Game Info
Kickoff: Thursday, October 8, 2026, 8:15 PM ET
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Network: AMZN
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield: OUT
Jalon Daniels: SIT
Even with a disgustingly good matchup against the Cowboys and rushing production to boot, I’m not risking starting Jalon Daniels. The Cowboys have given up the most rushing yards to quarterbacks, but the pass production won’t be anywhere close to baseline to make it worth the gamble. You can consider him a Hail Mary in Superflex formats if you’re really struggling with injuries and the first bye weeks of the season, but the floor is the basement.
Running Back
Bucky Irving: START, RB2
Kenny Gainwell: SIT
Sean Tucker: SIT
It’s a middling matchup overall, but Dallas has already given up five touchdowns to running backs this season, and Bucky Irving has proven this backfield belongs to him. His 16 carries in Week 4 are more than Kenneth Gainwell has had all season. Bucky’s slowed down a bit from the first two weeks, but his volume keeps him in RB2 land.
Wide Receiver
Emeka Egbuka: START, WR3
Chris Godwin Jr: FLEX, WR4
Ted Hurst III: SIT
If it weren’t for the matchup, I’d bench both Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr., but both are startable based on the old adage of “somebody has to catch the ball, right?” Egbuka gets a slight bump over Godwin due to his theoretical ceiling, but Godwin is the much safer option and could have a better day if Daniels can find some success in the short and middle of the field.
Tight End
Cade Otton: tHe gLoB
If you’re in a situation where you have to start someone from tHe gLoB, look no further than Otton. Dallas has allowed three touchdowns to tight ends this season.
Defense/Special Teams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: SIT
Despite being bad matchups for fantasy opponents, the Bucs aren’t doing enough on defense to be considered a starting option.
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: START, QB1
Tampa being a bottom-10 quarterback matchup for fantasy isn’t my only concern in starting Dak Prescott on Thursday Night Football. Considering the state of the Bucs offense, there’s a real chance Dallas doesn’t have to do much offensively to win this game and can play most of this game on cruise control. But as bad as the Cowboys defense is playing and the weapons at his disposal, Prescott is just fine to fire up as a low-end QB1. Just don’t expect a ceiling game.
Running Back
Javonte Williams: START, RB2
Tyler Goodson: SIT
Emari Demercado: SIT
The lofty fantasy point total for Javonte Williams last week looks delicious, but it was the three scores that brought all the flavor. Williams ran for a meager 3.3 yards per carry on 19 carries, but did chip in five catches for 21 yards as well. Tyler Goodson played a little more than he has been and stole some early down snaps from Williams, but he’s not on the fantasy radar yet. There’s no concern that Goodson will eat away any of Williams’ value, either. Despite the three-touchdown game in Week 4, he’s an RB2 facing a Bucs defense that’s a bottom-10 matchup and has only allowed one touchdown to running backs so far this season.
Wide Receiver
Ceedee Lamb: START, WR1
George Pickens: START, WR2
Ryan Flournoy: SIT
Yeah, you’re starting CeeDee Lamb. This feels like a Hungry Hungry Hippos situation. Everybody else can fight over the leftovers. CeeDee’s just sitting there gobbling up targets. I’ve been giving George Pickens the benefit of the doubt in terms of maintaining WR1 status despite an average start to the season, but I can no longer do so. Pickens plays a huge part on the team, but two catches on three targets isn’t going to produce a WR1 on a regular basis, even with a 75-yard total. Don’t hear what I’m not saying. Pickens is still an elite fantasy option, a high-end WR2 who can win you a week any given week. But the floor I had hoped for simply isn’t there.
Tight End
Jake Ferguson: SIT
Plays a valuable role on the team, just not valuable enough to be considered for fantasy.
Defense/Special Teams
Dallas Cowboys: STREAMER
This wouldn’t even remotely be an option if Baker Mayfield was starting. But Jalon Daniels was bad.