he still beats out first-round receivers Laquon Treadwell (+1200), Josh Doctson (+1400), Corey Coleman (+1600) and Will Fuller (+2500).
The only other "candidates" within that range are Lynch (+2000), Wentz (+2500) and second-round running back Derrick Henry (+1600).
It won't be easy for Prescott to outperform all of those blue-chip receivers, especially if Romo is able to return soon after the team's Week 7 bye. Sure, Romo could be out longer, and it's even possible Prescott could play so well that they keep a healthy Romo on the sideline. But there remains a strong chance Prescott could wind up on the bench, with Goff ultimately starting most of the year in Los Angeles.
Precedent doesn't help his case, either. Since the NFL started handing out the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 1967, only one winner—189th overall pick Mike Anderson in 2000—was drafted lower than Prescott. And all seven of the quarterbacks who have won the award were drafted in the top 30.
Still, right now, it has to be a toss-up between Prescott and Goff for the best quarterback candidate, and at least Prescott is guaranteed playing time.
Here's a breakdown of Dallas' top-notch Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates, as well as the competition outside of North Texas.
Elliott: The reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year seems certain to be special. He's only the second running back in the last eight years to be drafted in the top five. He's expected to play a huge role in a Dallas offense that helped win DeMarco Murray a rushing title and an Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2014.
Prescott: The man tore up the SEC for three consecutive years. He's built to succeed in the NFL from the get-go, despite the fact he was a mid-round pick. And with Romo hurt, he'll have that chance. Remember, Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins were drafted in the middle rounds as well.
Goff: The top pick hasn't performed well this preseason, which is why Case Keenum will enter the season as the starter. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher has made it clear the team will be patient with the California product.
Shepard: The highly praised second-round receiver has been working as a starter for the Giants all spring and summer. They'll rely heavily on him, especially if veteran Victor Cruz can't stay healthy. Still, only three receivers this century—Anquan Boldin, Percy Harvin and Odell Beckham Jr.—have won Rookie of the Year, and Shepard will play second fiddle to Beckham in the Giants receiving corps.
Treadwell: Considering his struggles this summer, it'll be extremely tough for the Ole Miss product to earn regular starting reps early in his rookie season. According to Pro Football Focus, Treadwell caught just six of 15 passes thrown his way in the preseason, and he dropped two balls in Minnesota's exhibition finale. And even if he does earn significant playing time, he won't have quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Doctson: The TCU product missed the entire preseason due to an Achilles tendon strain, and DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon are locked in as starters in Washington. Doctson would have to shock the world to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Coleman: The Baylor product missed Cleveland's first two preseason games due to a hamstring injury and then struggled in preseason Weeks 3 and 4, catching zero passes on four targets. Still, with Josh Gordon suspended, Coleman might start opposite Terrelle Pryor in Week 1.
Fuller: He caught seven passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns in his last two preseason games with the Texans, so don't be surprised if the Notre Dame product gets plenty of opportunities opposite DeAndre Hopkins. Still, he and Treadwell are in similar positions as second fiddles.
Henry: The smashmouth back was the nation's top rusher at Alabama in 2015, but he'll have to share the workload with veteran DeMarco Murray.
It's important to consider that this is a quarterback-driven era. Elliott is the favorite because he's arguably the premier offensive player in this draft class and the stars appear to be aligning for him in 2016. But beyond that, you have to consider that after only one quarterback won OROY between 1967 and 2003, pivots have won the award in six of the last 12 seasons.
With only four running backs and two receivers winning the award in that span, precedent does suggest that a quarterback like Prescott should be viewed as a top-flight candidate entering the regular season.
Indeed, the Offensive Rookie of the Year race will start in Dallas.
Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012.
Follow @Brad_Gagnon
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