Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 1 at 8:20 PM ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Betting Odds: PHI -7.5, 43.5 Total via Oddsshark
Network: NBC
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Andy Dalton/BenDiNucci/Garrett Gilbert (Sit)
As you can see, the Cowboys are in dire straits. Dak Prescott was doing so well and a gruesome broken ankle led to the start of Andy Dalton. He got obliterated on a dirty hit last week and is in the concussion protocol, so we are looking at either Ben DiNucci or Garrett Gilbert at starting this week. Regardless of who is under center, there is no chance they need to be in lineups. The almost fully injured Cowboys offensive line can’t stop a JV team right now and honestly, this team looks like they have given up. Brutal. Sit and move on.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliot (Start, RB2), Tony Pollard (Sit)
I never thought I would see the day when a fully healthy Ezekiel Elliot would be suggested as an RB2, but here we are. Thinking that he was headed for more of a workload, Zeke instead ran into brick walls and has under 50 yards rushing and two of the worst statistical games of his career in the last two games. Now facing a stout Philly run defense, it could be tough sledding again, but the hope is that they use Zeke as a receiver more than in recent weeks and can give him a safer floor. Honestly, as I said before, there isn’t much buy-in at this point so it may be a good time to see what you can get for Zeke based on name value. Tony Pollard has now lost the upside as a handcuff that he once held and can safely be dropped as he would probably only be a middling flex play should Zeke go down.
Wide Receivers
Amari Cooper (Start, WR2), CeeDee Lamb (Start, Flex), Michael Gallup (Sit), Dalton Schultz (Sit)
One man that has kept his production up no matter the quarterback is Amari Cooper. Totaling 15+ PPR points in every game but one this season, he will seemingly get peppered with targets as the Cowboys will surely be playing catchup in most games. That is bad news for Cowboys fans, but good news for Cooper owners. Coming off two 7 catch performances since Dak went down, look for that trend to continue and see the potential of double-digit targets. CeeDee Lamb looked like the steal of the draft through 4 and a half weeks, but now he is nothing more than a low floor flex play until further notice. After going catch less on 5 targets in Week 7, Lamb will look to get back on track in a big divisional game. This could be hard with quarterbacks that won’t have the time in the pocket to push the ball downfield. Start him as a boom or bust flex this week. Michael Gallup is firmly off fantasy starting radars, as well as Dalton Schultz until we see a change in the makeup of this offense.
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback
Carson Wentz (Start, QB1)
That seems bold, doesn’t it? Well, it is the Cowboys and it is a divisional game for the division-leading Eagles. Carson Wentz is coming off of his best game of the season and could be getting a couple of weapons back as we will see later. Regardless, the Cowboys defense is absolutely terrible and gets burned over the top easily. Coming off two 3 touchdown games, Wentz is flying high as he heads into the Week 8 cupcake matchup and should once again produce heading into a bye week. Wentz is a buy as his playoff stretch is nothing short of little league.
Running Back
Miles Sanders (Start, RB1 if active), Boston Scott (Start, RB2 if Sanders is inactive, sit otherwise)
A rough year for injuries to stud running backs yet again claimed Miles Sanders in Week 6 on a 70-yard run where his knee got twisted under him as he fumbled away a potential touchdown for owners. He missed a fantastic matchup last week and is potentially going to miss this week against a soft Dallas team. He wasn’t at practice Wednesday while other iffy players were there in full pads (more on that below). Check the reports over the next couple of days, but it doesn’t look great as the smart thing would be to keep him out through the bye week for the playoff home stretch in the division for the Eagles. If he can’t go, Boston Scott would slide back in as an RB2 after putting up 18 PPR points last week, really being saved on a nice late touchdown grab. It will be hard to count on that each time he starts, as he wasn’t usable Week 1 with Sanders out, but he should get volume here to be an RB2 if Sanders can’t go.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Travis Fulgham (Start, WR2), Greg Ward (Sit), Alshon Jeffery (Sit, Questionable), Dallas Goedert (Start, TE1 if active), Richard Rodgers (Start, TE1 if active)
Travis Fulgham has been greatly rewarding fantasy managers who invested significant FAAB in him a few weeks ago. Putting together four games of 12+ PPR points, Fulgham looks primed to go off this week against the Cowboys. Owners saw 5/73 last week on 11 targets, and that number would boom against the Cowboys if given another 11 targets. Other factors could hinder that, but for now, it is looking like he is locked in as a WR2. Greg Ward caught a touchdown last week and looked good, but I don’t want to suggest starting a touchdown or nothing wide receiver with other options available and the potential return of key playmakers for the Eagles. Alshon Jeffery has been cleared of the foot injury but is now dealing with a calf ailment that should keep him sidelined through the bye week, but he hasn’t been ruled out yet. To the joy of those that held and stashed Dallas Goedert on the IR spot, he was seen Wednesday practicing in full pads…HURRAY! If he starts he is immediately a TE1 and it would be a truly astonishing comeback from a fractured ankle. If he is held out through the bye, then Richard Rodgers is inserted as a middle of pack TE1 after going 6/85 on 8 targets as he should see a similar workload.
-Matt Dean (@MattDeanQBList on Twitter, mdean8 on Reddit)