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Dallas Cowboys Team Report

June 10, 2015 By Dave Leave a Comment

Stop arguing with your buddies over the Dallas Cowboys running game. WR Dez Bryant is the guy to own off the 'Boys for fantasy football.

Stop arguing with your buddies over the Dallas Cowboys running game. WR Dez Bryant is the guy to own off the ‘Boys for fantasy football.

QB Tony Romo

Despite a solid rushing attack that resulted in Romo attempting just 435 passes in 2015, he still managed to produce a solid fantasy season, throwing for 3,705 yards and 34 touchdowns while averaging 21.8 points per game. Looking forward to 2015, his fantasy prospects hinge on whether the loss of DeMarco Murray will see the team place more emphasis on its passing attack. Given the state of the team’s depth chart at running back, look for a healthy increase in Romo’s passing attempts in 2015, although a decline in his touchdown passes should be expected (one touchdown pass per 12.8 attempts is not sustainable). With those factors likely to mostly offset each other, a season with close to 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes is our best guess which would rate Romo as an upper tier QB2.

RB Darren McFadden

At 27 years of age and after producing just one 1,000 yard rushing season during his first seven years in the league, Run-DMC gets what is most likely his final chance to prove that he wasn’t a total bust as the 4th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. After three consecutive seasons of averaging under 3.5 yards per carry, he was signed in the offseason to compete for a starting position in Dallas due to the departure of DeMarco Murray, with the team expected to add additional competition in the draft. Shockingly, the team failed to draft a running back, leaving McFadden to compete with the likes of troubled Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar and injury-riddled Ryan Williams to open the season as the team’s starter. Let’s face it, none of these options is stellar and the only reason fantasy owners are intrigued by the quartet is that the Cowboys feature arguably the league’s most impressive offensive line, a group supplemented by the acquisition of rookie La’el Collins and one that helped Murray lead the league in rushing last year with 1,845 yards. However, even if McFadden wins the role, he will likely operate out of a committee and he has a low probably of emerging as a breakout candidate given his recent struggles and inability to stay healthy.

RB Joseph Randle

Taken in the 5th round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State, Randle struggled as a rookie before posting 343 rushing yards last season on 51 carries. While his impressive average of 6.7 yards per carry might lead you to believe that he rates as a solid option to emerge as the Cowboys starting running back following the departure of DeMarco Murray, the more important statistic just might be his total carries. As in, even though Murray finished with 393 carries in an age when running backs rarely ever approach that total, we’re still not giving Randle more opportunities to run the ball. Given that he failed to earn a larger role last season and his penchant for off the field issues (two arrests in the last year, team fines, head shaking public comments criticizing Murray’s performance last year), why would anyone predict that he will earn a starting role this season? Well, the competition isn’t exactly tough with Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar and Ryan Williams on tap. Nonetheless, we expect the Cowboys to use a committee approach next season which renders none of their running backs any better than a RB3 unless one of them emerges from the shadows.

RB Lance Dunbar

Three years into his career, Dunbar has done nothing to suggest that he should be in the mix to replace DeMarco Murray as the Cowboys starting running back for the 2015 season. Unable to stay healthy during his first two years in the league, Dunbar was surpassed on the depth chart by Joseph Randle and was used as more of a pass receiver out of the backfield, catching 18 of his 22 targets for 217 yards. While there is a small chance that he could open the season as the team’s starter, the truth is that even if Dunbar wins that role, he offers little fantasy upside given his size (5’8″, 191 pounds) and inability to stay healthy. Look for him to be relegated to a mostly receiving role provided he beats out Ryan Williams for the 3rd spot on the depth chart.

RB Ryan Williams

There is a lot of smoke and mirrors in the offseason and that seemed to be the case when reports surfaced in May that Williams was in the mix to start for the Cowboys in 2015. While Dallas may not have found an adequate replacement for DeMarco Murray, a player who couldn’t earn a promotion off the practice squad in 2014 wouldn’t generally rate as a potential replacement. The truth is that Williams has battled significant injuries during his four-year career and anything more than a minor role in the Cowboys backfield this coming season is unlikely.

WR Dez Bryant

If there is a Cowboy to own for fantasy purposes, Dez is your man. Simply put, he is the most dynamic player on the Dallas roster and a quick peak at his production over the last three years tells you all you need to know. During that stretch, he hasn’t missed a game while totaling 273 receptions for 3,935 yards and 41 touchdowns. After finishing as the 3rd and 5th rated fantasy wide receiver in 2012 and 2013, he finished 3rd last season. A physically imposing player possessing outstanding speed, Bryant is simply unstoppable in man to man coverage and savvy enough to beat zone coverage. Did we mention his consistency with nine or more fantasy points in 11 games last season? The only red flag here is his desire for a long term contract extension that may see him holdout. Outside of Demaryius Thomas, there is no wide receiver more likely to post huge numbers in 2015.

WR Terrance Williams

As being somewhat of a revelation as a rookie while catching 44 of his 74 targets for 736 yards and five touchdowns, Williams regressed during his sophomore season, a victim of his own inconsistency and the Cowboys increased reliance on their rushing attack. After totaling 27 receptions for 426 yards and six touchdowns on 46 targets during his first nine games, Williams saw his role in the team’s offense decline as Cole Beasley took on a more meaningful role. Over his final six games, Williams was targeted just 19 times, catching 10 passes for 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns. With solid size at 6’3 and 205 pounds and possessing some big play ability (career yards per reception of 16.7), Williams has the potential to breakout in 2015 provided the proverbial light comes on. Consider him a low end WR4 with upside.

WR Devin Street

With little depth behind Dez Bryant and Terrence Williams, the Cowboys used a 5th round pick in last year’s draft to acquire Street. Then they buried the 6’3″, 195 pounds Pittsburgh product on the depth chart. Given Terrence Williams’ lack of progress, Street has a chance to carve out a more meaningful role in 2015 but he rates as little more than a middling prospect in dynasty formats with no appeal in redraft formats.

WR Cole Beasley

The Cowboys must like Beasley since they signed him to a four-year, $13.6-million contract extension in the offseason. However, you don’t have to like him for fantasy purposes and you probably shouldn’t. While the 2012 undrafted free agent may have seen his role in the team’s offense increase over the final third of the season, the fact is that he actually saw his targets decrease from 55 in 2013 to 49 last season. As a 5’8″, 177 lb. slot receiver with little playmaking ability (career average of 10.1 yards per reception) in an offense that runs the ball heavily, Beasley holds little fantasy appeal other than as a depth option in PPR formats.

TE Jason Witten

While Witten’s production suffered another steep decline for the second consecutive year, we can safely chalk up his 2014 decline to the Cowboys commitment to, and success at, rushing the football. While his completion to target percentage rose from 65.8% to 71.1%, his reception and yardage totals were his lowest since his rookie season in 2003. He finished the season as the 10th rated fantasy tight end but, at 33 years of age, he no longer rates as a potential elite fantasy option. Although the Cowboys may run the ball less in 2015 given their inability to adequately replace DeMarco Murray at running back, we don’t see Witten seeing his usage and production increase. Consider him a lower tier TE1 with little upside.

Also see: Dallas Cowboys IDP Team Report | New York Giants

Filed Under: Fantasy Football

Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Football Player Projections, Rankings and Commentary

June 9, 2014 By Dave Leave a Comment

Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo (9) [3808] during a regular season NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. December 15, 2013; Photographer: Ray Carlin/Icon SMI

Having undergone back surgery to repair a herniated disk, Tony Romo rates as a major question mark entering the 2014 season. Photo: Ray Carlin/Icon SMI

Player Tier · Rank Passing Rushing Receiving FPts
QB T. Romo
4 · 13th
360-580-4,350 26 TD 12 INT
30-60 0 TD
–
327.5
RB D. Murray
2 · 7th –
270-1,175 8 TD
48-350 2 TD
212.5
RB L. Dunbar
8 · 60th –
30-145 0 TD
12-100 0 TD
24.5
RB J. Randle
NR –
50-150 1 TD
8-65 0 TD
27.5
RB R. Williams
NR – – – –
WR D. Bryant
1 · 3rd – –
90-1,275 12 TD
199.5
WR T. Williams
6 · 34th – –
55-875 6 TD
123.5
WR C. Beasley
NR – –
35-345 0 TD
34.5
WR D. Harris
NR – –
10-105 0 TD
10.5
WR D. Street
NR – –
10-125 0 TD
12.5
TE J. Witten
2 · 6th – –
70-815 6 TD
117.5
TE G. Escobar
NR – –
20-235 1 TD
29.5

Data as of June 26 | Current Cheatsheets | Current Projections

NR = Not ranked

QB Tony Romo

Coming off the a career year in 2012 in which he established career-highs in completions (425), attempts (648) and yards (4,903) while throwing for 28 touchdowns, much was expected of Romo in 2013. However, he crash landed, failing to top 4,000 passing yards. That marked the first time Romo failed to reach that plateau while playing at least 15 games in a season since his first year as a starter in 2006. Thankfully, he threw 31 touchdown passes which saved his fantasy season as he averaged a respectable 21.3 PPG. Having undergone back surgery to repair a herniated disk, Romo rates as a major question mark entering the 2014 season. With Dez Bryant in tow, he has one of the top wide receivers in the game at his disposal but Miles Austin was released and Jason Witten will be entering his 12th year in the league. Wide receiver Terrence Williams has tantalizing potential but you can expect growing pains from him in his second season in the league. While Romo has the potential to approach 5,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, there are enough red flags here to rank him as a lower tier QB1 at best.

RB DeMarco Murray

An elite talent, Murray finally put it all together in 2013, reaching career highs in every major statistical category with 1,124 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, 348 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Better yet, he did all of that in just 14 games. Or is that better? The one knock on Murray since his collegiate days at Oklahoma has been his inability to stay healthy and that proved to be the case once again last season. During his first three years in the league, Murray has missed 11 games and played banged up in a number of others. However, he was remarkably consistent in 2013, reaching double digit fantasy points in 10 of his 14 games (he had nine points in two other games) and finishing the season on a tear, with 832 total yards and seven touchdowns over his final seven games. Murray rates as a lower tier RB1 but it’s hard to draft him there given his significant injury history.

RB Lance Dunbar

While the Cowboys wanted to hand their backup running back job to Dunbar last season, hamstring and knee injuries prevented that from happening. Dunbar was reasonably productive in the seven games that he did play, gaining 150 rushing yards and averaging 5.0 yards per carry while chipping in 7 receptions for 59 yards. He will battle second year player Joseph Randle for the backup job in training camp. The truth is that even if Dunbar wins that role, he offers little fantasy upside given his size (5’8” and 191 pounds) and inability to stay healthy.

RB Joseph Randle

Taken in the 5th round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State, Randle had a glorious opportunity to lock down the backup role behind DeMarco Murray with Lance Dunbar suffering an injury-plagued season. Unfortunately, the 6’1”, 200 pounder failed to live up to expectations, averaging just 3.0 yards per carry and performing poorly in the three games where he received a significant workload. By season’s end, Randle was an afterthought, touching the ball just once over the final seven games of the season. Randle lacks ideal size and will enter training camp third on the depth chart behind Murray and Dunbar.

RB Ryan Williams

Three years into his career, Wiliams has done exactly nothing to justify the Cardinals having used a 2nd round pick to acquire him in the 2011 NFL Draft. A torn patella tendon caused Williams to miss his entire rookie campaign and he missed 11 games in 2012 due to a shoulder injury. Last year, he was surpassed on the depth chart by Rashard Mendenhall and a pair of rookies and failed to play in a single game. Not surprisingly Williams was giving his walking papers and the Cowboys took a low cost flyer on him. Don’t expect it to pay off.

WR Dez Bryant

Success in the NFL doesn’t always come easily for some players despite their talent level and once it does happen, fantasy owners aren’t always ready to trust them as soon as they should. Don’t make that mistake with Bryant. While he displayed tantalizing talent during his first two years in the league, it was also clear that he wasn’t being asked to learn the Cowboys entire offensive playbook. However, over the last two years, Bryant has put in the time to turn himself into one of the league’s leading playmakers at wide receiver, topping 90 receptions and 1,200 yards in each of those seasons while catching 25 touchdown passes. There isn’t much he can’t do on the football field. Better yet, offseason reports out of Dallas indicate that Bryant is in the best shape of his career and that new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan plans on force feeding him the ball. If you’re wondering what that means, take a look at the 12 targets per game Linehan gave to Calvin Johnson over the past two years (Bryant averaged 10 last season). Bryant rates as a top 5 fantasy wide receiver with the potential to rank first at season’s end.

WR Terrance Williams

As a rookie, Williams, the Cowboys 3rd round pick out of Baylor, was handed a solid opportunity with the continuing injury problems of Miles Austin and he performed admirably. Although considered a raw prospect coming out of the draft, the 6’3”, 205 pound Williams hauled in 44 of his 74 targets for 736 yards and five touchdowns. His completion to target percentage of 59.5% was solid considering he was often used as a deep threat, as evidenced by his 16.7 yards per reception average. With Austin a salary cap casualty, Williams steps into the Cowboys starting line up in 2014 and he has the potential to have a breakout season. Consider Williams a low end WR3 with solid upside and an excellent prospect in dynasty formats.

WR Devin Street

With little depth behind Dez Bryant and Terrence Williams, the Cowboys used a 5th round pick in this year’s draft to acquire Street. The Pittsburgh product has decent size at 6’3” and 195 pounds to go along with respectable speed. However, he wasn’t an extremely productive player in college, failing to crack the 1,000 receiving mark, and rates as a project in the pros. With head coach Jason Garrett in love with the passing attack, Street rates a lower tier prospect in dynasty formats.

WR Cole Beasley

Some players are solid producers but you just know they will never have any fantasy value. With that, we present third year Cowboys receiver Cole Beasley. Beasley showed solid improvement during his second year in the league, catching 39 of his 55 targets for 368 yards and a pair of touchdowns. However, he is clearly nothing more than a slot receiver and with the other big name talent amongst the Cowboys receivers, he is never going to warrant the workload (read: targets) to have solid fantasy value.

WR Dwayne Harris

Harris, the Cowboys 6th round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, contributed nothing as a rookie, was marginally productive in 2012 (17 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown) and fell off the map in 2013. Rookie 5th round pick Devin Street was added to the roster and Cole Beasley was solid in 2013 so Harris will have his work cut out for him to win the top backup spot in training camp. Even if that happens, we’re not excited by his fantasy prospects.

TE Jason Witten

At 32 years of age, Witten is clearly in the twilight of his career although a quick look at his production in 2013 doesn’t reveal that. Despite seeing his targets drop from a career high 147 in 2012 to just 111, he still managed to catch 73 passes for 851 yards and eight touchdowns. Unfortunately, we all get old and Witten is clearly not as nimble as he once was. While his ability to stretch the field is pretty much gone, he remains a solid option on short and intermediate routes. The presence of new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan neither helps nor hurts Witten’s fantasy value in 2014. Consider him a solid option and perhaps the best tight end available after the big four at the position are off the board.

Also see: New York Giants | Philadelphia Eagles | Washington Redskins
 

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