Cowboys vs. Redskins
Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys, coming off a dominating victory last week, head to Washington for a nationally televised afternoon game. The Cowboys have a four-game winning streak against the Redskins, sweeping the head-to-head matchup the last two seasons. Dallas QB Dak Prescott had his best game of the season but last week was the first time he’s finished inside the top 16 fantasy QBs for a week. Have the Cowboys turned a corner on offense or will the team struggle like they have most of the season?
Dak Prescott has struggled on the road this season
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is 0-and-3 on the road this season, managing just a 66 QB rating and throwing all four of his interceptions on the road. On the surface, this would seem like a nice matchup for Dak, Washington has already given up nine passing touchdowns on the young season and has allowed a 107 passer rating to opposing QBs at home. However, the Cowboys struggles on the road and lack of consistent receiver options should give fantasy owners pause. This isn’t a matchup owners can look to exploit and Dak is not a streaming option this week, except in deep 2QB leagues.
Zeke Elliott should eat his fill this Sunday
Washington held a strong Carolina running game to just 20 yards on eight carries last week but overall the run defense ranks 30th in DVOA. The Skins will struggle with the Cowboys outside zone run schemes and Dallas will spend the afternoon giving RB Ezekiel Elliott a pulling guard around the outside. Zeke has just one touchdown rushing in four weeks but he’s managed 100 yards rushing in three of the past four. Washington’s linebackers won’t be able to slow Zeke down this weekend and if Dallas wants to win they will need to feed their star running back. Zeke is a Top 3 RB play this weekend and will have another huge game.
This Cowboys receiving corps is starting to clarify but still not reliable
The Cowboys have seemed to have settled on WR Allen Hurns at RWR and rookie WR Michael Gallup at LWR. Slot receiver Cole Beasley is the teams leading receiver and is coming off a two-touchdown game but he draws a tough matchup this week. Washington has been stingy against slot receivers, so don’t look for this to be a Beasley game. The Redskins are giving up more than one touchdown receiving a game and while Dallas may add to this streak, it will be tough to predict who exactly benefits. Gallup is starting to gain the trust of Prescott while Hurns has all but disappeared. Keep all of these receivers on your fantasy bench this week and look elsewhere for help. At TE Geoff Swaim has become the primary tight end for Dallas and is the teams second leading receiver. He’s caught more than 75% of his targets but has just one touchdown. While he is steadily moving up the ranks at fantasy TE, owners will need to wait one more week before we can trust Swaim in our lineups.
The Cowboys defense is a strong waiver wire streamer this week
This young Dallas defense looks to be improving each week and has turned in some impressive performances in recent weeks. The Cowboys have given up just two touchdowns in defense in two weeks and have generated pressure at incredible rates. After generating 27 pressures against Houston, Dallas added two turnovers in each game. This week the team has its full roster of defensive players as star LB Sean Lee is expected back this week. DE Randy Gregory had his first sack of the season last week, DT anchor Malik Collins is fully healthy and stud DL David Irving is back and should see increased playing time. This is already a Top 12 fantasy defense that is just getting stronger. They are still just 20% owned in ESPN fantasy leagues and should be snatched up if available.
-Marc Salazar
Redskins
Last week saw the Skins hold off the Carolina Panthers’ 4th quarter comeback bid by the skin of their teeth and raise their record to a fantastic 3-2 (well it is in the NFC East). Unfortunately for everyone who isn’t a Redskins fan, however, this win came with a mere 23 points scored and little to no fantasy benefits to be had beyond a mediocre line for TE Jordan Reed and WR Paul Richardson. How, then, will the Skins fantasy contributors fare against a far more fearsome Dallas defense? Not well, but let’s dive in anyway!!!
Alex Smith….Man
Despite their passing defense being their weakest facet by far, the Dallas defense surely will not allow Alex Smith to have a big day in this one. Smith will likely be without ⅔ of his starting WRs, has a banged up O-line, and hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire against far inferior competition in weeks past. Don’t waste your time hoping for brighter day for the pro-bowl true talent QB.
Catching the Injury Bug
Remember my opening paragraph where I mentioned Paul Richardson as one of the two guys who actually managed to have a serviceable line coming out of the Skins’ win against Carolina last week? Well, he’s likely not playing this week, and the same goes for slot receiver Jamison Crowder. Don’t worry though, they’ll be replaced by perennial pro-bowlers Michael Floyd (this is at least his 5th team) and Maurice Harris. Yikes. But hey, don’t worry, the Redskins prized raw talent, poor performance stud Josh Doctson is playing though! While the kid could have a solid day as he likely sees 6-7 targets, I doubt anything will come of it.
When the Wideouts Are Away, the Tight Ends Will Play
While the Skins receiving corps has been ravaged by injuries, the exact opposite is the case for their TEs, as the walking injury designation himself Jordan Reed has somehow remained healthy, along with his ageless counterpart Vernon Davis. Normally, I would suggest that Reed, the team’s dynamic #1 TE is the only one in store for a solid day, however with such a dearth of receiving options available to Alex Smith in this one, I would venture a guess that Davis sees some significant attention as well. Look for BOTH to have a solid line coming out of this one.
Running Into a Brick Wall
Look, I’m not going to say that running against the Dallas is the worst plan of attack, however, they do sport the 2nd best yards per attempt allowed at a measly 3.5; second only to THE SAINTS oddly enough. Go figure! Anyway, despite Adrian Peterson rising from the ashes like a glowing phoenix, the man is still 33, and running behind a dinged and dented, if not fully injured, O-line. While the resurgent veteran MIGHT have a solid game, and will certainly get his regular 15+ touches if you have other options I’d go with them over AP. Now, since the Skins will likely be passing often in this one, that means Chris Thompson should be the primary beneficiary in the backfield. For this one, he is legitimately questionable, but if he plays, slot the talented scat back in with confidence for this one.
Boom! Bust! BSleeper!™
Boom!: Jordan Reed
Bust!: Adrian Peterson
BSleeper!: Vernon Davis
-Alex Silverman
good calls on Edelman and Gronk, Mr. Bevins….I see Brady getting it out quick to Edelman, and of course White, to avoid that Bears rush. Why did we let go of Hicks, dammit? lol
Can you guys add the “Game Previews” (and maybe Waiver Wire) as a section under the main navigation bar under articles? I love to read these but sometimes it’s hard to find. Thanks!!