Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn is a healthy inactive for the Week 12 game against the division-rival Washington Commanders on Sunday in D.C. Vaughn will be on the sidelines for this one after playing just 16 of the team's 83 offensive snaps in the Monday night loss to the Houston Texans in Week 11. The 23-year-old has been a distant third on the RB depth chart in his second NFL season in Dallas behind Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott in a struggling rushing attack. Vaughn has had only 11 carries on the season for 33 rushing yards while catching three passes for 18 yards. He should remain on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues for the rest of the season in a Dallas offense that will likely remain well below average the rest of the way with quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) out for the season.
Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn ran the ball nine times in the Cowboys preseason finale, gaining 53 yards. He was targeted twice in the passing game but was unable to come up with either catch. Vaughn ended up with the most carries among Cowboys running backs, although quarterback Trey Lance led the team with 11. Vaughn is buried on the depth chart and likely ticketed for a special teams role, but he's shown some rushing ability in case injuries strike the top Cowboys runners.
Dallas Cowboys second-year running back Deuce Vaughn (hamstring) returned to the team's joint practice on Wednesday with the Los Angeles Rams after being sidelined two weeks with a hamstring injury. Vaughn had several opportunities to carry the ball and be a receiver. The former sixth-round pick in 2023 should see notable playing time in the preseason game this Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 22-year-old is going to be a change-of-pace option, at best, in Dallas' backfield in 2024 and is currently listed behind Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman and Malik Davis on the team's RB depth chart. Vaughn was a preseason darling going into his rookie season but saw action in only seven games last year, rushing for 40 yards on 23 carries, adding seven receptions for 40 yards through the air.
Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring issue that has kept him off the practice field for the last two days. For however much time Vaughn may miss at training camp with the issue, the speedy Rico Dowdle and veteran Royce Freeman will jockey for positioning as Dallas' No. 2 back behind incumbent starter Ezekiel Elliott. Vaughn made seven appearances for the Cowboys in his rookie season in 2023, rushing for a mere 40 yards on 23 carries with seven receptions for 40 yards. The pint-sized 22-year-old former Kansas State standout is battling to keep his roster spot in Arlington this summer, and he's not guaranteed to still be with the team when the regular season begins in September.
As expected, the Dallas Cowboys have been experimenting with using pint-sized running back Deuce Vaughn as a receiver out of the slot during organized team activities this offseason. The second-year back was seen on Thursday at OTAs taking reps out of the slot as head coach Mike McCarthy looks to add some wrinkles to his offense going into Year 2 as the play-caller. Vaughn has also been taking backup returner reps to KaVontae Turpin. The 5-foot-6 running back saw limited action last year in his rookie campaign, getting just 30 touches for 80 scrimmage yards. But with Tony Pollard gone, Vaughn should see an increase in snaps in Year 2 in 2024. However, he's still currently third on the RB depth chart in Dallas behind Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle, so he's not going to be on the fantasy radar on draft day in standard 12-team leagues.
Deuce Vaughn Could See More Action Out Of The Slot
Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn could see more playing time in the slot next season as a way to utilize his talents in space more often. The 5-foot-6, 176-pounder was taken in the sixth round last year, and he finished with just 23 carries for 40 yards while catching all seven of his targets for 40 yards through the air in seven regular-season games. But with Tony Pollard no longer in town, the Cowboys could look to get Vaughn more involved in the passing game to capitalize on Vaughn's burst, quickness and change-of-direction abilities in open space. It would make him intriguing as a sleeper in PPR leagues, but the fact remains that Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott will likely be ahead of Vaughn on the RB depth chart. For now, it's just something to watch for fantasy managers in deep PPR formats.
The Dallas Cowboys placed rookie running back Deuce Vaughn (ankle) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday and activated defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko (knee) from Injured Reserve in a corresponding move. Vaughn's move to IR is a sign that Rico Dowdle (ankle) should be OK to play in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Washington Commanders on Sunday after he sat out last week's win over the Detroit Lions on Saturday. The 22-year-old Vaughn was the talk of training camp over the summer, but he never really found a meaningful role with Tony Pollard and Dowdle in front of him in his rookie season. He finishes his first year in the NFL with 23 carries for 40 yards and seven catches for an additional 40 yards through the air. With Vaughn now out heading into the playoffs, Malik Davis will serve as the team's No. 3 RB.
Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Deuce Vaughn could have a role in a Week 17 game against the Detroit Lions. With usual backup Rico Dowdle (ankle) already ruled out, Vaughn could play the backup and change of pace role behind starter Tony Pollard. Vaughn hasn't been active since Week 10 and has totaled just 38 rushing yards all season, so it's hard to know what to expect, but there's a clear path to a role on offense for the rookie this week.
Deuce Vaughn A Healthy Scratch For First Time This Year
Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Deuce Vaughn is a healthy scratch on Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers for the first time in his first year in the NFL. Vaughn, unexpectedly, hasn't seen much of a role in Dallas' backfield through his first five games despite being a standout in training camp over the summer. The 5-foot-6, pint-sized running back only has 20 rushing attempts for 40 yards (2.0 yards per carry) while catching all five of his targets for 19 additional yards. Tony Pollard continues on as Dallas' lead back. Rico Dowdle is his primary backup. The Cowboys elevated Malik Davis to the active roster ahead of Monday's game against the Chargers, which is why Vaughn will be inactive.
Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Deuce Vaughn was included on the team's 53-man roster entering the 2023 regular season. The Cowboys cut Malik Davis to trim the roster down on Tuesday, leaving Vaughn and Rico Dowdle to battle for backup duties to open the season behind Tony Pollard. Ronald Jones will miss the first two games of the season due to a suspension. The pint-sized 21-year-old Vaughn impressed the coaching staff throughout training camp and the preseason. He had 13 carries for 64 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and aught all four of his targets for five yards in two preseason games. The 5-foot-5 RB is one to watch in deep PPR leagues, but he should go undrafted in most single-year leagues.
Deuce Vaughn
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Cowboys
