The expectation entering the season was that if Dowdle could stay healthy, he had the best opportunity to be the Cowboys’ leading rusher. That probably meant he would end up with something like 600 to 800 rushing yards while No. 2 running back Ezekiel Elliott was somewhere in the 400 t0 500 range.

Rico Dowdle is the first undrafted player in a decade with three straight 100-plus yard rushing games. Here's why he's been so successful.

Sitting at 880 yards with three games to go, Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle seems destined to break the 1,000-yard barrier this season. Offensive lineman Brock Hoffma

Dowdle leads the Cowboys with 731 rushing yards on 152 carries, both career highs. That he has a chance at 1,000 yards is remarkable in a way, considering the start of the season. The Cowboys began with Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott as a running back by committee. At different times, Dalvin Cook and Deuce Vaughn got some looks as the third runner.

Rico Dowdle’s second-half surge in his first season as the lead Dallas running back gives the Cowboys some interesting things to consider in the offseason.

Rico Dowdle has been thriving, leading many to believe the Dallas Cowboys could ignore what is right in front of them.