Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 16th, 8:30 PM ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Betting Odds: PHI -6, 42 total via PFF.com
Network: NBC
Writer: Chuck Steele (@ChuckSteele_T2T on Twitter)
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott (Doubtful), Cooper Rush (Sit)
The Dallas Cowboys were hoping for the return of their franchise quarterback, Dak Prescott. However, in the latest reports, the team is gearing up once again to roll out backup Cooper Rush for yet another week. With Prescott looking to need another week, Cooper Rush is going to have his toughest game yet as he leads the Cowboys to Philadelphia to take on the 5-0 Eagles. Don’t rush to put Cooper into your lineup, he is a sit this week. Dallas will more than likely rely on big defensive plays and game management from Cooper Rush. The Eagles secondary has been gelling well together this season and has only allowed 189.4 passing yards per game, which is slightly under Cooper’s average yards per game as a starter this year at 193.75. Rush is careful with his throws, having yet to throw an interception, and is purely a touchdown-dependent play. With no rushing upside to even add a little spice, going up against a stellar Philly defense, at this point, there are most likely better options available on the waiver wire.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliot (Start, Flex), Tony Pollard (Start, Flex)
The Dallas Cowboys come with a dual threat at running back, and each can be played as a flex this week, as it’s all hands on deck against a stout Eagles defense. Ezekiel Elliot comes into this game having a disappointing season so far for fantasy managers, averaging only 8.8 points per contest. It’s been hard for Elliot to get going, averaging only 3.8 yards per carrying with only one score on the year. Yet, the running back will still have enough volume in this offense, and still can break loose for a big play.
Tony Pollard has been providing more of the pop for the Cowboys’ ground game, showing his big-play ability last week as he broke loose, avoided tacklers, and took the ball 57 yards for a touchdown. Pollard possesses that big play ability to take it to the house on any play, making him a good flex option for any week. The Eagles have allowed 105 rushing yards per game and will make it a key focus to stop the run and make Dallas have to beat them with their quarterback play, so with that I am not expecting any big games from the Dallas backfield.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
CeeDee Lamb (Start, WR1/WR2), Michael Gallup (Flex), Noah Brown (Sit/Flex), Kevontae Turpin (Sit), Dennis Williams (Sit), Dalton Schultz (Sit), Jake Ferguson (Sit)
Ceedee Lamb has been having a good year for fantasy managers, but not the season many were hoping for. The new #1 wideout for Dallas has yet to be the true #1 for fantasy teams. He is always going to be a start though coming in this week as a WR2, only a touchdown away from tipping in the favor of a WR1. Lamb has yet to record a game of 100+ receiving yards and draws a tough matchup against an Eagles defense allowing only 189.4 yards per game. Lamb has been a favorite target of Cooper Rush, seeing an elite 34% target share. However, he’s only pulling in 56% of those targets. He will volume his way into production weekly, and this week in an NFC East showdown should prove the same.
It’s been a warm welcome to see the return of Micheal Gallup. In just his two games back from a torn ACL last season, he’s already put his big catch ability on display, already giving us two weeks of flex-worthy fantasy production via catching six of eight targets and one touchdown. Gallup will look to continue his nice play since the injury, you can add him to your lineup as a flex.
Noah Brown had stepped up for the Dallas Cowboys while Gallup was recovering, and since his return, he has simmered down a little bit. Brown will be a dice roll this week, being touchdown dependent if you were going to flex him. However, I feel he’s better suited for the bench with better options on waivers. Dalton Schultz is currently dealing with a PCL sprain and was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. He will most likely suit up this week against the Eagles but his improvement should be monitored. Being a Sunday night game, you might want to sit Schultz and find another option from the earlier games.
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts (Start, QB1)
To say Jalen Hurts has been lights out this year just is not fair, because he has certainly been lighting up the stat sheet. Hurts is coming into Week 6 with 1,359 passing yards on the year, with an additional 266 yards on the ground with 10 total touchdowns. He has the Eagles offense beating to a new drum, but faces his toughest challenge yet: Sunday Night Football against their divisional rivals. Dallas is giving up 193.8 passing yards per game, but allows on average .8 passing touchdowns, with opposing offenses finding the red zone 1.8 times per game. Hurts will need to keep his head on a swivel and his feet ready to move, which is something he does well, to avoid the Cowboys pass rush who ranks second in sacks with 20 on the year. No matter how good the Dallas defense has been, Hurts comes in with the upside of a QB1 every week. Jalen Hurts will come ready to defend his home turf.
Running Backs
Miles Sanders (Start, Flex), Kenny Gainwell (Sit), Boston Scott (Sit)
Miles Sanders has turned it around since last season. Having scored zero touchdowns in 2021, he already has three scores in 2022. He comes into this contest as the only running back worth cracking into your lineup, and it’s only as a flex option. He might be able to find some holes and get some yards against the Cowboys as he’s pulling in just under 83 yards per game, and Dallas ranks 14th in rushing yards allowed on the season with 588. However, Dallas has lived with a “bend, but don’t break” mentality, being tied for league-best with only one rushing touchdown allowed on the season. Kenny Gainwell and Boston Scott should remain on your bench.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
A.J. Brown (Start, WR1/WR2), DeVonta Smith (Start, WR2), Quez Watkins (Sit), Zach Pascal (Sit), Dallas Goedert (Start/TE1), Jack Stoll (Sit), Grant Calcaterra (Sit)
A.J. Brown has been a welcome addition to the Philadelphia Eagles and has been received very well by the fans. In return, he has been receiving very well for the team. Brown sees a team-high in targets, getting nine per game on a 28.3 target share. He’s been a borderline WR1 for most of the season and this week should show the same. Brown will be going up against one of the better ball hawks in the league, Trevon Diggs. Though Diggs has been fantastic since joining the league, he does give up the occasional big play, and Brown is known to have made plenty of those in his career. He’s ripping off 15.6 yards per reception this year, which is the best in the NFL among wide receivers with 20 receptions or more.
DeVonta Smith gives Philadelphia one of the better 1-2 combos at the wideout position. The former Heisman winner is seeing a target share of 23.9% but has just as many catches as A.J. Brown this year with 28. DeVonta is a homerun play waiting to happen, fire him up as a WR2 for Sunday Night. Dallas Goedert is finding his success with defenses worrying about the dual threats on the outside for the Eagles. He’s ranking 5th among tight ends in targets for their teams, seeing 18.2% of Jalen Hurts’ attempts. Pulling in 24 receptions on the year, Goedert is averaging 14 yards per reception. Goedert should resume his production of TE1 in Week 6. The rest of the wideouts on the Eagles should be left in the nest.