Buccaneers @ Cowboys
TAMPA BAY 24 – Dallas 16
Writer: Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan)
Three Up
- Bucky Irving — Irving looked like he did in 2024 during his rookie campaign, explosive and versatile out of the backfield. This is HIS running back room.
- George Pickens — It was clear that part of the game plan was to get Pickens involved early, and then he got a couple of series with Lamb sidelined. That’s a recipe for fantasy goodness.
- Jalon Daniels — He got the victory on the road on a short week. That’s a massive boost for this team and for the rookie. If he somehow keeps the job when Baker Mayfield returns, the rushing upside could make him fantasy viable in deep leagues.
Two Down
- CeeDee Lamb — With Pickens the focal point of the passing game, Lamb was held without a catch for the entire first quarter. Things didn’t improve as he left the game with an injury.
- Jake Ferguson – The Cowboys looked to integrate their TE2 and TE3 more often early on, and then Ferguson had an interception go off his facemask. Bad look for the big fella this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Jalon Daniels: 19/25 passing, 189 Yards, TD | 7 Carries, 23 Yards
Despite the short week, traveling on the road and being an undrafted rookie free agent in just his second career start, Daniels looked solid and operated the Buccaneers’ offense with confidence, though it took a little while for him to settle in. He seemed uncomfortable in the pocket for the first couple of possessions, tucking and running faster than he should have on a couple of instances, but from there he looked to build confidence and played better as his team built a lead. The rushing upside is legit, and the arm talent is serviceable. It will be interesting to see him play in a game that the Bucs need a comeback or a big game from their quarterback.
Running Back
Bucky Irving: 21 Carries, 165 Yards, TD | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 10 Yards, TD
Bucky Irving is back.
There were questions coming into this season whether or not he was truly the guy we saw in his rookie year or more the guy we saw struggle last season. After Thursday night, I think the judgment is that Irving is who we saw two years ago, and last year was an anomaly as he struggled with mental and physical health. Irving was outstanding in buoying the Bucs offense with great vision and patience out of the backfield. His best run by far was one where he worked left, somehow got the Cowboys to overcommit at the line of scrimmage, and then cut back through the smallest hole, busting through for a massive gain.
Irving left the game in the third quarter, missed two series, and came back in the fourth, where he crushed the Cowboys’ dreams with a couple of late hard runs to finish things off.
One of the coolest runs i've ever watched pic.twitter.com/48FYwtSXgd
— Sam Wagman (@swagman95) October 9, 2026
Kenny Gainwell: 4 Carries, 18 Yards | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 10 Yards
Sean Tucker: 5 Carries, 18 Yards
Gainwell was intended to be the pass-catching back? Irving has more targets, receptions, and receiving yards through five games and hasn’t had Gainwell cut into his carries at all.
Tucker was supposed to be the goal-line back? Irving had more goal-to-go snaps, more short-yardage snaps, and scored both of his touchdowns from inside the 10-yard line.
This is Bucky’s backfield.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Chris Godwin: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 37 Yards | 1 Carry, 3 Yards
Cade Otton: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 25 Yards
Emeka Egbuka: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 38 Yards | 1 Carry, 14 Yards, TD
Not much doing in the passing game for the Bucs, but then again they didn’t need much from the rookie quarterback. Egbuka was targeted the most, but most of it was low-yield short-yardage routes that didn’t result in much fantasy goodness. His touchdown came on a jet sweep rushing play that gained the edge, and he was able to turn the corner to the pylon.
Godwin and Otton were mostly just safety valves while Ted Hurst and Tex Johnson rotated in and out of the alignment. Johnson helped seal the Bucs win with a long catch-and-run, but that was the only notable play from the supporting cast.
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: 24/42, 316 Yards, TD, 2 INT
Dak looked downright awful for three and a half quarters, and then with the Cowboys trailing by two scores in the fourth quarter, he flipped a switch and looked like the quarterback that managers all hoped for. Maybe it was the short week. Maybe it was a lack of focus because it was an 0-4 team coming in. Either way, managers will hope for better from Dak going forward.
Running Back
Javonte Williams: 12 Carries, 45 Yards, TD | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 17 Yards
A negative game script impacted Williams’ usage, but he salvaged his fantasy day with an early touchdown run. Not much to see here this week, just one of those games where you wish things had gone differently.
Hunter Luepke: 1 Carry, 5 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
George Pickens: 13 Targets, 9 Receptions, 130 Yards, TD
The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Pickens must have made some noise about the disparity between his stats and Lamb’s through four weeks because he was targeted early and often in the Cowboys’ passing attack. During the short stretch that Lamb left the field, Pickens went for three catches, 51 yards, and a touchdown. Lamb isn’t supposed to miss extended time, but if he does, Pickens becomes a candidate for WR1 overall.
CeeDee Lamb: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 9 Yards
It took until the second quarter for the Cowboys to target Lamb, a stark difference from his 17-reception game a week ago. He left the game in the second half, tried to come back, but grimaced and left the field nursing his leg. He looked like he was in pain and did not return for the final two drives. Turns out the injury was a thigh contusion, and he should be back in short order; it helps that he has a 10-day layoff to get right.
Ryan Flournoy: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 90 Yards
Jake Ferguson: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 19 Yards
Ferguson was not utilized very much throughout and then when his number was called on the final drive of the game, he let it go through his hands and off his helmet for an easy tip drill interception.
KaVontae Turpin: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 22 Yards, Fumble (LOST)
Turpin was on the field more often after Lamb left the game, rotating into the slot receiver role in 11 personnel. He made a couple of important catches as the Cowboys tried to chip away at the Bucs’ lead late in the fourth quarter, but lost a costly fumble on a kick return earlier in the game to give Tampa Bay a short field for an easy score.
Jonathan Mingo: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 20 Yards
Luke Schoonmaker: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards
Brevyn Spann-Ford: 2 Targets