Tony Pollard, Not Ezekiel Elliott, Must Be Lead RB for the Cowboys Offense

Each week the chants of "Free Tony Pollard" will increase.

The Dallas Cowboys running back is about to become a household name. The only thing stopping the fourth-year ball-carrier from completing the jump is the organization's insistence on keeping him as the starter.

Who is the more effective runner?

Pollard carried the ball 13 times for 105 yards in the victory over the New York Giants. He toted the rock 15 times for 73 yards.

The performance indicated that a change of guard could begin in the backfield, and that should happen sooner than later.

Based on his previous production and financial status, it's understandable that Dallas relies onElliott. He is a three-time Pro Bowl selection with four 1,000-yard seasons. He's only 27 years old and hasn't hit the point in his career where his performance hangs in the air like Wile E. Coyote. The highest-paid back is Elliott with an $18.2 million salary cap charge.

It's important that the return on investment is high. Winning games is more important than ever.

Upcoming games for the Cowboys include the Washington Commanders, the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Pollard needs to become a bigger part of the offense in order for it to be unlocked. Kellen Moore is also aware of this.

"We want those guys to get touches, and it's a matter of finding those different roles for them," Moore said. We want both of them to be on the field at the same time. The other guy contributes when one guy is down. It will be fun to pair those guys up and be creative with how we can use them in different positions and find opportunities for success.

Through two games, the coaches called Pollard's number only 15 times. He made six additional catches. There was a significant occurrence late in Monday's contest.

Pollard opened the series when the Cowboys needed a first down or two to win. After gaining 15 yards on three snaps, he was replaced by Elliott.

Pollard is not seen as a close friend. "I said as much."

He has elusivity, his explosion. He said he would pound them a bit. He's going to break some long ones.

He's deserving of the designation because of his size. Pollard ran one more run of 20 or more yards than he did last year. He burst through the hole with a lot of juice. He isn't just a change of pace. Pollard is able to carry a lot of work.

Pollard ranked third in yards after contact when he ran up the middle. He ranked fourth in missed tackles per touch. The 25-year-old has underappreciated power and excellent balance to counterbalance his slighter frame.

Pollard's background is one of the reasons he isn't a 220-pound thumper. He played both running back and wide receiver for the team. His ability to run routes in space makes him a significant weapon.

Moore said that he wouldn't run just the running back route tree, quick game and completion plays. He can put people in conflict with how they want to handle him because he can stretch people vertically.

His skill set has yet to be utilized by the Cowboys.

Pollard finished sixth on the team with 39 catches, but one that can grow with more usage. Zero Monday wasn'tinspiring. The staff in Dallas has failed to come up with personnel packages that fit the situation. They can be used in a split back scenario with Pollard in the slot or in the backfield.

James Washington is on injured reserve and the depth at wide receiver is questionable. The coaching staff should be working hard to get the best players on the field. Pollard's snap count needs to increase in the coming weeks in order to aid Rush.

The team could benefit from a switch in roles between the backs.

The last five seasons have seen the number of rushing yards decline. His production is not as high as it was last year. The wear and tear on the runner's body can be seen over the course of a year.

Pollard will benefit from less touches and more opportunities if he becomes the lead back. The setup happened when the New Orleans Saints had two players. After one season, the two roles were reversed, with the spotlight going to Kamara and the hammer to Ingram. Dallas should be following this plan.

Money and egos get in the way of things. Despite injuries at multiple key positions, Dallas is off to a good start. All cures if you win. A back seat to Pollard wouldn't be a bad thing. It's in the best interests of the Cowboys to do it.

For Bleacher Report, Brent Sobleski covers the National Football League. Be sure to follow him on social media.