Game Info
Kickoff: Tuesday, December 8th at 8:05 PM ET
Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
Betting Odds: Currently not available on Oddsshark
Network: FOX/NFL
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Andy Dalton (Sit)
As much as Andy Dalton has been an improvement from Ben DiNucci and Garret Gilbert, Dalton should still not be trusted in lineups this week. Dalton has the pass catchers that can buoy his fantasy production with yards after the catch (as Dalton has mostly thrown short this season), but the Ravens’ pass defense is a top 10 unit (per Football Outsiders). The Ravens will be able to generate pressure against a struggling offensive line that is top four in sack allowed. Dalton is 27th in the NFL in completion percentage while under pressure (per PFF).
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliot (Start, RB2), Tony Pollard (Sit)
The Ravens defense is third in the NFL against the run (per Football Outsiders) and should be able to contain Ezekiel Elliot like most of the league has been able to do so far. Elliot has now played 70% or less of the snaps in five of the last six games, which is lower than his normal usage. Elliot has also been less effective as a runner this year (only 18th in DYAR per Football Outsiders) though that is also partially on the struggling offensive line and the lack of Dak Prescott. If you have Elliot, you will still be starting him but this is a tough matchup and expectations should be lowered. Tony Pollard has still looked explosive on his limited touches. Pollard is still a top handcuff option but is not much more currently.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Amari Cooper (Start, Flex), CeeDee Lamb (Start, Flex), Michael Gallup (Sit), Dalton Schultz (Sit)
Amari Cooper has been the most consistent Cowboy for fantasy this season. Even with the rotating quarterback group, Cooper has managed to hit at least 60 yards in each game but two. Cooper is eighth in routes run (per PFF), ninth in targets, 28th in WOPR, and 16th in YAC (both per airyards.com). This is a difficult matchup but with Cooper’s volume and efficiency, it’s hard to completely turn away from him. CeeDee Lamb has been the WR2 in the Dallas offense pretty much since the second he stepped on the field. He has out targeted Michael Gallup 81 to 68, has more than 100 more receiving yards, and has three more TDs. Lamb is in flex consideration because of his slot and red-zone roles. Gallup can’t be trusted in fantasy right now. Dalton Schultz is in the TD or bust bucket of TEs, which is almost all of them at this point. You can find another TE that has a better matchup from this bucket.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson (Start)
As of writing this preview (right after the end of the Wednesday matinee game for the Ravens), Lamar Jackson is still on the Covid list. There have been no updates on Jackson’s availability for the Cowboys game though he is eligible to be activated if he clears his tests. The Cowboys would present a great matchup for Jackson ranking 22nd against the pass and 29th against the run (both per Football Outsiders). If Jackson is activated, put him right back in your lineups.
Running Backs
J.K. Dobbins (Start, RB2), Mark Ingram (Sit), Gus Edwards (Sit)
Last we saw J.K. Dobbins, he appeared to be taking over the Ravens backfield with a strong 15 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown. He easily played the most snaps with 41, compared to 14 for Gus Edwards, seven for Justice Hill, and six for Mark Ingram. Dobbins went on the Covid list and was activated off of it but did not travel with the team for their game against Pittsburgh (same with Ingram), so it leaves the question open if he will continue to take over. Edwards and Hill did not do much in relief, though it was a rough day for the offense overall. Dobbins also led the backfield in snaps in Week 10, so I tend to think they will be going back to the rookie against the struggling Cowboys defense. The rest of the backs will split the remaining work and will not have fantasy value until one gets injured/benched.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Marquise Brown (Start, Deep Flex), Mark Andrews (Start)
Marquise Brown finally broke a long TD and all it took was Trace McSorley to be the quarterback. Brown leads the team in routes run, but that only puts him 49th among WRs (per PFF). He has only been targeted 56 times as well, which is 45th among WRs. Brown just has not been involved enough in the Ravens’ gameplan to be trusted as a fantasy option. He is listed as a deep flex option because there is always the chance he breaks a long TD like this past week, but you would be starting him needing to hit a high ceiling and understanding his almost nonexistent floor. Mark Andrew has also been a disappointment this year for where he was drafted. Andrews did have his best game of the season before being placed on the Covid list with seven targets for 96 yards and a TD. If Andrews is activated off of the Covid list, he is in a great position to keep up his momentum. In this TE hellscape, Andrews still has plenty of value, just not what we thought at the start of the year.
-Frank Costanzo (@FrankQBList on Twitter, Zzzonked92 on Reddit)