Tony Pollard Will Play On The Franchise Tag, Where Do I Draft Pollard For Fantasy Football Leagues?

Dallas Cowboys Running Back Tony Pollard will play on the franchise tag in 2023, with Pollard and the team not agreeing to a long-term deal before Monday's 4 PM ET deadline.

The 26-year-old back is set to make a fully guaranteed $10.091 million for this upcoming season and all signs point to him showing up for training camp despite not reaching a long-term deal.

Before looking ahead to this upcoming season and the expectations for Pollard, we should reflect on how he really performed last season and what his fantasy value looked like in 2022.

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How Did Tony Pollard Perform In 2022?

Pollard was being drafted around the RB30 range and in the seventh or eighth round in most fantasy formats in 2022. Not only did Pollard drastically exceed his ADP, but he was a league-winner for many in 2022.

The former 4th-round pick finished as the RB8 in full-PPR scoring formats and the RB7 in half-PPR. With him putting up 1378 total yards and 12 trips to the endzone on just 232 touches, Pollard proved that he can be a top fantasy RB option.

After Dallas cut ties with Veteran RB Ezekiel Elliott, Pollard has a clear path to becoming the team's workhorse. Considering all this, where should Tony Pollard be taken in 2023 fantasy football drafts?   

Where Should I Draft Tony Pollard In 2023?

The only competition Dallas has added to the backfield this offseason is Ronald Jones and sixth-round draft pick Deuce Vaughn. Along with second-year RB Malik Davis, there are no real threats to Pollard’s workload in any way, setting him up for a monster season.

Pollard is currently being drafted around 22nd overall and the RB9, according to Fantasy Pros. While this is very high draft capital, I believe he should be taken even earlier, especially in PPR leagues. 

Pollard finished as a top-eight RB in 2022 while only being on the field for 53% fewer snaps than Elliott. With Zeke gone and no real competition being added for Pollard, his snaps and touches will increase significantly. 

With the contract situations of Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs, I would currently draft Pollard as the RB6 in half and full-PPR leagues ahead of Derrick Henry. Assuming a fully healthy season, the Cowboys RB can undoubtedly finish inside the top five at the position in fantasy leagues.

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