In the ninth of a 32-part series, we are featuring all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Here are the Dallas Cowboys.
Key Off Season Acquisitions
The Cowboys had two notable acquisitions since they were on the football field last. First, they saw a return of Ezequiel Elliott to the team after one year with the New England Patriots. Elliott signed a one-year deal worth $2 million, and is expected to take over the number one duties in Dallas at running back again with Tony Pollard signing with the Tennessee Titans. Last season, Elliott had 642 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and 313 receiving yards and two touchdown catches. The Patriots actually won the two games that Elliott had a touchdown catch. The first was in a 21-18 Patriots win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 7, and the second was in a 26-23 Patriots win over the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve.
Second, the Cowboys made a trade with the Minnesota Vikings just last week. They acquired cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. of Dacula, Georgia for cornerback Nahshon Wright of Hayward, California. Booth Jr. had eight combined tackles (seven solo tackles and one assisted tackle), and one pass deflection in 2023 with the Vikings. The assisted tackle came in a 22-17 Vikings upset win over the San Francisco 49ers on October 23, 2023.
Fantasy Stars
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott of Sulphur, Louisiana is ranked eighth. Last season he led the NFL in passing touchdowns with 36 and pass completions with 410. He also had 4516 passing yards, 242 rushing yards and two touchdown runs. The first came in a 20-17 Cowboys win over the Los Angeles Chargers on October 16, and the second came in a 49-17 Cowboys win over the New York Giants on November 12.
At wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb is ranked second among all wideouts. However, there is a possibility he could holdout to start the season. That would drop his fantasy ranking. In 2023, Lamb had a NFL-high 135 catches, 1749 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches.
Jake Ferguson of Rapid City, South Dakota was ranked eighth among tight ends. In 2023, he caught 71 passes for 761 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Brandon Aubrey of St. Louis, Missouri is fourth among kickers. He led the NFL with 36 field goals made in 2023, in 38 attempts, and made 49 of 52 converts.
At defense, the Cowboys are ranked second behind the Baltimore Ravens. However, they will only be second if NFL teams do not bother watching the tape of their disastrous playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Dallas also has a new defensive coordinator in Mike Zimmer (the Minnesota Vikings head coach), who replaces Dan Quinn of Morristown, New Jersey, the new head coach of the Washington Commanders.
Projected Finish
The Dallas Cowboys will try to make a statement this season. The statement will not necessarily come in the regular season, but postseason, where they have won only one playoff game in the last five years. The fate of the season rests on whether or not they can come to terms on a contract with Lamb, who is currently a hold out. There is no doubt Lamb is the difference maker in the Dallas offense and will dictate whether or not Dallas has a deep playoff run or finish third in the NFC East.
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