Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 8th, 4:25 PM ET
Location: FedEx Field, Washington
Betting Odds: DAL -7.0, 41.0 total via PFF.com
Network: FOX
Writer: Estevão Maximo (@estevao_maximo on Twitter)
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott (Start, QB2)
Dak Prescott leads the league in interceptions this year with 14, and that comes despite missing significant time, which means it hasn’t been the smoothest season for the Cowboys franchise QB. However, on the flip side, Prescott is coming off three straight multi-TD games, averaging nearly 300 passing yards per game, and a Passer Rating over 100.
Some of these picks are not on Dak, and as a whole this offense seldom has had trouble moving the ball on virtually any defense, which in the end, is what you want to hear as a fantasy owner, and against all odds, they’re still alive for the division title in Week 18, making this a must-win game for Dallas, instead of a possible rest your starters situation, even if a win by the Giants at Philly is rather unlikely.
Running Backs
Tony Pollard (Start, RB2), Ezekiel Elliott (Start, FLEX)
After missing last Thursday Night Football, Tony Pollard has had a full week of practice, and outside of a rushing score early in the game, Ezekiel Elliott didn’t do much with the opportunity other than clarifying that Pollard is the more dangerous back right now, and the preferred fantasy option as an RB2, bumping the former Buckeye to high-end FLEX status.
Tony Pollard not only saw snap shares over 50% in each of the past three weeks, but was a legitimate option in the passing game, with 18 targets over that period, and 14 catches. There is no controversy in this backfield, or at least there shouldn’t be one.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
CeeDee Lamb (Start, WR1), Michael Gallup (Sit, FLEX), TY Hilton (Start, FLEX), Dalton Schultz (Start, TE1)
Regardless of what we thought and currently think about the Amari Cooper trade, CeeDee Lamb has taken the steps forward we all envisioned he could, becoming one of the premier alpha receivers in this league, and the focal point of this passing attack. Outside of JJ and Chase, you can make the case on Lamb as one of the safest WR dynasty assets around.
Michael Gallup on the other hand hasn’t been able to command targets to distance himself from Noah Brown, leaving the door open for TY Hilton to make some noise, shortly after joining the offense. Hilton got five looks and caught four of them against an albeit very depleted Titans defense, but still, doing this damage so soon, he gets the nod over Gallup as the preferred FLEX-start.
Dalton Schultz has slowly come into his own in the second half, with two 10-target games in the last four weeks, and coming off a two-touchdown effort at Tennessee, he is a low-end TE1 play against the Commanders.
Washington Commanders
Quarterbacks
Sam Howell (Sit)
Eliminated from playoff contention after last week’s debacle, head coach Ron Rivera made the obvious decision to give rookie, Sam Howell, a start in the final game of the year. From a redraft standpoint, this decision is irrelevant, but for dynasty players, with the caveat of being a small sample, it will be interesting to get a look at Howell against a dangerous Cowboys D.
Running Backs
Brian Robinson Jr. (Start, FLEX)
Brian Robinson Jr. has 46 rushing attempts in the last two games and has averaged a mere 3.15 yards per carry. In fact, out of the five games he’s had with over 20 attempts this season, he’s only cracked 4+ yards per carry, once. Maybe Washington airs it out a bit more with Howell just to see what the kid can do, but more likely, Robinson will see another high-volume day without a ton of efficiency. His fantasy production will depend on whether he finds the end zone at some point.
With Antonio Gibson out for the season, Robinson’s snap share will be higher, but it’s hard to rank him as a RB2, even a low-end one, when so much uncertainty surrounds this offense and this team as a whole, in a melancholic end to the season.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Terry McLaurin (Start, WR3), Jahan Dotson (Start, FLEX), Curtis Samuel (Sit), Logan Thomas (Start, TE2)
It’s hard to know how this talented receiver room will perform with Howell, when we have no track record, but against a Cowboys secondary that is banged up and has allowed three of its highest passing yard totals in the past three weeks, which included games against Gardner Minshew and Josh Dobbs, Washington could do a bit of damage.
Everyone gets bumped down a bit, but Terry McLaurin should be an interesting WR3 play, and both he and Jahan Dotson, carry big play upside. Logan Thomas continues to be a serviceable fantasy tight end when healthy, and is a fine TE2 play to wrap up the year.