Ezekiel Elliott will play Sunday for Cowboys vs. Giants after agreeing to $90 million extension

NFL players really only have one avenue to extend leverage over their teams when it comes to getting a contract extension: Holding out. That's what Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott did through training camp and this entire preseason, and it paid off handsomely as the team has made him the highest-paid running back in history with a six-year, $90 million extension.

Elliott's $15 million average annual value surpasses the previous high of $14.375 million by the Rams' Todd Gurley, and Zeke's $50 million guaranteed also beats Gurley's previous high of $45 million. Elliott always wanted to be No. 1 in that regard. He deserved to be after winning two rushing titles in his first three seasons, although Elliott has had some off-field issues.

Elliott is the fifth player since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970 to lead the league in rushing twice in his first three seasons. Another Dallas player named Emmitt Smith also did it. Elliott's 4,048 rushing yards are the most in the NFL since 2016. Gurley is second with 3,441 yards.

No one is really sure what kind of shape Elliott is in after missing all this time, although he reportedly was working out with Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk in Cabo, and Elliott's agent said this week his client was "in shape to play Sunday if there is a contract." Sounds like Elliott will against the visiting New York Giants, who are 7-point underdogs, as Elliott was to practice Wednesday. That line might have dropped a bit had Elliott been ruled out. He could be a bit limited in terms of touches Sunday as he gets into full game shape.

Dallas has covered the past four meetings in the series, but the Giants have been a spectacular road bet of late in covering their past seven away from MetLife Stadium. The only road game New York didn't cover last year was a Week 2 20-13 loss in Dallas as a 3-point underdog. SportsLine's current computer simulations have Dallas winning this one 26-17.