Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, September 15th, 2024, 1:00 ET
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Network: FOX
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback
Derek Carr: Sit, QB2
Derek Carr and the Saints came out of Week 1 looking very impressive. I am here to temper expectations for those wanting to buy into this offense right now. Even with the Saints putting up 47, Carr was only the QB16 and could only throw for 200 yards. He plays a much better team in Week 2 in the Cowboys, and he is my QB24 on the week. A low ceiling and a low floor mean avoiding a onesie position like the quarterback.
Running Back
Alvin Kamara: Start, RB1
Alvin Kamara showed flashes of his former glory in terms of his efficiency on the ground. He also saw five targets, which was good enough for a 21.7% target share. The issue for Kamara is that he won’t get to play against the Panthers every week. The Cowboys are not necessarily a run-stopping defense, but they are undoubtedly a step up from the Panthers. In full PPR leagues, the volume will get him into the RB1 conversation, but you shouldn’t expect it always to look so pretty.
Wide Receiver
Chris Olave: Start, WR3/FLEX
Rashid Shaheed: Sit
Chris Olave was a big disappointment for fantasy managers in Week 1. Carr’s early touchdowns went to other less attention-drawing targets like Rashid Shaheed and Foster Moreau, and the Panthers did not need to throw the ball for the latter parts of the game. Olave should see more than the TWO targets he saw in Week 1, but he will also likely draw Trevon Diggs coverage for most of the game. Diggs can be beaten for the occasional deep ball, but I wouldn’t expect a big bounce back for Olave in Week 2, even if the volume is better. When it comes to Shaheed, he shouldn’t be on your lineup this week. That would be the definition of point chasing. Keep him on your bench for this one, and find the next GREEN matchup.
Tight End
Taysom Hill: Sit, TE2
The matchup could be better for Hill in Week 2, but he did get the jack-of-all-trades usage we have grown accustomed to. Hill had seven opportunities (5 Carries & 2 Targets). He should land in the TE2 range most weeks with the occasional BOOM TE1 week, but this is not one of those weeks. Keep Hill on your bench in deep leagues.
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: Sit, QB2
I got some hate for my Dak Prescott ranking last week, and while I get it, it looks like I was still somehow too high on the Cowboys signal-caller. He finished the week as the QB22. For Week 2 he comes in as my QB17. He will face a slightly worse defense but still one that should be able to cause problems for the Cowboys. They are a predictably one-dimensional team and now look to be without tight end Jake Ferguson, one of Dak’s favorite targets. I expect the Cowboys to be once again pass-heavy and have Dak throwing for just shy of that 250-yard mark in this one. The odds are that you will be starting him if you drafted him, but you may be hoping for a high-floor performance from Prescott this week.
Running Back
Ezekiel Elliott: Sit
Rico Dowdle: Sit
“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.”
This is what I said last week, and I stand by it. Ezekiel Elliott was able to squeak his way into RB24 with a touchdown in Week 1 but was otherwise not used enough and was largely unimpressive (49 yards on 12 touches). Rico Dowdle was even less efficient on fewer touches. Ultimately you shouldn’t have to play them with where they were drafted and that is a good thing in Week 2 when they face the New Orleans Saints and their stout run defense.
Wide Receiver
CeeDee Lamb: Start, WR1
Brandin Cooks: Sit, WR5
CeeDee Lamb is once again a top-10 wide receiver option this week. Lamb had to shake off some rust after his hold out situation this offseason but the usage was there. 71% snap share and ten targets, not to mention an additional three carries. Lamb is matchup-proof, so he should be set up for all the fantasy success in Week 2, coming in as my WR6 on the week. Brandin Cooks had a nice week against the Browns, serving as the team’s number two pass catcher (7 targets). He found the end zone as well, which ultimately saved his week. The good news for Cook is the usage was there. After two down seasons, it’s hard to see Cooks being very usable unless he does find the endzone (Averaged 0.38 Touchdowns per game the last two seasons). He is not in my lineups this week, but it could be an excellent FLEX play when you look to Week 4 against the Giants.
Tight End
Sit All
In Week 1, Ferguson suffered a knee injury that will likely keep him off the field for an extended time. In his absence, you can avoid the tight ends for the Cowboys, as I don’t see Luke Schoonmaker making much of an impact on fantasy teams this week. If Ferguson does manage to suit up, he won’t be playing at full strength, and would be a risky play.