Kickoff: Sunday, October 31st at 8:20 PM ET
Location: US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Betting Odds: DAL, -1.5, 55 Total on Sports Line
Network: NBC
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott (Start)
Dak Prescott shows off the mobility with a strike to Ceedee Lamb pic.twitter.com/SgbII0UwJ5
— Dallas Cowboys Collaboration (@mailman_phil) October 25, 2021
Dak Prescott is still not officially cleared to play this week, although he has been practicing on a limited basis and should be considered a start until we are told he isn’t playing. Prescott has been absolutely on fire the past two weeks tallying, 747 yards, 6 TDs to 2 INTs. This is an interesting matchup because the Vikings have allowed the third-fewest TDs (7) and fifth-fewest yards (1,382) to opposing quarterbacks. That being said, they haven’t faced Prescott and this high-powered offense, check on Prescott during the week and start him if the Cowboys do.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliot (Start), Tony Pollard (Flex option)
https://twitter.com/IHaveFourBalls/status/1439708764383420417
Ezekiel Elliot has 6 TDs in the past 5 games and is getting 70 percent of offensive snaps. In week 6, Zeke got involved in the receiving game collecting 7 receptions, for 50 yards. It seems like Zeke is going to get his touches no matter how the game goes. Tony Pollard has been more than a change of pace back for the Cowboys, he has taken his 30 percent of the snap share and turned in a great season so far. Averaging 6 yards/carry, 11.6 carries/game, and just about 3 targets/game. Keep Pollard in your lineups if you need a flex for the bye, he’s always got the potential to have a good game. Both will get touches but are startable in different situations, Zeke is undeniable, while Pollard is a flex option.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
CeeDee Lamb (Start), Amari Cooper (Start), Michael Gallup (flex), Dalton Schultz (Start)
CeeDee Lamb 🔥🔥🔥 Catch vs Vikings pic.twitter.com/HqSnCiKPfu
— Law Nation Sports (@LawsNation) October 27, 2021
For this game, the Cowboys will need to bring all the firepower, which means roll out CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper. There’s always a chance one of them won’t go off but do you really want to try and be cute by sitting either one? No, the answer is no! As far as the rest of the team, while Dalton Schultz has been a good player for fantasy, he is playing a team that is very good against the tight end position. The Vikings have only allowed 31 fantasy points to the tight end position, and have yet to give up a TD. You may want to lower your expectations this week. Michael Gallup looks like he could return in this game and I want to see who he takes targets from. Being that it is his first game back, I want to see how he looks after this game before I send him out on a week-to-week basis. At most he’s a flex this week.
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins (Start)
START KIRK COUSINS THIS WEEK:
The Vikings played the Cowboys in both 2019 & 2020 & Cousins has lit them up. In those games, Cousins has gone 45/62 for 534 yards & 5 TDs. He also has not thrown an INT, avg 8.7 yards per attempt, with a 125.8 passer rating
pic.twitter.com/sSDcTlUQt4— David Mendelson (@DMendy02) October 27, 2021
Kirk Cousins has been a bright side to this 3-3 start for the Minnesota Vikings. Keeping them in every game this year, as the Vikings have lost by 11 points in their 3 losses. Cousins has been his usually impressive self on the stat-line with 13 TDs to 2 INTs and 1,769 yards in 6 games this year. This week Cousins will get to play a middle of the pack, but very opportunistic Dallas Cowboys defense. This is a defense that gives up 8.2 yards/attempt, the Cowboys have also given up the fourth most 40+ yard plays (5) and the sixth most 20+ yard plays (27). Needless to say, this is a team that will give you a chance to score big points in fantasy. Start Cousins, Minnesota will need him in this potential shootout.
Running Backs
Dalvin Cook (Start)
RT .@Vikings: THAT'S A TOUCHDOWN!!!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/gFSXNpYAVW
— Bill Porter (@BMack764) October 23, 2021
Dalvin Cook is back and that means you keep him in your lineup, that also means Alexander Mattison isn’t playable. Cook made an immediate impact in his week 6 return, taking the Carolina Panthers’ strong run defense and turning it inside out with a 140 yard and one TD performance. The Cowboys’ defense has been good against the run this year, but in the past two games, they have allowed top 15 performances to Devontae Booker and Damien Harris. Overall if this game is to stay close then the Vikings are going to need Cook to put on a strong performance.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Justin Jefferson (Start), Adam Thielen (Start), KJ Osburn (Sit), Tyler Conklin (Start)
Adam Thielen is an automatic TD pic.twitter.com/xgG7RaOebA
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) September 26, 2021
These are two teams with very identical situations, where you’re not sitting the top dogs. Justin Jefferson doesn’t belong on your bench and this year Adam Thielen has continued his 2020 success with 5 TDs in 6 games. The real question for this squad is who do you start as the third option? For me it’s Tyler Conklin, because the Cowboys have given up 4 TDs and 60 fantasy points to opposing tight ends through 6 games. It’s obvious that this is a weak spot for that defense and Conklin has the talent to exploit it. This makes KJ Osburn the odd man out for this game.