- Hunter Luepke
- #40
- Team DAL
- Pos RB
- Status AActive
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Small but steady role in 2025
Luepke carried the ball 16 times for 71 yards and caught 13 of 15 targets for 109 yards and a touchdown over 17 games in 2025.
Analysis: The fullback has missed only one game in three seasons with the Cowboys, and Luepke set a new career high with his 180 scrimmage yards while scoring his second career TD. He split his time nearly equally between the offense and special teams in 2025, playing 250 offensive snaps and 241 on kick-return squads, and he should fill a similar role next season in the first year of a two-year, $7 million contract extension.
Published: Mon, Jan 12 at 11:20am by Rotowire.com
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Clears concussion protocol
Luepke (concussion) is active for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
Analysis: Luepke increased his practice participation over the course of Week 16 prep, and he has progressed enough to clear the league's concussion protocol and be available for Sunday's home tilt. The third-year fullback turned five touches into 30 yards during the Cowboys' Week 15 loss to the Vikings before leaving the game after sustaining a concussion.
Published: Sun, Dec 21 at 9:01am by Rotowire.com
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Questionable for Week 16
Luepke (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Luepke was able to practice in full Friday, but his questionable tag for Week 16 indicates that he is still in the league's concussion protocol, so he would need to be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to play Sunday. If he's not given the green light to play, then the Cowboys may turn to tight ends Brevyn Spann-Ford or Luke Schoonmaker to play some snaps at fullback for Week 16, given that there are no other fullbacks on Dallas' active roster.
Published: Fri, Dec 19 at 2:53pm by Rotowire.com
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Upgrades to limited Thursday
Luepke (concussion) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Analysis: Luepeke took the third step toward clearing the NFL's five-step concussion protocol Thursday by upgrading to a limited participant after missing Wednesday's session. The fullback will have to practice Friday and be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to suit up for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
Published: Thu, Dec 18 at 3:42pm by Rotowire.com
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DNP to open week
Luepke (concussion) did not practice Wednesday, Clarence Hill Jr. of AllDLLS.com reports.
Analysis: Luepke entered the league's concussion protocol during the Cowboys' Week 15 loss to the Vikings. Even if he were to return to practice over the next two days, Luepke would have to be cleared from the league's protocol by an independent neurologist in order to play Sunday against the Chargers. The Cowboys don't have another fullback on the active roster or practice squad, so they may deploy a tight end like Luke Schoonmaker or Brevyn Spann-Ford as a backfield blocker if Luepke is not cleared to…read more
Published: Wed, Dec 17 at 5:28pm by Rotowire.com
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Done for night
Luepke (concussion) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday night's contest against the Vikings, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Luepke suffered a concussion during Sunday Night Football, bringing his night to a premature end. The Cowboys will have to operate without a fullback for the remainder of the game. He saw a season-high five touches prior to being ruled out, turning the volume into 30 scrimmage yards.
Published: Sun, Dec 14 at 7:22pm by Rotowire.com
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Full participant Thursday
Luepke (hip) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Luepke's ability to string consecutive practices together is a great sign for his availability for Sunday's game against the Vikings. The fullback will have one more chance to avoid an injury designation for Sunday, and even without a full practice Friday, he seems to be in a good spot to be able to suit up against Minnesota.
Published: Thu, Dec 11 at 3:11pm by Rotowire.com
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Dealing with hip injury
Luepke (hip) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Luepke likely picked up the injury during the Cowboys' Week 14 loss to the Lions, when he played 40 snaps (21 on offense, 19 on special teams) and finished with two tackles. His ability to practice in a limited capacity indicates the hip injury isn't a long-term concern, and he'll have two more opportunities to log a full practice and avoid an injury designation for Sunday's game against Minnesota.
Published: Wed, Dec 10 at 4:52pm by Rotowire.com
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Catches three passes in win
Luepke carried once for five yards and added three receptions for 36 yards in Monday's 33-16 win over the Raiders.
Analysis: Heading into Monday, Luepke had just six total touches through the Cowboys' first nine games, but the fullback saw his most involvement of the season as Dallas cruised to an easy win. Luepke played just 16 of Dallas' 67 snaps on offense, however, and he's still likely to offer most of his contributions as a blocker when he's on the field.
Published: Wed, Nov 19 at 6:57am by Rotowire.com
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Records short reception in win
Luepke corralled his lone target for a three-yard reception in Sunday's 44-22 win over the Commanders.
Analysis: After hauling in a three-yard catch for the second touchdown of his career in a Week 6 loss to the Panthers, Luepke was unable to find paydirt Sunday but was one of eight Dallas pass catchers to finish with a reception. The fullback played just 11 of 67 snaps on offense and will continue to handle a limited role in the weeks to come.
Published: Tue, Oct 21 at 6:42am by Rotowire.com
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Inks extension
Luepke signed a two-year extension with the Cowboys on Wednesday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The 25-year-old fullback will now remain in Dallas after spending the first two seasons of his career with the team. Over 33 regular-season appearances, Luepke has tallied 18 rushes for 57 yards and one touchdown to go along with 15 receptions for 129 yards. He's expected to serve as the Cowboys' top fullback throughout the 2025 campaign.
Published: Wed, Sep 3 at 9:05am by Rotowire.com
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Sees increased role as receiver
Luepke carried the ball 12 times for 38 yards and caught 12 of 16 targets for 111 yards over 16 regular-season games in 2024.
Analysis: The second-year fullback saw more snaps on offense (304) than he did on special teams (170), a reversal of his usage as a rookie. Luepke didn't get many touches, but he did flash some ability as a pass catcher when called upon and set career highs in receptions and receiving yards. With the Dallas backfield in flux once again as Rico Dowdle heads into free agency, Luepke could see his touch volume increase once again in 2025, but he's still very unlikely to be much of a fantasy asset.
Published: Mon, Jan 13 at 9:51am by Rotowire.com
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One catch in Week 12 win
Luepke played 15 of the Cowboys' 66 snaps on offense and hauled in his lone target for a 10-yard reception in Sunday's 34-26 win over the Commanders.
Analysis: After sitting out the Cowboys' Week 11 loss to the Texans due to a calf injury, Luepke was cleared to return to action Week 12. The fullback continued to handle a limited role on offense, but he still came away with his 10th reception of the season. Luepke has yet to find the end zone across his 16 touches through the Cowboys' first 11 games of the campaign.
Published: Wed, Nov 27 at 7:02am by Rotowire.com
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Past calf issue
Luepke (calf) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Commanders, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Luepke appeared to be in jeopardy of the missing the Week 12 divisional matchup after opening the Cowboys' week of practice with an estimated DNP. However, he practiced in a limited capacity Thursday before logging a full session Friday, indicating that he's recovered from his calf injury. Expect the second-year pro from North Dakota State to serve as Dallas' top fullback Sunday.
Published: Fri, Nov 22 at 2:40pm by Rotowire.com
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Returns to practice Thursday
Luepke (calf) was listed as a limited practice participant on Thursday's injury report, Joe Hoyt of AllDLLS.com reports.
Analysis: Thursday was the first time Luepke had practiced or played since Dallas' Week 10 loss to Philadelphia. It's a sign that the second-year fullback is progressing through his calf injury, and if he's able to practice Friday, he would have a good shot at playing in Sunday's NFC East clash against Washington. Luepke's return would give the Cowboys' running game a boost and open up space for Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn.
Published: Thu, Nov 21 at 2:56pm by Rotowire.com
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Sits out first Week 12 pratice
Luepke (calf) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated injury report.
Analysis: The calf injury prevented Luepke from practicing all of last week before he was inactive for Monday's loss to the Texans. The fullback will have to return to practice Thursday or Friday to give himself a chance to play against the Commanders on Sunday.
Published: Wed, Nov 20 at 2:52pm by Rotowire.com
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Inactive for MNF
Luepke (calf) is inactive for Monday's Week 11 game against Houston, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Analysis: This was expected, as Luepke didn't practice at all this week and was deemed doubtful after the Cowboys' final practice. While the second-year fullback hasn't gotten more than four touches in any of his nine games so far this season, he's a key part of the team's running game as a blocker. Those duties could fall upon backup tight ends Luke Schoonmaker and/or Brevyn Spann-Ford with Luepke unable to suit up against the Texans.
Published: Mon, Nov 18 at 4:07pm by Rotowire.com
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Unlikely to play vs. Houston
Luepke (calf) did not practice Saturday and is listed as doubtful for Monday's game against the Texans, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Analysis: Luepke has been unable to practice all week due to a calf injury, and while he hasn't been ruled out for Monday's game, it's unlikely he will suit up. The Cowboys will likely turn to tight ends Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford to pick up additional run-blocking duties if Luepke is indeed sidelined.
Published: Sat, Nov 16 at 6:47pm by Rotowire.com
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Dealing with calf injury
Luepke (calf) did not practice Thursday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Analysis: Luepke played 23 snaps (14 on offense, nine on special teams) during the Cowboys' Week 10 loss to the Eagles, but it appears he may have picked up a calf injury in the process. The 24-year-old fullback will have two more chances to return to practice ahead of Monday night's game against the Texans. Luepke has logged six carries for 19 yards and nine catches (on 11 targets) for 95 yards through the first nine games of the regular season.
Published: Thu, Nov 14 at 3:38pm by Rotowire.com
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No touches in blowout loss
Luepke didn't carry the ball or draw a target while playing 22 of 69 snaps on offense in Sunday's 47-9 loss to the Lions.
Analysis: The second-year fullback had received three touches in both of the previous two contests, but the Cowboys didn't look to get him involved even while the contest was mostly noncompetitive by the second half. Luepke has carried four times for 14 yards and has caught seven passes for 91 yards on eight targets through six games, but he'll continue to be deployed mainly as a blocker when he's on the field.
Published: Wed, Oct 16 at 9:35am by Rotowire.com
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Four touches in Thursday's win
Luepke carried the ball twice for eight yards and caught both his targets for 14 yards in Thursday's win over the Giants.
Analysis: While his contributions were modest, the four touches were a career high for Luepke, while the totes were his first of the season. The second-year fullback is seeing his role grow in the Dallas offense, and he's caught exactly two passes in three of four games to begin the season. The Cowboys' backfield struggles could open the door for Luepke to see even more volume, but at present he offers little fantasy value even in deep formats.
Published: Sat, Sep 28 at 7:24am by Rotowire.com
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Offers passing-game contributions
Luepke secured two of his three targets for 41 yards in Sunday's 28-25 loss to the Ravens.
Analysis: With quarterback Dak Prescott dropping back to pass 54 times while the Cowboys faced double-digit deficits for much of the game, Luepke was one of several Dallas pass catchers who saw more involvement than usual. The fullback still has yet to log a carry this season and brings most of his value as a blocker and contributor on special teams, but he's made the most of his five targets through three games, turning them into four receptions for 59 yards.
Published: Tue, Sep 24 at 6:39am by Rotowire.com
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Two grabs in Sunday's win
Luepke caught both his targets for 18 yards in Sunday's win over the Browns.
Analysis: The Cowboys list Luepke as a running back on their depth chart, but the second-year North Dakota State product usually lines up as a fullback. However, when Jake Ferguson (knee) left Sunday's game early, Luepke was deployed as an H-back and caught multiple passes for the first time in his career. While he's a long way from being the next Kyle Juszczyk, Luepke could continue to see a bigger role as a receiver while Ferguson is sidelined, putting him on the deep-league radar heading into a Week 2…read more
Published: Mon, Sep 9 at 7:51am by Rotowire.com
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Role could expand
Luepke has been used more often as a tight end or H-back so far in training camp, Nick Harris of DallasCowboys.com reports.
Analysis: An undrafted rookie out of North Dakota State last season, Luepke surprisingly won a spot on the 53-man roster and played in all 17 regular-season games plus the Cowboys' wild-card loss to the Packers, but he saw most of his action on special teams rather than at fullback. With the Dallas backfield likely to be a committee in 2024, Luepke could find more snaps as a lead blocker, pass catcher and occasional short-yardage option, but he's still unlikely to provide much fantasy production.
Published: Tue, Aug 6 at 7:55am by Rotowire.com
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Cleared to play Saturday
Luepke (thigh) doesn't have an injury designation for Saturday's game versus Detroit, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Luepke began Week 17 prep labeled as limited in Dallas' walkthrough due to a thigh injury, but he's been able to practice in full each of the two subsequent days. As such, he should be able to suit up Saturday against the Lions. Cowboys backup running back Rico Dowdle (ankle) has been ruled out for that contest, leaving Luepke and Deuce Vaughn as the remaining healthy ball carriers behind starter Tony Pollard. Practice-squad member Malik Davis is also an option, though he'd need to be signed to…read more
Published: Thu, Dec 28 at 2:51pm by Rotowire.com
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Returns to full practice
Luepke (thigh) practiced in full Wednesday, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Luepke was estimated as a limited participant during Tuesday's walk-through due to a thigh injury, but his full participation Wednesday suggests that the issue is minor. The fullback logged a season-high three touches in last Sunday's loss to Miami, though he's primarily deployed as a blocker. Luepke should be fine to play Saturday versus Detroit as long as he doesn't suffer a setback during the remainder of the practice week.
Published: Wed, Dec 27 at 4:47pm by Rotowire.com
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Considered limited Tuesday
Luepke (thigh) was considered to be a limited participant at the Cowboys' walk-through Tuesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Luepke appears to have left Sunday's 22-20 loss to the Dolphins a little worse for wear, opening the week on the injury report. The fullback will look to increase his workload at the team's final two practice sessions ahead of Saturday's high-stakes matchup with Detroit.
Published: Tue, Dec 26 at 4:28pm by Rotowire.com
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Gets fourth carry of season
Luepke played four of the Cowboys' 57 snaps on offense and carried once for three yards in Sunday's 31-10 loss to the Bills.
Analysis: Luepke picked up a first down on his third-and-one rushing attempt on the Cowboys' first drive of the third quarter. The rookie fullback has carried just four times and has drawn only three targets through his first 14 games, accounting for 26 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.
Published: Wed, Dec 20 at 8:19am by Rotowire.com
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Handles minor blocking role Week 6
Luepke didn't log any carries or targets while playing seven of the Cowboys' 64 snaps on offense in Monday's 20-17 win over the Chargers.
Analysis: The Cowboys have kept the undrafted rookie fullback active for each of their first six contests, but he's failed to record any offensive statistics outside of Weeks 3 and 4, when he carried three times for 13 yards and a touchdown and added a 12-yard reception. He'll continue to function mostly as a blocker on the handful of snaps he gets in a given week.
Published: Wed, Oct 18 at 12:45pm by Rotowire.com
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Heavy workload in preseason finale
Luepke rushed the ball 15 times for 58 yards in Saturday's 31-16 preseason win over the Raiders. He added five receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Analysis: Luepke joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. With much of the team's backfield resting in the preseason finale, he got the opportunity to shoulder a heavy workload and was the first back to record a carry. Luepke averaged only 3.9 yards per carry, though his work as a pass catcher may convince the Cowboys to consider him for a spot on the practice squad.
Published: Sat, Aug 26 at 10:03pm by Rotowire.com
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