Team Previews - Dallas Cowboys

Projected Starting Lineup

QB: Dak Prescott RB: Ezekiel Elliott WR: Allen Hurns WR: Terrance Williams WR: Cole Beasley TE: Geoff Swaim

LT: Tyron Smith LG: Connor Williams C: Travis Frederick RG: Zack Martin RT: La’el Collins

Cowboys Offensive Profile Under Scott Linehan 2014-2017 Pass Attempts Rank: 31st, 23rd, 30th, 29th 2014-2017 Rush Attempts Rank: 3rd, 18th, 1st, 5th 2014-2017 Play Volume Rank: 18th, 29th, 20th, 18th 2014-2017 Yards Per Play Rank: 3rd, 14th, 4th, 15th Unaccounted for Air Yards from 2017 (Rank): 2,645 (2nd) Unaccounted for Carries from 2017 (Rank): 121 (16th)

Scott Linehan's average offensive production as an Offensive Coordinator in the NFL. (5 Seasons)

Passing: ATT COMP PCT YDS AVG YDS/G LONG TD TD% INT INT% SACK YDSL RATE

576 357 62.4 4042 7.2 246 75 23 4.06 15 2.66 29 188 86

Rushing: ATT YDS AVG LONG 20+ TD YDS/G FUM FUML 1DN

445 1972 4.4 57 12 16 123 9 4 111

Receiving: REC TAR YDS AVG TD LONG 20+ YDS/G FUM FUML YAC 1DN

357 576 4118 11.5 23 75 48 257 4 3 1794 204

Quarterback- Dak Prescott looks to regain the success that he had during his rookie season after a disappointing year in 2017. It is no secret that Ezekiel Elliott is the straw that stirs the drink in Dallas, as Prescott went from QB1 weeks 1-7 to QB19 weeks 8-17. With Elliott suspended weeks 10-15, Prescott averaged 191 yards passing while the offense averaged 17 points a game down from 26 with Elliott in the lineup.

With Elliott’s ban behind him, and the offensive line healthy, we should expect to see a more efficient and successful Cowboy's offense. The question for the Cowboys will be if they can find some playmakers on the outside to fill the void of the 122 receptions, 1,398 and 11 touchdowns vacated with the retirement of Jason Witten and release of Dez Bryant. With a lack of proven playmakers and a difficult schedule, I have Prescott as a QB2 and will be nothing more than a backup come draft day.

Wide Receiver-

With the departure of Bryant, the Cowboys went out and signed Allen Hurns as their X receiver. While Hurns best season saw him on the outside in 2015 (64/1,031/10), he ran the majority of his routes out of the slot (72%) during his final two seasons in Jacksonville. The sheer volume alone will make Hurns a solid late round draft pick and someone that you should target with his current ADP of 116.

With so many targets up for grabs in Dallas, it will be interesting to see who emerges behind Hurns in this offense. I would look for Cole Beasley to see the most targets as he will work strictly out of the slot and lead the Cowboys in 2016 with 75 catches. The other potential candidates will be Terrance Williams and rookie Michael Gallup. Williams enters his sixth year averaging 46 grabs a season but has never had more than 53. With the ceiling fairly low on Williams, the Cowboys went out and drafted Michael Gallup in the third round. He is an intriguing prospect that runs with some aggression and is tough to bring down after the catch. He has a chance to be one of the sleeper's in this years draft and could see some quality rookie production with volume available. If I am looking at the end of my draft Hurns and Gallup are really the only two receivers I am taking a look at come draft day. Tight End-

Another wide open competition this season will be who takes over at tight end for the future Canton bound Jason Witten. So far in camp it seems like a tight end committee will try to replace those 96 targets vacated by Witten. It appears Geoff Swaim will get the first look, but do not be surprised if Blake Jarwin gives him a run. The ex basketball star Rico Gathers has not had the best camp and could be cut as blocking is not a part of his game. Another position that I will not be targeting come draft day as the Cowboys simply do not have a tight end that has separated himself.

Running Back- The Cowboys get back the league leader in rushing yards per game the past two seasons in Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott should be extremely focused and hungry with last seasons distractions behind him. I believe Elliott will lead the league in rushes and rushing yards this coming season, as they will try to ride him back into the playoffs. With 242 carries last season in just 10 games, Elliott should eclipse 350 carries this season and his primed to finish as a top 3 running back. With the healthy return of 4-of-5 offensive-line starters and the addition of Connor Williams in the second round of the draft, the Cowboys run game looks to be a major strength this season. The only knock that can be found on Elliott is his lack of involvement in the passing game like Bell, Gurley, Johnson, and Kamara. The addition of Tavon Austin will not help that but he should still see roughly 35-40 catches this season. If you do not have a top four pick in your draft its extreely likely that you will not be able to draft Elliott for your fantasy team.

With Zeke getting a massive amount of the workload, the only other player that might have some value in the running game will be Tavon Austin. They acquired Austin this off-season as they look for more playmakers in the passing game. He is a dynamic player when he gets the ball in space and should help give Zeke a breather in 3rd and long situations. I would expect him to be moved around a lot, as they will try to match him up with linebackers and safeties every chance they get. Behind Elliott they have a quality backup in Rod Smith to go along with rookie Bo Scarbrough should Elliott miss anytime this season. 2018 Vegas Win Total The Cowboys’ Win Total opened at 8.5. The good news is the offensive line and Elliott are back, which should keep the defense off the field for long stretches. The Cowboys have to face the brutal NFC South and improving AFC South with a now healthy Andrew Luck, Deshaun Watson. The defense and offense should be improved but with such a difficult schedule it will be hard to achieve more than 10 wins this season. I am staying away from the 8.5 wins and will look to find value elsewhere.