Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, 1:00 ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Network: FOX
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: Sit, QB2
Dak Prescott has just two finishes inside the top 12 quarterbacks this season, with the last one instance coming in Week 3 against the Ravens. Had it not been for two fourth quarter touchdowns to CeeDee Lamb last week, Dak would have put up an abysmal performance. Couple that with the fact that Supreme Leader Jerry Jones doesn’t want Dak running the ball, and there’s not much fantasy upside visible for Prescott as things stand. He’s still fine in Superflex formats against the Falcons, who allow the eighth-most points to QBs, but you should look elsewhere in single-QB leagues.
Running Back
Rico Dowdle: FLEX Option, RB3
Ezekiel Elliott: Sit, RB4
Dalvin Cook: Sit
To celebrate Halloween, we’ll next discuss one of the scariest positional groups in the entire NFL. The Cowboys’ backfield has been among the grossest to navigate this season, and there isn’t much of a sign of things taking a turn in Week 9. The Falcons allow the ninth-fewest points to opposing RBs, so even if Rico Dowdle is able to claim a larger share of the backfield work with the ghosts of Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook plodding forward with remarkable inefficiency, there isn’t a good reason to start any of these players. Dowdle is a desperation FLEX at best.
Wide Receiver
CeeDee Lamb: Start, WR1
Jalen Tolbert: FLEX Option, WR4
We finally had a bona fide BOOM game for CeeDee Lamb in Week 8, and even though most of his production came in the fourth quarter, it was great to see the superstar give fantasy managers the return they’ve been waiting for when they drafted him in the early first round. Lamb is a matchup-proof stud and should be started in all formats as he looks to make this a long day for AJ Terrell and crew. Jalen Tolbert has also had his moments this season but shouldn’t be started as more than a WR4 in Week 9. The Falcons’ softest matchup in the secondary comes at the slot against Dee Alford, which is where Lamb most commonly lines up. Tolbert should be benched in favor of other options if you can manage it.
Tight End
Jake Ferguson: Start, TE1
Jake Ferguson hasn’t been quite what we wanted him to be these past few weeks, but he’s maintained a steady target volume with at least 4 looks in every game this season and 7 targets or more in four of his six games played. That volume alone keeps Ferg in the top 12 at the position against a Falcons defense that allows the 12th-most points to TEs.
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins: Start, QB1
It’s been a mixed bag this season for Atlanta’s new veteran QB, as Kirk Cousins has finished as QB8 or better three times and QB22 or worse five times this season. You know what you’re getting with Cousins: a pocket passer with limited mobility who can tear up defenses when he gets hot. Cousins gets a great matchup against the Cowboys, who allow the sixth-most points to the position. With a solid supporting cast and facing a porous defense, Cousins sneaks into our top 12 at the position this week.
Running Back
Bijan Robinson: Start, RB1
Tyler Allgeier: FLEX Option, RB3
Bijan Robinson is riding a hot streak of three straight games finishing inside the top-10 RBs in PPR scoring, and Week 9 gives him an excellent chance to keep things rolling. The Cowboys are abysmal at defending the run, allowing the third-most points to the position. Bijan is poised for a smash spot this week with RB1 overall potential. Tyler Allgeier, meanwhile, is a good real-life player as the Falcons’ RB2, but he hasn’t produced much fantasy success in 2024 outside of his Week 6 performance against the Panthers. There’s a world in which this game follows a similar script and Allgeier gets to eat in garbage time, but he’s best left on your benches and profiles as a low-tier FLEX.
Wide Receiver
Drake London: Start, WR1
Darnell Mooney: FLEX Option, WR3
Ray-Ray McCloud III: Sit
After three straight solid performances, Drake London came crashing down to earth with an underwhelming 7.4 fantasy points in Week 8 in a game where Cousins threw for 276 yards and 4 TDs. The good news for London owners is that the Cowboys are a good place to get back on the right track. Dallas is better at defending receivers than running backs (13th-fewest points to WRs), but the matchups against Trevon Diggs and company shouldn’t pose a challenge for a player of London’s size and skill. Start him with confidence as a back-end WR1.
The post-hype breakout for Darnell Mooney has been an enjoyable storyline in 2024, as the high-volume passing game behind Cousins has proven to be a boon for Mooney’s fantasy prospects. Mooney has been a little boom/bust this season, but a matchup with the Cowboys makes the boom potential high, so he profiles as a solid WR3 or FLEX this week. Ray-Ray McCloud III won’t be more than a last-effort FLEX.
Tight End
Kyle Pitts: Start, TE1
Has Kyle Pitts finally arrived? Since posting a goose egg in Week 4, Pitts has finished as the TE6, 13, 10, and 2 in Weeks 5 through 8, celebrating National Tight Ends Day in style with 91 yards and 2 touchdowns. Keep Pitts rolling as a top-8 option or so against the Cowboys, who allow the 11th-most points to TEs.