Game Info
Kickoff: Thursday, November 25th at 4:30 PM ET
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Betting Odds: DAL -7 , 51 Total on Vegas Insider
Network: CBS
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Derek Carr (Sit, QB2)
The Raiders’ passing offense clearly hasn’t been the same since the release of Henry Ruggs III. Since Ruggs’ release, Derek Carr has lowered his average depth of target significantly:
Week 9: 6.4 yards
Week 10: 7.7 yards
Week 11: 8.4 yards
All of these average depths of targets are lower than his season average of 8.7, which was even higher prior to Week 9. In that span, though, Carr has been able to serve as a high-end QB2, thanks in large part to a significant amount of passing volume from playing behind. A similar game script could be in play here against Dallas, meaning that he’s a high-floor streaming option for this week. I’m not expecting a top-ten performance, but he probably won’t come back to bite you.
Running Backs
Josh Jacobs (Start, RB2), Kenyan Drake (Sit)
Is Josh Jacobs finally getting the work in the passing game we’ve been waiting for? He’s had five+ targets in three straight games, while he ran a route on 70% of Carr’s pass attempts in Week 11. The lack of rushing volume is hurting him currently, while the offense as a whole has been ineffective. However, as long as his role is expanded, he’s someone that needs to be in your lineup as a high-floor RB2. Kenyan Drake, meanwhile, has come back down to earth after finishing as a top-12 back in three straight weeks, spanning from Week 6 to Week 9.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Hunter Renfrow (Start, Low-End WR2), Bryan Edwards (Sit), Zay Jones (Sit), DeSean Jackson (Sit), Darren Waller (Start, TE1)
Since the release of Ruggs, Hunter Renfrow has been the only wide receiver Carr has able to rely on. Although he only had four targets in the team’s loss to the Bengals in Week 11, he had 17 targets in the two games prior, in addition to two end-zone targets. Once again, he doesn’t come with a massive ceiling, but he’s someone you can feel comfortable starting because of his high floor. The same goes for tight end Darren Waller, who is, in my opinion, the #1 tight end this week with Travis Kelce on a bye. Waller’s utilization continues to be elite, and it finally showed with an eight target, 116-yard performance that allowed him to finish 15.1 fantasy points. Expect something similar this week in Dallas.
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott (Start, QB1)
Last week was a tough one for Dak Prescott, who scored a season-low 6.6 fantasy points and averaged just 5.02 yards/pass attempt in a 10-point loss to the Chiefs; the team failed to score a touchdown. Without Amari Cooper (COVID-19) and likely without CeeDee Lamb (concussion), it’s not going to be easy for him to get back on track, but playing the Raiders is the perfect bounce-back spot. Even without Cooper and Lamb, there are enough pieces here for Prescott to flourish, and their implied points still remain high this week. As such, start Prescott with confidence.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliot (Start, Low-End RB1), Tony Pollard (Sit)
It was worrying to see Ezekiel Elliot suffer a lower-body injury in the second quarter of the Cowboys’ game against the Chiefs, but he managed to stay in the game and finish with six receptions, allowing him to finish as an RB2 in a week where the offense struggled. The Raiders are a bottom-ten defense against running backs, and Elliot should have plenty of goal-line opportunities based on the spread and Dallas’ implied points here. If all goes as planned, this should be a top-ten finish for Elliot, and we’ll see if Tony Pollard gets involved as well.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Michael Gallup (Start, Low-End WR2/High-End WR3), Cedrick Wilson (Sit, WR4), Dalton Schultz (Start, TE1)
With Lamb and Cooper out, Michael Gallup suddenly becomes the top option in Dallas’ passing attack. Although he finished with just six fantasy points, his 10 targets allowed him to finish with 15.5 expected fantasy points, per PFF; he’s a high-upside, low-end WR2 against a struggling Raiders defense. You could consider starting Cedrick Wilson in your FLEX spot, but Dallas’ #2 option in the passing game is clearly tight end Dalton Schultz. He’s a borderline top-five tight end this week with little competition for targets in an effective passing attack, especially since the Raiders have had issues defending tight ends this year. He’s been a bit up-and-down since Gallup returned, but this is the prime spot for his fantasy managers to benefit.
All Stats via Pro Football Focus