Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Breakdown
Last season was a very disappointing season for the Dallas Cowboys and their fans. After missing out on the playoffs with a loaded roster, the Boys finally bid adieu to Jason Garrett and brought in Super Bowl winning HC Mike McCarthy. Dallas did retain OC Kellen Moore, who had the offense thriving at the end of 2019. Dallas also loaded up in the offseason and had one of the best drafts, on paper, in recent memory.
Offseason additions:
Ha-Ha Clinton Dix
Gerald McCoy
Aldon Smith
Dontari Poe
Offseason subtractions:
Travis Frederick
Byron Jones
Jason Witten
Randall Cobb
Robert Quinn
Draft Picks:
1.17 - CeeDee Lamb (WR) - Oklahoma
2.51 - Trevon Diggs (CB) - Alabama
3.82 - Neville Gallimore (DT) - Oklahoma
4.123 - Reggie Robinson III (CB) - Tulsa
5.146 - Tyler Biadasz (C) - Wisconsin
5.179 - Bradlee Anae (DE) - Utah
7.231 Ben DiNucci (QB) - James Madison
Quarterback: Everybody has an opinion on Dak Prescott, it comes with the territory of being the face of the franchise for America’s Team. Regardless if Dak signs a lucrative extension, or plays 2020 on the franchise tag, he is primed for another stellar fantasy season. Dak finished only behind league MVP Lamar Jackson in total fantasy points last season, and was third on a ppg basis, trailing Lamar and Deshaun Watson. Dak should be even better in 2020. With a second year under Kellen Moore as OC, and a shiny new toy at WR that joins a supporting cast already loaded with talent, Dak has the potential to be the number one fantasy player in the league. Draft him with confidence as your QB1.
Running Back: For his career Ezekiel Elliot has averaged 20.8 ppg in PPR formats. Last season was the lowest of his career with 19.5 ppg and 2018 was his highest with 22.0 ppg. I tell you this to say it as simple as possible. Zeke is good. Zeke will eat. Zeke is a very predictable player. If he is on your board and Barkley and McCaffrey are not, he’s the pick. Don’t hesitate. Zeke will carry the load for this team and will add plenty in the receiving game as well.
While Zeke may be the guy in Dallas, keep an eye on second year Memphis RB Tony Pollard. While I’m not a huge believer in handcuffs, Pollard is one of the best and has some stand alone value as well. Pollard hauled in 15 passes for 107 yards and rushed for 455 with 3 scores in his rookie year. Deciding not to reunite with Jason Witten, Randall Cobb and others opens up a little over 200 targets in this offense. Pollard won’t get all of them but look for the 20 targets in 2019 to at least double in 2020. If Zeke were to succumb to an injury Pollard would be elevated to a locked in RB1. He’s a great stash play in the later rounds of your draft.
As far as the offensive line goes it should be business as usual for a line that has been one of the most dominant in recent memory. Losing C Travis Frederick to retirement hurts, but with holdovers La’el Collins, Tyron Smith, and Zach Martin, this unit shouldn’t miss a beat. There is a lot of depth here as well.
Wide Receiver: Dallas’ receiving game was stellar last season and produced 2 top 25 PPR fantasy receivers with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. Both receivers eclipsed over 1000 yards, and Gallup did it in only 14 games. Receivers have been known to break out in year 3, and Gallup is somebody that a lot of people are sleeping on. There is a good reason for that. Dallas shocked everyone when they drafted CeeDee Lamb out of Oklahoma in the first round of the draft. Many, including myself, believe that Lamb was the best receiving prospect in this draft, and has a game that can be compared to Deandre Hopkins. Lamb will likely suffer, as will most rookies, with the lack of offseason and preseason preparation, however look for him to still make an impact, especially in the second half of the season.
Tight End: As I called for in my first ever Truth Serum Football podcast, Jason Witten finally got out of the way this offseason, signing in Oakland. This kicks open the door for Blake Jarwin who was productive as a second fiddle to Witten in 2019. Jarwin only saw 41 targets, but converted that into 31 receptions, 365 yards, and 3 TDs. Look for those targets and that production to increase dramatically. Jarwin will go off the board very late if at all in most formats. He’s a solid stash on your bench.
Defense: Although they went against their biggest need in the first round of the draft, Dallas loaded up the rest of the way. Trevon Diggs and Neville Gallimore should be plugged in immediately to the team and Bradley Anae was a steal at his draft costs. That youth added to a unit that recently acquired veterans HaHa Clinton Dix, Gerald McCoy, and Dontari Poe. This defense is loaded with a great mix of youth and experience and still features standouts like Demarcus Lawrence, Jaylon Smith, and Leighton VanderEsch. Dallas also should have both Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory returning from suspension. If either of them can repeat past successes, this team is dangerous. If Dallas can figure out how to create turnovers under new DC Mike Nolan, this should be a very good Defense to trot out there. They also added Greg Zuerlein to shore up some of their previous woes.
Dallas is stacked on the offensive side of the ball and should produce many fantasy starters. The defensive unit could go either way, but should be improved from a disappointing 2019. Draft the Cowboys starters with confidence they may take you all the way, in fantasy at least.