Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott admits he must focus on avoiding costly fumbles

The book is out on Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott. 

One month into his fifth NFL campaign, Elliott has fumbled an NFL-worst three times over the past three weeks, and the 25-year-old understands that's no fluke or a case of bad luck. 

"That's definitely something that they saw on film, so I know that the defense, they're going to be looking at it more and more," Elliott told reporters on Wednesday, per Todd Archer of ESPN. Elliott continued:

"That's why I have to myself, just focus on it more. I think even if it means being a little bit more conservative while you're running, just protecting the ball. That ball is everything. The fate of the team is that ball. I just got to lock in.

"It hurts. I look at myself as a leader of this team and look at myself as a guy that kind of is supposed to help lift the team up when we get down, not be the cause of getting behind. So I just got to get rid of that issue. That can't continue to be something that I do for the rest of the season. I can't give up the ball anymore."

Elliott has lost seven of 18 total fumbles in 60 career regular-season appearances, the most fumbles lost for any non-quarterback since Week 1 of the 2016 campaign, per ESPN Stats & Information. He also averaged a career-worst 3.9 yards per carry over Dallas' first four contests, three of which were defeats. 

The good news for Elliott and the Cowboys is that they get to play the woeful New York Giants (0-4) on Sunday. Big Blue is surrendering 106.8 rushing yards and 24 points per loss this fall.