Sit/Start Week 7: Reviewing All the Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Eagles@Cowboys

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, October 20th at 8:20 pm EST

Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

Betting Odds: -3 DAL, 49.5 total via Oddsshark

Network: NBC

Sleeper Spotlight: Ced Wilson

 

Philadelphia Eagles

 

Quarterback:

• Carson Wentz (Start/QB1)

Carson Wentz has provided fantasy owners with QB1 production in every game this year except against the Jets – a game in which the Eagles got up early and didn’t need to pass. The Eagles roll into Dallas following a disappointing loss in Minnesota where Wentz went over the 300-yard mark and added two touchdowns. The Cowboys secondary may be without starting cornerbacks Byron Jones and Anthony Brown, who both suffered hamstring injuries in Sunday’s matchup with the Jets. The kicker that would push Wentz over the top would be if DeSean Jackson can return to the lineup after missing the last four weeks with an abdominal injury. 

 

Running Backs:

• Jordan Howard (Start/Flex)
• Miles Sanders (Start/Flex)
• Darren Sproles (Sit)

 

This is almost as tough of a situation to predict as the 49ers backs. So much of this running back split will depend on what the Cowboys’ offense does. If the game script is neutral or positive for the Eagles, I’d expect to see more of Jordan Howard, who has a 53% snap share over the last three weeks versus just 36% for Miles Sanders. Howard’s goal-line work gives him a much higher floor than Sanders. If the Cowboys go up big and lead the Eagles to a negative game script, I’d expect more of Miles Sanders, who has eight targets over the last three games. Vegas has these teams relatively even, so I wouldn’t expect a blowout on either side. If you’re in a spot where you need a bye week fill in, I can get behind starting Sanders as a flex. With Sanders’ big-play ability, we should see the Eagles start incorporating more plays to take advantage of his skills.

 

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends:

• Zach Ertz (Start/TE1)
• Alshon Jeffery (Start/WR2)
• DeSean Jackson (Start/Flex)
• Dallas Goedert (Sit)
• Nelson Agholar (Sit)
• Mack Hollins (Sit)
• JJ Arcega-Whiteside (Sit)

If you have Zach Ertz, you’re firing him up. The Cowboys are middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed per game to tight ends but have only faced one tight end of Ertz’s caliber in Evan Engram in Week 1. Engram torches the Cowboys for 116 yards on 11 catches and a touchdown. As I noted in Carson Wentz’s writeup, the Cowboys may be without two of their starting cornerbacks, so Alshon Jeffery is a solid WR2 play this week. Jeffery has been Wentz’s favorite target, getting 26% of the team’s targets. If DeSean Jackson practices and is ready to go, I’m willing to fire him up as a flex against a thin secondary, but if he turns out to be a game-time decision, make sure you have an option to pivot to if he’s ruled out. Dallas Goedert got a season-high eight targets in Week 6 against the Vikings, which is intriguing, but I want to see that workload continues before slotting him into my starting lineup. However, if you have bye week issues, I’d understand using him as a fill-in. Nelson Agholar has seen his role significantly reduced over the last three weeks, going from a 23% target share in Weeks 1-3 to just 10% in Weeks 4-6. Mack Hollins and JJ Arcega-Whiteside remain sits until we see their roles in the offense change. 

Dallas Cowboys

 

Quarterback:

• Dak Prescott (Start/QB1)

 

Despite having a really good matchup against a thin Eagles secondary, there’s still a chance we get bad Dak Prescott this week. We already know he’ll most likely be without Amari Cooper, but a lot will ride on the status of Tyron Smith and La’el Collins. If Prescott is missing his starting left and right tackles, will he have enough time to take advantage of the porous Eagles secondary? I’m still starting Prescott this week, just tempering my expectations due to the injuries.

 

Running Backs:

• Ezekiel Elliott (Start/RB1)
• Tony Pollard (Sit)

Ezekiel Elliott gets the nod as an RB1 no matter who the matchup is against, just temper your expectations some, as the Eagles have given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. Elliott’s workload has continually crept up and over the last three weeks, he’s seen 89% of the running back carries as well as a 14% target share while being on the field for 93% of the team’s plays. Tony Pollard remains strictly a handcuff as he seems just seven carries and zero targets over the last three games. 

 

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends:

• Michael Gallup (Start/WR2)
• Randall Cobb (Start/Flex)
• Jason Witten (Start/TE1)
• Tavon Austin (Sit)
• Cedrick Wilson (Sit)

With Amari Cooper expected to be out with a calf/ankle injury, Michael Gallup will be launched into a featured role. Gallup already has a 25% target share on the year, so any additional targets are just gravy, especially against an Eagles pass defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. If the Cowboys are without their starting tackles, I’d expect Randall Cobb to get more short targets out of the slot, making him a solid flex play. Following Cooper’s Week 7 departure, Jason Witten received seven targets, which tied him with Gallup for the team-high. As long as Cooper remains out, I’m firing up Witten as a back end TE1. The Eagles are middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, but that includes matchups with the Vikings, Jets, and Packers, teams that aren’t known to feature the tight end. If Witten keeps up that 18% target share, that would be tied for eighth among tight end workloads. Tavon Austin and Ced Wilson each received six targets following Cooper’s exit. If Cobb returns to the lineup, Austin’s role will be significantly reduced. Wilson should take Cooper’s outside role, but I’m taking a wait and see approach.

 

-Rich Holman, @nextdoorFFguru