5 NFL players who should get benched right now

Three weeks of the 2021 NFL season is about enough time to gage where teams' strengths and weaknesses are. Some young players are rising to the fore, while other veterans are clinging on to their starting roles.

This article looks at five players whose teams could be enhanced by their coaching staff making a switch at their position.

5 NFL starters on a short leash

#1 – Ezekiel Elliott, running back, Dallas Cowboys

Nobody is saying Ezekiel Elliott is not a good running back. He is performing at a high level, especially through the last two games, but Tony Pollard is currently on fire. The third-year rusher is averaging 6.8 yards per attempt to Elliott's 4.5. Pollard only has 16 fewer rushing yards than Elliott; Elliott has had 17 more carries.

PFF ranks Pollard as the NFL's number one running back, with Elliott down at 27. The duo works great as a committee, but it's time for Elliott to take a step back and Pollard to take the lead role.

#2 – Andy Dalton, quarterback, Chicago Bears

After a disastrous experiment with Justin Fields as a pocket passer, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy admitted that all three of his quarterbacks are in the mix for Week 4.

For the Bears to save their season, they either need to turn to Nick Foles under center or implement a scheme to maximize the rookie's strengths and hide his weaknesses.

Fields showed flashes of brilliance in the preseason, especially with his running ability, while making some typical rookie mistakes. How can Fields learn what it takes to be an NFL starter by only taking reps in practice?

#3 – Carson Wentz, quarterback, Indianapolis Colts

Even if Carson Wentz is fully fit, there are questions to be asked about his NFL future. The problem the Indianapolis Colts have right now is that Wentz can barely move. After being slowed down by two sprained ankles, which followed a plague of other injuries, it's clear Wentz needs time to get healthy.

Playing behind a banged-up offensive line is not helping Wentz at all, and the limitations of his current game are making him predictable. Indeed a more mobile quarterback, such as Jacob Eason or Brett Hundley, can offer more right now. This might be a good opportunity for the Colts to explore their future options if they eventually decide to move away from Wentz.

5 NFL players who could be soon heading for the bench

#4 – Jalen Reagor, wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles

First-round selection Jalen Reagor was drafted ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback Jalen Hurts in the 2020 NFL Draft and has made significantly less impact. Nick Siriani's offense is trying to generate yards for Reagor, but it is just not working. After logging just 396 yards in his rookie season, Reagor is 119th in the NFL in yards per reception in 2021, averaging 8.2 yards from 13 catches.

On the bench, the Eagles have an explosive flyer, a sixth-round pick in that same 2020 draft, by the name of Quez Watkins, who is making plays at every opportunity. Watkins leads the NFL in yards per reception, averaging 26.6 yards from seven catches. Unfortunately, it feels like the Eagles will stick with Reagor like they persisted with first-round bust Nelson Agholor. They should not make the same mistake again.

#5 – Greg Zuerlein, kicker, Dallas Cowboys

I don't mean to pick on the Dallas Cowboys or an NFL great, but Greg 'The Leg' Zuerlein will be responsible for more losses this season. Two missed field goals, one of them from 31 yards, cost the Cowboys against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the season opener. The other was from 60 yards, but the likes of Justin Tucker and Matt Prater are making those kicks.

The 33-year-old saved face with a game-winning, walk-off field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2. But would it serve Dallas better to search for their placekicker of the future rather than hanging on to a safe-option veteran? That's if you can still call Zuerlein a safe option; he has already missed two extra points in 2021.