Dallas Cowboys DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle carried the load on the ground on Sunday night in the last-minute 20-17 win over Pittsburgh. Dowdle rushed 20 times for 87 yards while also securing both targets for 27 yards and a touchdown. The 26-year-old has emerged as the lead running back in Dallas over the past two weeks and is now safely in the RB2 discussion solely based on workload. Dowdle should be rostered in all leagues going forward and is an RB2/Flex play weekly depending on the matchup. Next week could be a setback against a stout Detroit run defense, but Dowdle appears to have taken the backfield over from Ezekiel Elliott.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott overcame an up-and-down game by marching down the field on a 15-play, 70-yard drive in 4:36 to topple the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-17 on Sunday night. Prescott found wide receiver Jalen Tolbert in the end zone from four yards out, connecting with just twenty seconds on the clock to win the game. The veteran quarterback completed 29-of-42 passes for 352 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also scrambled once for a gain of three yards. Despite the tough matchup and the stormy weather conditions, Prescott had a solid fantasy day. He will remain in QB1 territory heading into next week's matchup with the Detroit Lions.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo caught two of his five targets for a total of 37 yards during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Chicago Bears. Mingo saw increased opportunities with Adam Thielen (hamstring) and Xavier Legette (shoulder) both injured. The second-year receiver out of Ole Miss played 68 percent of the Panthers' offensive snaps and finished with his highest fantasy points total of the 2024 season. Mingo isn't quite a trustworthy fantasy option going forward, but he still provided managers with some optimism that he could handle a larger workload in the event of more injuries to Carolina's receiver room.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) is going on Injured Reserve on Saturday, which means he will miss at least the next four games. In a corresponding move, the Cowboys moved linebacker Nick Vigil to the active 53-man. Amani Oruwariye and Carl Lawson are also being elevated from the practice squad. Cooks had already been ruled out for Week 5's Sunday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but now he won't be eligible to return until Week 10 against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys have their bye in Week 7. This news certainly makes Jalen Tolbert more attractive as a waiver-wire pickup if he's still available in your league, as he's expected to see a substantial role increase as the WR2 in Dallas behind CeeDee Lamb with Cooks sidelined. Cooks caught nine of 19 targets for 91 yards and one touchdown in the first four weeks of the season.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) is expected to miss some games, according to Clarence Hill Jr. Hill reported that Cowboys VP Steven Jones expressed that the No.2 wideout will miss some games due to his knee infection on 1053 The Fan. Cooks underwent an operation following their Week 4 victory over the New York Giants but faced a setback due to an infection caused by the procedure. Fantasy managers should monitor the veteran's status over the next few weeks but should find an alternative option for the foreseeable future. Jalen Tolbert is a strong candidate to serve as the No.2 pass receiver opposite of CeeDee Lamb and has performed well this season, catching at least three passes in three games. Tight Jake Ferguson should also see an uptick in targets during Cooks' absence.