Dallas Cowboys - Fantasy News

Chargers at Cowboys Start 'Em / Sit 'Em

by Aaron Bowers

11/22/17

NFL

Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott

The Dallas Cowboys will host the Los Angeles Chargers on Thanksgiving Day in a matchup of two potential playoff teams that are heading in seemingly opposite directions.

Despite a 4-6 record, Los Angeles is a deceivingly good team. The Chargers have lost three times on the last play of the game and have just one setback by more than eight points this season. After an 0-4 start, Los Angeles has turned things around and now sits one game back of the last Wild Card spot in the AFC.

Meanwhile, it’s tough to get a read on how good streaky teams are like the Cowboys. They started off poorly, going 2-3 before their bye week. They then rattled off three straight wins and established themselves as legitimate contenders. Without Tyron Smith, Zeke Elliott and Sean Lee, though, Dallas has lost its last two games while being outscored 64-16.

Los Angeles Chargers Week 12 Projected Fantasy Points
Philip Rivers: 15.0 PFP
Melvin Gordon: 15.0 PFP
Keenan Allen: 12.0 PFP
Nick Novak: 7.0 PFP
Hunter Henry: 7.0 PFP
Travis Benjamin: 6.5 PFP
Austin Ekeler: 6.0 PFP
Tyrell Williams: 6.0 PFP

Dallas Cowboys Week 12 Projected Fantasy Points
Dak Prescott: 16.5 PFP
Dez Bryant: 11.0 PFP
Jason Witten: 8.5 PFP
Mike Nugent: 7.0 PFP
Terrance Williams: 7.0 PFP
Cole Beasley: 6.5 PFP
Alfred Morris: 6.5 PFP

Start 'Em: Hunter Henry (7.0 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 5.94

It’s been a roller coaster ride for fantasy players who have targeted Henry this season. The talented second-year tight end has five games with more than 8.6 DFP and five with fewer than 3.5 DFP. However, the worm is starting to turn among Los Angeles tight ends with Antonio Gates catching fewer than three passes in every game but one this season. Henry ranks third on the team in targets and is a beast near the end zone where he has scored 10 touchdowns in 25 career games. With Sean Lee unlikely to play in this game, there will be plenty of scoring opportunities for Henry to get over his PFP.

Sit 'Em: Melvin Gordon (15.0 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 16.18

Though he’s been one of the best running backs in fantasy football this season, it hasn’t always been a smooth ride for Gordon. He has fewer than 100 yards from scrimmage in seven of 10 contests and is averaging just 63 rushing yards per game. Gordon is always a threat to score, as he’s done nine times in 2017, but he’ll need much more than a touchdown to get over 15.0 PFP. Earlier this season, he was supplementing his lackluster rushing stats through the air with 250 receiving yards and four touchdowns. With the emergence of rookie Austin Ekeler, though, Gordon has just 28 receiving yards and no touchdowns since Week 6. Even in a favorable matchup, we recommend fading Gordon at such a high PFP.

Start 'Em: Jason Witten (8.5 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 7.6

A surefire Hall of Famer, Witten has always been a better real-life player than fantasy player. In his 15^th NFL season, that is the case once again, though he’s been forced into a larger role than Dallas would like. He has scored more than 8.5 DFP five times and ranks second on the Cowboys in targets per game this season. With Tyron Smith expected back in this one, Witten won’t need to stay in and block as much as he did against Philadelphia, giving him a chance to take aim at a vulnerable linebacker corps. With Dez Bryant and the running game ineffective, Witten will be a viable option for Dak Prescott to throw to on third downs and in the red zone. That should be enough for the 35-year-old veteran to score more than 6.0 DFP.

Sit 'Em: Dak Prescott (16.5 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 18.43

The 2017 season has seen a bit of a sophomore slump from Prescott. His completion rate is down five percent, and he’s already thrown more interceptions this year (seven) than he did his entire rookie season (four). In his last two weeks, he has had two of the worst games of his career. He had 13.24 DFP against a mediocre Atlanta defense and then posted -1.2 DFP against the Eagles. Right now nothing seems to be working for the Dallas offense. Receivers are dropping passes, Bryant isn’t getting separation, the offensive line is in shambles and the running game isn’t nearly as good with Alfred Morris as the lead back. Going up against Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, Prescott could be running for his life once again on Thursday, which doesn’t bode well for his fantasy prospects.