Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 12th, at 1:00 PM ET
Location: FedExField, Landover, Maryland
Betting Odds: WAS +5, 49 over/under total via Oddsshark
Network: Fox
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott (Start, QB1)
The Washington Football Team is the worst team according to CBS in terms of giving up points to the quarterback positions. Dak Prescott has a legit chance to be the number 1 overall quarterback in week 14. Dak has had some slightly down games over the past 3 weeks only putting up 3 touchdowns over that span but also having 3 interceptions. Dak should be able to return to his elite form. The last time he faced a divisional opponent in week 5 (NYG) he threw for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns. He threw for 238 yards and 3 touchdowns in his other divisional game against the Eagles in week 3. Facing the divisional foe in the Football Team and looking to add to their divisional lead, Dak will ball out in this game. He will have all of his pass-catchers at full strength and the team may want to limit Zeke as they head towards the playoffs.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott (Start, RB2), Tony Pollard (Start, Flex), Corey Clement (Sit)
The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best running back tandems in the league. Ezekiel Elliott has been leading the team in carries and has been the workhorse for the team. The Cowboys have yet to lose when Zeke gets over 13 carries. He is dealing with a knee injury that he suffered in week 4. There have been talks about a snap count for him but we haven’t really seen it. Tony Pollard has been involved and provides a great change of pace when Zeke is out. Pollard is averaging 5.6 yards per carrying over the season which is better than Zeke’s 4.4. The Washington run defense is pretty decent so there could be some limitations early in the game but if America’s team gets up early they could put the game away on the ground. Both Zeke and Pollard have been used equally in the passing game so both provide upside in PPR. With the possibility of Elliot being on a snap count Pollard could easily shoot up and produce RB2 numbers so having him in your flex is an added bonus.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
CeeDee Lamb (Start, WR1), Amari Cooper (Start, WR2), Michael Gallup (Start, Flex), Cedrick Wilson (Sit), Dalton Schultz (Start, low-end TE1)
For the first time really all season the Cowboys and Dak Prescott have all their wide receivers healthy. They come into a game against a horrible pass defense in the Washington Football Team and look to show how good they can be. CeeDee Lamb seems to be the number one guy on the team. Over his past 3 games, he has seen 24 targets. It appears that the is the go-to for Dak. Amari Cooper has been banged up and played limitedly in week 13 after missing 2 weeks. He should return to being the number 2 on the team and get a fair amount of targets. Michael Gallup has been the surprise for this team. Since returning in week 10 after leaving Week 1’s game Gallup has gotten 32 targets in 4 games. He scored a beautiful touchdown in week 13 which was a plus for someone you are really only banking on his receptions and yards. I think you can start all 3 of these receivers. You are hoping that the one you have finds the endzone but they should have enough volume to make them okay without one. Tight ends could spoil some of the wide receiver production. Dalton Schultz has had some productive weeks since Blake Jarwin went on IR and is now on the Covid list. There is a chance that Jarwin could return in week 14. I think Schultz is a low-end TE1 for fantasy. With some fantasy names in the tight end realm on bye this week you are banking on him seeing 5 or more targets as he has in all but 2 of the games this year.
Washington Football Team
Quarterback
Taylor Heinicke (Sit, high end QB2)
The Washington Football Team is on a 4 game winning streak. That is great heading into a tough divisional match-up that has a lot of playoff implications. Taylor Heinicke has been just okay over that 4 game stretch. In those 4 wins, he has 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Not horrible numbers but the up and down makes him a risky start. He draws the Cowboys defense that CBS ranks 21st in giving up points to the quarterback position. It’s a game in which Heinicke could do well. If he does he is worth starting the next 3 weeks as he gets the Eagles and then the Cowboys again. I think given the divisional matchup Heinicke isn’t worth starting but he could do well in a pinch. He is right on the cusp of starting for me this week.
Running Backs
Antonio Gibson (Start, RB2), J.D. McKissic (Start, Flex), Jaret Patterson (Sit)
The Cowboys have a very good rushing defense which doesn’t bode well for Antonio Gibson in week 14. Gibson comes into the game averaging just shy of 24 carries per game over the past 4 games. He hasn’t gotten a rushing touchdown since week 10 and only has 1 receiving touchdown which came in week 13. J.D. McKissic should return from a concussion so that will eat into opportunities for Gibson. It’s a downgrade for Gibson in a tough matchup and a game that projects the Washington football team to be playing from behind. McKissic could see an increase in the passing work if they do get behind and need to pass. You will have to monitor the practice reports to see if McKissic clears concussion protocol. After Gibson and McKissic there isn’t much to be excited about Jaret Patterson had some usage but that has fallen off in recent weeks and recent addition Wendall Smallwood only received 1 carry in week 13.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Terry McLaurin (Start, WR2), DeAndre Carter (Sit,), Curtis Samuel (Sit), Adam Humphries (Sit), Logan Thomas (OUT), Rickey Seals-Jones (Sit)
It’s going to be a tough week for the Washington pass catchers. Terry McLaurin is the only one I would want to start. He has been leading the team in targets with 103 on the season. The next closest receiver in targets is Adam Humphries with 39. McLaurin has 8 touchdowns on the season and fantasy owners will be hoping he can find the end zone in week 14. The game projects for them to be playing from behind so there could be more passing opportunities. Logan Thomas suffered a season-ending injury in week 13 so Rickey Seals-Jones should be active and might see a decent-sized role. He is coming off a hip injury so he could be limited. After McLaurin, there is a group of wide receivers that you are just hoping can find the end zone but don’t have enough volume to be fantasy starters. Curtis Samuel has been a huge letdown coming over from Carolina. DeAndre Carter hasn’t don’t much on his snaps. Adam Humphries has seen a decent amount of targets but usually not until late in the game. Dyami Brown returned from injury and only saw 1 target. There is just no way to predict who will score outside of McLaurin. If I had to put money on it I would say, Humphries.
– Dustin Ludke (Dunit13dl on Reddit)