Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, September 8th, 2024, 4:25 PM ET
Location: Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio
Network: FOX
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: Sit, QB2
While it may seem absurd to rank the QB3 last season as my QB16 for Week 1, it’s important to note that Prescott is going up against a strong defense. Not only that, but he fell outside the top 15 Quarterbacks last season seven different times, including all of the first five weeks of the NFL season. Prescott should have better weeks ahead, but I am projecting a slight stumble out of the gates.
Running Back
Ezekiel Elliott: Sit, RB4
Rico Dowdle: Sit, RB4
The Cowboys running backs may help fantasy managers further into the season, but in the first month, it is unlikely that either should be in your starting lineups. Dowdle is the better player at this point in their respective careers, but Elliott should lead the backfield most weeks and see the scoring opportunities.
Wide Receiver
CeeDee Lamb: Start, WR1
Brandin Cooks: Sit
Lamb returns with a new contract. Lamb is matchup-proof. He should see the volume, and he has the skill set to succeed against any defense in the NFL. He is a locked and loaded top-five receiver week in and week out. Cooks is the forgotten WR2 for the Cowboys, and while he presented value in your drafts in Week 1, he should stay on your bench this week.
Tight End
Jake Ferguson: Start, TE1
In Week 1, Ferguson rounds out the TE1 tier (TE12). While largely uninspiring in full PPR leagues, he should get enough targets from Prescott to sustain a decent performance. TE9-16 can be a transient group of players, but Ferguson is one of the safer options in that range, even if he finds himself in the middle more often than not.
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Deshaun Watson: Sit, QB2
Watson still has some concerns about his shoulder injury, and the Cowboys’ defense is strong. When we last saw him on the field, he was a middle-of-the-road QB at best. For Week 1, it’s best to look elsewhere than risk playing Watson in a tight spot.
Running Back
Jerome Ford: FLEX Option
Ford looks to be in the driver’s seat to lead the Browns backfield in Week 1. Ford can be used in a variety of ways, but the matchup is less than ideal. If you have a FLEX or FLEX 2 spot available, that would be the place for Ford.
Wide Receiver
Amari Cooper: Start, WR2
Cooper is becoming the new Robert Woods of fantasy football: an automatic 1,000 yards that everyone overlooks. Trevon Diggs should shadow Cooper, and while he is notorious for forcing turnovers, his coverage can be lacking at times while he plays aggressively. Cooper ranks as my WR20 on the week, and he has a chance to hit paydirt in Week 1.
Tight End
David Njoku: Start, TE1
Njoku has a tough matchup, as the Cowboys have been strong against tight ends in recent memory. Still, Njoku should be the number two target in the offense, giving him a high floor and a strong chance to find the end zone. He may not win you the week, but Njoku should have no trouble landing in the top 12 tight ends.
Will Dustin be back to this column this season? I love his creative ways of insulting poor performances.