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Dallas Cowboys
Dan Werner
8/12/2008

Can the Cowboys finally win a playoff game? How far can this team advance in the playoffs? These are the questions surrounding the Cowboys as they prepare to break camp.

But, when it comes to fantasy football, there are very few questions that need to be answered.

With so many starters and Pro Bowlers returning to the team, there aren’t too many position battles to analyze. And with so many proven fantasy studs already on the team, the real questions come down to performance.

So without further ado, here’s this year’s forecast for what can be expected from Dallas’ fantasy options:

QB: QB Tony Romo was sensational his first full year as the starting quarterback, setting several Cowboys records along the way. But can he continue to put up such gaudy numbers? Although I believe Romo will continue to be the leader of this team for many years to come, it’s hard to imagine that he’ll post nearly 40 total touchdowns and more than 4,000 total yards, like he did in 2007. Still, Romo should be the third quarterback taken in most drafts, right after Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, and he should come close to last year’s statistics. Look for Romo to take a small step backwards statistically, as he becomes more focused on the end of the season. Thirty total touchdowns and 4,000 total yards should still be plenty to keep fantasy owners happy, though.

RB: RB Marion Barber is a bit of an enigma this year. After two very productive fantasy seasons while sharing time with Julius Jones, Barber now becomes the starter. So, that may mean Barber will put up numbers right up there with the elite fantasy running backs, but he hasn’t proven that he can be a starter for a full 16-game season. That probably puts Barber closer to the second tier, at least until he can prove himself. But remember, the same things were said about Romo entering last season, and he far exceeded expectations. Look for Barber to accrue about 1,100 total yards and 12 total touchdowns, as he solidifies himself as a top-10 fantasy back.

Sharing the load with Barber this year will be the explosive rookie Felix Jones. So far Jones has shown that he will become an important part of the passing attack, but he’ll probably just be used as a change-of-pace back as a runner. If you’re in a keeper league or if you get points for receptions, Jones is an intriguing option. Otherwise, he’s probably no more than a fourth running back and a handcuff for Barber owners. Expect roughly 700 total yards and five total touchdowns for this promising rookie.

WR: WR Terrell Owens is a top-tier fantasy option. He’s not just in the top tier for wide receivers, but he’s right up there with fantasy’s biggest producers. Owens has been a touchdown machine in Dallas, and even more will be expected of him this year. Look for Owens to grab around 80 catches for 14 scores and 1,200 yards.

Right now WR Patrick Crayton is probably the only other wide receiver in Dallas worth drafting. Crayton has entrenched himself as Dallas’ No. 2 wide-out (although he’s really the third option behind TE Jason Witten), and it’s encouraging that the Cowboys Brass hasn’t brought in more competition for Crayton’s job. Crayton is coming into his prime, and he plays on one of the best offenses in all of football, so 900 yards and 8 scores is a realistic goal for this No. 3 fantasy option.

TE: Like with Romo, it’s hard to imagine that TE Jason Witten will be able to match the incredible numbers he posted last year. But also like Romo, he shouldn’t fall off too far. Look for Witten to grab 70 catches for 900 yards and six scores. But remember, Witten is on a Hall-of-Fame pace, and he’s widely considered to be the best tight end in the game right now, so improving on last year’s production is a distinct possibility.

PK: PK Nick Folk went from rookie, to "Folk-Hero" to Pro Bowler. It all sounds too good to be true, but reports out of training camp say that Folk has been almost perfect this summer. Folk will be one of the first kickers drafted, and since he plays on such an explosive offense, he’s worth it.

DEF: Despite all their talent, the Dallas defense may still need some seasoning before they become an elite fantasy unit. This will be only the second season in Wade Phillips’ defensive scheme, and players like Adam Jones, Zach Thomas and rookie Mike Jenkins will need to build some chemistry with the other defensive players. But let’s not overlook the fact that we’re talking about Zach Thomas, Adam Jones and a first-round rookie cornerback here, so there’s still tremendous opportunity for improvement on a defense that was pretty darn good last year. The Cowboys also greatly improved their return game with Felix Jones returning kicks and Adam Jones returning punts, so you can expect a few big plays on special teams. This is a top-10 fantasy defense, with the possibility of finishing in the top five.

The Cowboys offer top-tier players at every single position, but their highly productive offense offers even more reason to draft the guys from Dallas. Consider players like Frank Gore, Larry Johnson and Marshawn Lynch. They are all great running back prospects, but the 49’ers, Chiefs and Bills don’t come close to the offensive output that’s expected in Dallas. The same can be said for a player like Patrick Crayton. There are dozens of fantasy players of Crayton’s ilk out there, but how many are on a team that’s capable of leading the league in scoring? So when comparing players like Barber and Crayton to their fantasy "peers" keep in mind who has the greatest chance to be in scoring position the most this season.

 


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