Game Info
Kickoff: Thursday, November 26th at 4:30 PM ET
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Betting Odds: DAL -11.5, 44.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: FOX
Washington Football Team
Quarterback
Alex Smith (Start, QB2)
Every dropback Alex Smith take is a joy to see, and at this point, he is the clear Comeback Player of the Year. After back-to-back 300 yards games, Smith threw just 25 passes (17/25 for 166) and one passing TD. The matchup against Dallas is excellent on paper, but the Cowboys have played tighter pass defense in recent weeks. In the last five, Dallas has held QBs to 227 yards passing. However, they have given up 12 touchdowns in that same time. While Vegas doesn’t expect a shootout, Smith should still find opportunities to move the ball and find the endzone multiple times. He is a solid QB2 this week with upside.
Running Backs
Antonio Gibson (Start, RB1), J.D. McKissic (Start, Flex)
With four straight weeks in the weekly top-12 Antonio Gibson has become a reliable fantasy starter. Gibson went for 20/128/1 against Dallas in a Week 7 matchup and Dallas remains vulnerable to a legit rusher. The matchup is as good as we can hope for and Gibson should find little trouble finding holes in this defense. If only Washington trusted him in the passing game. Gibson has caught 27 of 32 targets but he sees little opportunity to show what he can do as a receiver. At this point in the season, it seems that any improvement will need to come in the off-season, and pass-catcher J.D. McKissic is here to stay. McKissic is second in the league among running backs in targets with 66, trailing just Alvin Kamara. That’s good enough of the overall RB27. McKissic’s role looks secure and the opportunities he gets are enough to trust as a solid flex play this week.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Terry McLaurin (Start, WR1), Steven Sims (Sit), Logan Thomas (Start, TE1)
Terry McLaurin has enjoyed an outstanding season, despite playing in one of the league’s lowest-scoring offenses. McLaurin already has 93 targets, and at least seven in each of Smith’s starts. Why is he only the WR9 overall? Well, it is because this Washington team struggles to score touchdowns. Scary Terry has just three on the season but that should change this week. Dallas has allowed a league-worst 19 passing touchdowns and while the yardage totals have improved for this defense, they still haven’t found ways to keep receivers out of the end zone. Look for Washington to feed McLaurin and a big-time WR1 game is likely. Despite the cake matchup, Steven Sims should be on your bench, his target volumes and opportunity are just not consistent enough for managers to trust with all teams playing this week, and abundant options. However, if you are looking for a flex play this week Logan Thomas could be in store for a nice game on Thanksgiving. In Week 7 he caught a touchdown and 60 yards against this leaky defense. Thomas continues to see targets, at least five in every Smith start.
Dallas Cowboys
Andy Dalton (Sit)
The last time we saw Andy Dalton face the Washington Football Team Dalton got knocked around and eventually suffered a dangerous hit which caused a concussion. Before that play, he was struggling mightily, with just 75 yards passing. Washington has been one of the stronger fantasy defenses, allowing just five players to pass for more than 250 yards. Don’t expect to see Dalton added to that list. What’s more, the Football team has allowed just one player to pass for multiple touchdowns in the last five weeks. Dalton will be under pressure all day and a big game is unlikely.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliot (Start, RB2), Tony Pollard (Sit)
After never having back-to-back RB3 or worse fantasy weeks in his career Ezekiel Elliot suffered three straight before bouncing back last week with his first 100-yard game of the season. Zeke also had a receiving touchdown. Does this mean he’s back as an Rb1 in fantasy managers lineups? Probably, Zeke has always been a remarkably consistent back. His early struggles had more to do with reduced workload and bad offensive line play than it did with being washed. Elliott has slowed down but as Dallas continues to shore up the line play and stabilize the quarterback position, managers can stop the panic. Tony Pollard looks every bit the explosive back we saw in limited time last season, and he has earned about a 20% opportunity share in recent weeks. While we hope this continues or even increases in the coming weeks, Pollard is a top handcuff for managers heading down the stretch. However, without an Elliott injury, Pollard will only be a what the heck flex for managers desperate for a weekly starter.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Amari Cooper (Start, WR2), CeeDee Lamb (Start, FLEX), Michael Gallup (Sit), Dalton Schultz (Sit, TE2)
Most fantasy managers cannot afford to sit Amari Cooper or CeeDee Lamb this week but temper expectations. Washington has one of the best fantasy pass defenses in the league, thanks to a loaded defensive line. The Football Team has allowed 200 passing yards to the receiver corps to just one team all season, Week 2 against Arizona. In that game no single receiver had 100-yards. In fact, the team hasn’t allowed a single 100-yard receiving game this season. In Week 7 Cooper had 7/80 but both CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup were shutout. Lamb is an incredible talent, but he will struggle again this week to produce. Flex him if you must but there may be a better option. Gallup should be on your bench this week in this matchup.
Washington has allowed just 30 yards receiving per game in the last five to tight ends, and just one touchdown in that span. Dalton Schultz is seeing targets, 14 in three weeks, and looks to be a favorite of Dalton but if you have a better option keep Schultz on your bench.
-Marc Salazar (@dingwog on Twitter)