Reports by Gene Nestro
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 08:15:56 on Sun Dec 10 2006
News: Week 14
Fantasy Football Slant:
The Cowboys take on the Saints this week in a match-up of two NFC heavyweights. Who would have thought that prior to the season? Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Tony Romo is a QB1 this week. The Saints defense is nothing spectacular and they will give up some big plays. The Cowboys have too many offensive weapons for them. Romo will have a big game. Drew Bledsoe will most likely be playing somewhere else next year.
RB: Marion Barber is a RB1 this week. He has almost become a RB1 every week. He started out as the goal-line back but now he has taken over as the primary RB also. The Saints run defense is near the bottom of the league statistically. That means a good game for Barber. Start him. Julius Jones is a RB2 this week. He has slowly lost carries to Barber all year long. He is still a threat to break off a long TD run from anywhere on the field. He is worth a start against the Saints weak run defense.
WR: Terrell Owens in a WR1 this week. T.O. should have a huge game against the Saints defense. He did not get a TD catch last week and T.O. rarely goes two weeks without a TD catch. He should be good for at least one this week. Enough drops T.O.! Catch the ball! Terry Glenn is a WR1 this week. He is healthy and cannot be covered one-on-one by the Saints CBs. He will have a nice week. You can feel safe starting him. Patrick Crayton is a WR4 this week. He will get some targets but not enough to warrant a start. Sam Hurd has looked good in his limited time, but does not play enough to be useful.
TE: Jason Whitten as a TE1 this week. Romo has been throwing to him more than Bledsoe was. The middle of the field should be open for him. The Saints will try to cover him with Stoutmire who struggles in coverage. Anthony Fasano is starting to get some looks but not enough to start him.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF is a DEF2 this week. If you have a decent option I would not start them against the Saints offense. While the saints top two WR might be out, Reggie Bush and Drew Brees are playing at a high level. Plus the Saints do not allow a lot of sacks. This game could be high scoring; so be cautious with the Dallas Defense.
In IPD leagues Roy Williams should be started every week. I also like LBs Demarcus Ware and Bradie James this week.
K: Martin Gramatica is a K1 this week. But kickers can be hit or miss.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 07:05:11 on Sun Dec 03 2006
News: Week 13
Fantasy Football Slant:
The Cowboys travel to NY to take on the Giants this week. Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Tony Romo is a QB1 this week. The Giants defense is beat up and has numerous injury problems. Romo (and the Dallas offense) should have their way with them.
RB: Julius Jones is a RB2 this week. Dallas is using both Jones and Barber which hurts Jones value. The Giants defense should not pose much of a problem, but with Barber getting goalline carries it knocks Jones down to a RB2. Marion Barber is a RB2 this week. His goalline carries alone make him a worthy starter. Now he is seeing more touches too.
WR: Terrell Owens in a WR1 this week. T.O. is HOT since Romo took over. He should have a pretty easy go this week against a beat up secondary. Terry Glenn is a WR2 this week. He plays second fiddle to T.O. but puts up good numbers every week. Patrick Crayton is a WR4 this week. He gets some action and has good hands, so in very deep leagues he has some value. Sam Hurd has looked good in his limited time, but does not play enough to be useful.
TE: Jason Whitten as a TE2 this week. He should have a good week against the Giants. Anthony Fasano should not be started.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF is a DEF1 this week. They have been improving every week and are becoming one of the top defenses in the NFL. With Eli struggling, this could be a good week for the Cowboys Defense.
In IPD leagues Roy Williams should be started every week. I also like LB Demarcus Ware this week.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 18:58:08 on Wed Nov 22 2006
News: Week 12
Fantasy Football Slant:
The Bucs come to Dallas and the Cowboys are ready to feast! Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Tony Romo is a QB1 this week. The Bucs lack a good pass rush so Romo should have plenty of time to find his receivers this week. The Bucs will play a similar version of the cover 2 that the Colts played and Romo should be able to exploit it. He should be started this week. Drew Bledsoe will most likely be playing somewhere else next year.
RB: Julius Jones is a RB2 this week. With Romo playing well, defenses can’t put eight men in the box. That gives Jones a lot of running room. The only problem is he shares time with Barber. Marion Barber is a RB2 this week. He and Jones are both worthy starters this week. The Cowboys will put up nice running totals this week so both can be started.
WR: Terrell Owens in a WR1 this week. T.O. should be able to dominate the Bucs corners. With the Bucs weak pass rush he will have time to get open deep. Get the popcorn ready! Terry Glenn is a WR2 this week. He will put up decent numbers and you can feel safe starting him. Patrick Crayton is a WR4 this week. He will get some targets but not enough to warrant a start. Sam Hurd has looked good in his limited time, but does not play enough to be useful.
TE: Jason Whitten as a TE1 this week. He has really come on since Romo has taken over. Anthony Fasano should not be started.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF is a DEF1 this week. With a rookie QB starting and Dallas playing a 3-4 confusion will lead to many INT’s. The Dallas DEF is really coming on and the Bucs offense will not know what hit them.
In IPD leagues Roy Williams should be started every week. I also like DBs Anthony Henry and Terence Newmanthis week. As far as LBs I like Akinola Ayodele and Bradie James this week.
K: Mike Vanderjagt is a K1 this week since I see the Dallas offense putting up nice numbers.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 07:03:08 on Sun Nov 19 2006
News: Week 11
Fantasy Football Slant:
The 10-0 Colts come to Big D this week to face our beloved Cowboys. Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Tony Romo is a QB1 this week. The Cowboys will need to score a lot of points to keep up with Manning and Company. I see Romo getting a chance to air it out this week. The Colts cover 2 will allow Romo to take advantage of his accurate arm and complete a lot of passes underneath the Colts coverage. T.O. has a huge height advantage over the Colts CBs so big plays could be in the works. I am going with Romo as a solid QB1 this week. Drew Bledsoe looks good holding a clipboard.
RB: Julius Jones is a RB1 this week. The Colts have one of the worst run defenses in the league allowing over 5 yards per rush. The Cowboys will want to have a ball control offense to keep the Colts offense off the field. That spells 20+ carries for Jones and a RB1 ranking this week. Marion Barber is a RB2 this week. He will see 10 to 15 carries and will also benefit from the weak Colts rush defense. If the Cowboys get inside the 10 a few times this week, he will see the bulk of the goalline carries and may outscore Jones if he gets 2 rushing TDs.
WR: Terrell Owens in a WR1 this week. Even with the Cowboys running to control the clock, the Colts will put up points causing the Cowboys to open up their offense. T.O. will be the beneficiary of a lot of targets this week. The Colts CBs are a little undersized and will play a lot of cover 2. This will allow T.O. to catch the ball underneath their coverage. With his size advantage he will be targeted in the red zone. Terry Glenn should start this week, but he will remain an injury risk with multiple leg injuries. I would not start him this week unless you really do not have another option. Patrick Crayton is a WR3 this week. If Glenn is not 100% he will take advantage of the additional playing time and should post starter worthy numbers.Sam Hurd has looked good in his limited time. His production is tied to Glenn’s health.
TE: Jason Whitten as a TE1 this week. He has really come on since Romo has taken over. Anthony Fasano should not be started.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF is a DEF2 this week. I would not start them against the Colts.
In IPD leagues Roy Williams should be started every week. I also like DBs Anthony Henry and Terence Newmanthis week. As far as LBs I like Akinola Ayodele and Bradie James this week.
K: Mike Vanderjagt is a K2 this week since I do not foresee a lot of FGs in this game.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 11:13:20 on Sat Nov 11 2006
News: Week 10
Fantasy Football Slant:
The Cowboys travel to Arizona this week and are looking to rebound after a tough loss to the Redskins last week. Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Tony Romo is a QB2 this week. With Terry Glenn most likely out this week and the Cowboys looking to run against a weak Arizona run defense, I am ranking Tony as only a QB2 this week. Drew Bledsoe should not be started.
RB: Julius Jones is a RB1 this week. The Arizona run defense is not that strong and the Cowboys will look to run a lot. Marion Barber is a RB3 this week. He could surprise with a RB2 ranking. Now that bye weeks are over you probably have better options. No other Cowboy RBs are worth starting.
WR: Terrell Owens in a WR1 this week. With Glenn out this week TO should get additional targets. He also wants to make amends for his drop last week. Start him. Terry Glenn is most likely out this week. Play it safe and do not start him. Patrick Crayton is a WR3 this week. He will see additional playing time with Glenn out.Sam Hurd might see the field this week, but you do not want to start him.
TE: Jason Whitten as a TE1 this week. He will see additional touches due to Glenn being out. He is long overdue for a breakout game. Anthony Fasano should not be started.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF is a DEF1 this week. You should always start a good defense against a rookie QB. There are a lot of chances for INT’s and sacks.
In IPD leagues Roy Williams should be started every week. I also like LB Bradie James this week. I also think Anthony Henry will have a good week.
K: Mike Vanderjagt is a K1 this week.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 07:31:41 on Sat Nov 04 2006
News: Week 9
Fantasy Football Slant:
The Cowboys face their bitter rivals the Washington Deadskins this week. The Deadskins now have almost no hope of making the playoffs and are left with playing spoiler. The Cowboys need to win this game to keep up with the Giants. Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Tony Romo is a QB1 this week. Tony looked good in his first start and I see him improving this week. He should have a nice day against the surprisingly weak Washington defense. He does a good job of spreading the ball around and moving around in the pocket. If your scoring system gives negative points for INTs then bump him down to QB2. Hay Drew Bledsoe - The fat lady is clearing her throat. Bledsoe now leads the NFL in being replaced by unknown QB’s.
RB: Julius Jones is a RB1 this week. The Cowboys rank 5th in the league in rushing yards and Julius is leading the way. A few more touchdowns would be nice. Start him every week. Marion Barber is a RB3 this week. He puts up stats every week. He is a nice option in leagues that require three starting RB’s. He sees his share of goal line action. Tyson Thompson is injuried and out for the year.
WR: Terrell Owens in a WR1 this week. Hay Chad, there is another OchoUno in town. The original #81 – T.O. is back where he belongs. He is once again one of the top 5 WRs and needs to be started every week. Terry Glenn is also a WR1 this week. Romo’s mobility allows the receivers more time to get in their routes and also allows the Cowboys to send more receivers out rather than stay in and block. Fell free to start them both. Patrick Crayton is a WR4 this week. Sam Hurd is a nice long term project but should not be started.
TE: I am ranking Jason Whitten as a TE1 this week on the theory that we will not be required to block as much with Romo as the starter. That should increase his chances to catch passes. Anthony Fasano should not be started.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF is a DEF1 this week. The Deadskins are missing Moss so their offense will be one dimensional with Clinton Portis their only weapon. I also think Campbell will see some action as QB increasing the Cowboys chances for INT’s.
In IPD leagues Roy Williams should be started every week. I also like LB Bradie James this week. I also think Anthony Henry will have a good week.
K: Mike Vanderjagt is a K1 this week.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 18:15:30 on Thu Oct 26 2006
News: Week 8
Fantasy Football Slant:
The Cowboys are coming off a crushing loss to the Giants last week and now they need to travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers. With Romo starting it is hard to tell what the Cowboys will do this week. I am going to go out on a limb and rank the Cowboys higher than most would think. I think Romo is the spark they need. Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Tony Romo is a QB2 this week. While he threw three INTs last week, he also looked pretty good throwing the ball. His mobility is an asset and his presence seemed to spark the offense. He certainly has the weapons to put up good numbers. All he needs is good offensive line play. You probably have better options, but if you don’t, you can feel safe playing him this week. Drew Bledsoe should not be started. First he gets replaced by J. P. Losman and now Romo. I think his days as a starting QB are over. Do not start him this week unless you get points for holding the clipboard on the sideline. Word out of Washington is that George Bush wants Bledsoe to go to North Korea. He thinks Bledsoe is the only one who can over throw Kim II.
RB: Julius Jones is a RB1 this week. He looks good and Romo will open up the passing game creating more running room for him. Start him. Marion Barber is a RB3 this week. He should see enough action to warrant a start in deep leagues or leagues that require three starting RBs. He runs hard and gets goal line carries. Tyson Thompson will continue to see a little action every week but never enough to warrant a start.
WR: Terrell Owens in a WR1 this week. Romo knows where to go with the ball. When in doubt throw it to #81. Romo’s mobility allows the Cowboys to run more deep patterns. This week T.O. goes over 100 yards and gets 1 to 2 TD’s. Take my word on it and start him. Terry Glenn is a WR1 this week. Both T.O. and Glenn as WR1? Yes! While it is unlikely that both will actually end up as WR1s, one of them will. If you have either of these two you need to start them this week. Both Owens and Glenn are almost impossible to cover one-on-one. Patrick Crayton is a sleeper this week. I am ranking him as a WR3. Sam Hurd is a WR4 this week. He will see limited playing time and should not be started.
TE: I am ranking Jason Whitten as a TE2 this week. I need to see if Romo looks to him or not. He could end up a TE1 this week, but I am not ready to predict that yet. Anthony Fasano should not be started.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF is a DEF2 this week. They always seem to struggle against the fast receivers and Steve Smith is one of the best.
In IPD leagues Roy Williams should be started every week. I also like LBs Bradie James and Greg Ellis this week. I do not think this is a great week for the Dallas IPD players.
K: Mike Vanderjagt is a K1 this week.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 20:21:09 on Sat Oct 21 2006
News: Week 7
Fantasy Football Slant:
The Cowboys play the Giants this week. The winner stands a good chance to win the division and the loser might be out of the playoffs. This is not a great matchup for your Cowboy players, but it isn’t that bad either. Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Drew Bledsoe is a QB2 this week. After 6 weeks (5 games) I just don’t trust Bledsoe to be a QB1. He is too inconsistent. I think he will have a decent game against the Giants especially if he continues to get more in synch with Owens. With bye week issues this week you can feel safe starting him, but look to other options if you can. Tony Romo has been seeing a little action here and there. Is he being groomed for the job next year? They brought him in against the Texans (in a blow out) and he actually got to throw the ball! Interesting? In any event, he should not be started this week.
RB: Julius Jones is a RB1 this week. He is starting to creep into stud status. A few more TDs and he will be there. Is he another case of Parcell’s magic? Marion Barber is a RB3 this week. He gets just enough playing time to put up some numbers every week. If you need to start him as a RB3 go ahead. Tyson Thompson will continue to see a little action every week but never enough to warrant a start.
WR: Terrell Owens got 3 TDs last week. Is this the week he goes over 100 yards? I think it is. He is a WR1 this week and a must start. This is the first year he is playing out of the west coast offense and I think it has taken him a few weeks to get comfortable with it. Now he has so watch out. Go T.O. I love you baby!! Terry Glenn is a WR2 this week. T.O. will start to steal a little of his thunder, but he will still be very productive. Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd are both WR4 this week. They will see only limited targets and should not be started unless you have severe bye week problems.
TE: I am ranking Jason Whitten as a TE2 this week. I was expecting big things out of him this year and so far he is letting me down. A TD this week would be nice. Anthony Fasano should not be started.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF can be started this week although I do not love the match up. Tiki always seems to have a great game against the Cowboys. It looks like the growing pains in switching to the 3-4 are over. This defense is on the rise.
In IPD leagues Roy Williams should be started every week. I also like LBs Demarcus Ware, Bradie James and Greg Ellis. They all can be safely started.
K: Mike Vanderjagt is a K2 this week.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 12:23:50 on Sat Oct 14 2006
News: Cowboys Fantasy Potential - Week 6
Fantasy Football Slant:
The Cowboys play the Texans this week for the bragging rights of Texas. The Cowboys are coming off a tough loss to the Eagles and are looking to get back on tract against the Texans. The Cowboys will be ready to play in front of their home crowd so get ready to start your Cowboys! Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Drew Bledsoe is a QB1 this week. The O-line will give Bledsoe time this week and the veteran QB will be geared up to silence his critics. The Texans defense is not even close to the Eagles defense so Bledose should be able to make a statement this week. But, come on Drew, throw the damn ball to T.O.! Tony Romo will only play if Bledsoe gets hurt or he really stinks it up. He should not be started this week.
RB: Julius Jones is a RB1 this week and he should be started by all owners who have him. He looks like a much different runner this year hitting the holes faster and with more authority than last year. The RBBC is dead! Marion Barber is a RB3 this week. He is seeing playing time, but not as much as most of us thought prior to the season. He has value as a handcuff and also because he gets touches each week. This week he could see a lot of 4th quarter action if the Cowboys are blowing out the Texans. With all the byes this week, if you need to, you can start him because he will at least put up some numbers. Start him and hope he gets a TD. One of these weeks he is going to break off a long TD run. Maybe it will be this week. Tyson Thompson. will continue to see a little action every week but never enough to warrant a start.
WR: Terrell Owens is, again, a big risk/big reward start. I think you need to consider him a WR1 based on potential alone. The Texans cannot cover him so it will boil down to how many times they throw him the ball. Terry Glenn is a WR1 this week. Simply put, he is on a roll and you must continue to start him every week. Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd are both WR4 this week. They will see only limited targets and should not be started unless you have severe bye week problems. I like Crayton better than Hurd.
TE: I am ranking Jason Whitten as a TE2 this week. He needs to get untracked, and until he does he will be a TE2. Anthony Fasano should not be started.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF should be started this week. The Texans offense does not scare me (I wonder if they could have a do over on their draft pick?) The Cowboys will be hungry for a win and the “D” will lead them to victory over the Texans.
In IPD leagues Roy Williams should be started every week. I also like LBs Demarcus Ware, Bradie James Greg Ellis and Akinola Ayodele. They could have a field day against the Texans. The Texans running game with Dayne and Gado is sub-par and the LBs will get a lot of tackles plus the chance for sacks against the weak Texans line.
K: Mike Vanderjagt is a K2 this week.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 05:39:20 on Sat Oct 07 2006
News: Week 5 - Bring on the Eagles
Fantasy Football Slant:
Cowboys – Eagles is here! These games are always hard fought and the outcome is difficult to predict. The Eagles are revamped and on a roll, however they could be without Westbrook and Stallworth. I still think this will be a decent week to start your Cowboys. Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Drew Bledsoe is a QB1 this week. When given time (and he has only been sacked 3 times this year) Drew can wing it with the best of them. The Eagles will bring as many pass rushers as they need to get to Bledsoe. That means someone will be singled covered or even wide open. Bledsoe should be able to connect on enough of these chances to have a good week. The key will be how the Cowboys O-line plays. Watch Trent Cole versus Flozell Adams. Bledsoe could very easily finish in the top 10. If you do not have a stud QB then you should start Bledsoe. He is also a good start if your number 1 QB is on a bye. QB. Tony Romo will only play if Bledsoe gets hurt. In redraft leagues, Romo is losing his luster.
RB: The Eagles run defense could pose problems for the Cowboys. On the other hand, the Cowboys need to run to counteract the Eagles pass rush. That boils down to Julius Jones being a RB1 this week. He should finish just inside or just outside the top 10. There is risk here though because the Eagles could shut him down. I would start him if you have him. Marion Barber is a RB3 this week. You should only start him if you have bye week problems. He should get 8 to 10 carries. I know he will break out some week and finish as a RB1, but frankly it is hard to predict when that will be. It will probably take an injury to Jones for it to happen or a very long TD run. Tyson Thompson. will continue to see a little action every week but never enough to warrant a start.
WR: Will Terrell Owens is big risk/big reward this week. On the one hand you know he wants to have a huge game against the Eagles and show off some special TD dances. On the other hand, you also know the Eagles are not going to let that happen. I say go ahead and start him. The only way you lose is if the Eagles totally shut him down which I do not think they will do. Even a mediocre week from Owens will still be better than a lot of other WRs. I have him listed as a WR1 this week. Terry Glenn is a potential WR1 this week. With the Eagles paying close attention to Owens, Glenn will face single coverage and he has proven time and again that he is tough for most DBs to cover one-on-one. Do not be afraid to start Glenn this week. Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd are both WR4 this week. They will see only limited targets and should not be started this week.
TE: I am ranking Jason Whitten as a TE2 this week. Until he starts to put up better numbers I cannot justify him higher. He will probably need to stay in and help block this week. He should break free for some big plays. With the Eagles blitzing he could find open spaces in the middle of the field. If he is you main TE then you should start him. Anthony Fasano should not be started.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF should be started this week. The Eagles have given up 9 sacks and 5 turnovers so the potential is there for some big plays. Start them unless you have a much better option like Baltimore, Chicago or San Diego.
The only IPD I like this week is Roy Williams. The other starters will all be OK, but you will need to evaluate your roster to see what your best options are. The Eagles pass more than they run so that decreases tackles for the LB and increase tackles for DB’s. That is why I like Williams. Demarcus Ware is another player I could see having a nice week, but that is predicated on him getting two or more sacks. Akinola Ayodele and Greg Ellis could also put up decent numbers. If Ellis qualifies as a DL in your league then start him there.
K: Mike Vanderjagt is a K2 this week.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 13:16:32 on Sat Sep 30 2006
News: Week 4
Fantasy Football Slant:
This week the Cowboys take on the Titans. Coming off a bye week the Cowboys should be rested and ready to go. This should be a great week to start all your Cowboy players since the Titans have not been a good team this year. Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Drew Bledsoe is a QB1 this week. He should rank in the top 10 with or without T.O.. The Titan defense will have all kind of trouble against the Cowboys offense. You should start Bledsoe unless you have a real stud as your other QB. Tony Romo will not be a factor this week, although if you are in the most dire of situations, it is possible that Romo gets some garbage time.
RB: The Titans DEF has been up and down against the run this year, and I see the Cowboys being able to run the ball on them. Julius Jones is a RB1 this week. While Parcells still claims to want a RBBC, Jones has gotten the bulk of the carries so far. I see Jones finishing in the top 10 this week and he should be started by all. Marion Barber is a RB3 this week. I see the Cowboys running 30 to 40 times this week and Barber will see 12 to 15 carries. That should make him a low RB3, higher if he can score a TD. Tyson Thompson. will see a little action this week but not enough to warrant a start.
WR: Will Terrell Owens start this week? Who knows? The latest news is that he is making the trip to Tennessee and he did practice this week. My guess is that he will play. How much is the question. If he plays he should put up good numbers. Check the news early and often on Sunday and if he is going to play then you should start him. If you need to set your lineup before you know for sure than I would recommend that you let him sit this week and go with another option. It is better safe than sorry. Terry Glenn is a WR1 this week. If you have Glenn take my advice and start him. You will not be sorry. Glenn is off to a hot start and you should ride him as long as you can. Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd are both WR3 this week. If T.O. is not starting then Hurd will start in his place, not Cryaton as some may think. Crayton will be the Cowboys WR3. The Cowboys like Crayton as the WR3 better than the starter. Don’t go crazy over Crayton if T.O. is out because Hurd will start in T.O.’s place. If T.O. is out then both Hurd and Crayton are viable WR3 and both can be started if your league requires 3 WRs..
TE: Jason Whitten is a TE2 this week. He has upside and he could very easily be a TE1 this week. If he is you main TE then you should start him. Anthony Fasano should not be started.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF should be started this week. Collins and/or Young will have trouble with the Cowboys DEF this week. I see big INT and sack numbers for the Cowboys this week. If you have the Cowboys DEF they must be started.
For IPD I like Roy Williams and Demarcus Ware this week. Akinola Ayodele and Greg Ellis can also be started if you need them.
K: Mike Vanderjagt is a K2 this week although he is risky.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 08:54:20 on Thu Sep 21 2006
News: Week 3 - Bye Week - Waiver Wire
Fantasy Football Slant:
The Cowboys are on Bye this week so we will take a look at a few players you may want to pick up on the waiver wire.
QB: Tono Romo is a must have if you have Bledsoe. In deep leagues and Dynasty leagues you should pick him up for next year or to trade to the unlucky Bledsoe owner who is not smart enough to get him.
RB: Tyson Thompson is the RB3 in Dallas, but in deep leagues he will have some value. He should average around 5 to 10 touches per game. Not great, but his bye week is over this week and he could fill in for one week in deep leagues that start three RBs. If Jones or Barber gets hurt his value will skyrocket.
WR: Patrick Crayton is the WR3 in Dalas and has good value in deep leagues. Again he is a good bye week filler for you going forward. Sam Hurd and Jamaica Rector are great keeper candidates. Hurd has great size and either one could prove valuable in the future especially with Owens and Glenn aging.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 17:33:41 on Sat Sep 16 2006
News: Fantasy Report Week 2
Fantasy Football Slant:
This is rivalry week in Big D as the Redskins come to town. Both teams are coming off so-so performances in week one. Weather in Dallas should be good. Here is how I see the Cowboys ranking this week.
QB: Drew Bledsoe is a QB2 this week. He will most likely not rank in the top 10 QB’s this week. Unless your QB’s are a weak bunch you should sit him on your bench. Don’t worry about Tony Romo this week, but if Bledsoe keeps throwing interceptions we will see Romo at some point. Speaking of Romo, if you have Bledsoe you must pick up Romo. You do not want to be left scrambling if Bledsoe is benched. I personally think Bledsoe will be fine, but it is always better to hedge your bets.
RB: While the Redskins DEF has been reworked this year, they are still a formidable defense. The Cowboys will have trouble running the ball if their offensive line doesn’t play better than last week. Julius Jones is a strong RB2 this week. The much talked about RBBC didn’t materialize in week one (but could appear at any time). I see Jones finishing just outside of the top 10 this week. I am basing that on about 75-80 yards rushing and one TD. If he adds another TD he will break into the top 10. Marion Barber should not be started this week. We need a few more weeks to see how Parcells will use Jones, Barber and Thompson. At this point it looks like Jones is the clear number one.
WR: You must start Terrell Owens this week (hopefully you don’t need me to tell you that). He is a WR1 this week you will finish in the top 5 WR this week. T.O. loves a big stage and Sunday night is second only to Monday night. Terry Glenn is a WR2 this week. Shawn Springs is still out for the Redskins so T.O. will draw a lot of attention leaving Glenn one-on-one with what amounts to the Redskins number three CB. Patrick Crayton and Jamaica Rector should not be started.
TE: Jason Whitten is a TE2 this week. Washington will play a lot of cover-2 to help contain T.O. which should open up the middle for Whitten. Unfortunately, the Redskins defensive line is much better than the Cowboys offensive line so Whitten will have a big helping of blocking responsibilities. Anthony Fasano should not be started.
DEF: The Cowboys DEF should be started this week. I am not a big Mark Brunell fan and with Clinton Portis out for this week I see a big week for the Dallas DEF.
For IPD I like Roy Williams and Demarcus Ware. Akinola Ayodele should also prove serviceable if needed. The Cowboys rotate their lineman so at this point it is a crap shoot if you need to start a Dallas DL. If I had to pick one to have a big week this week it would be Chris Canty.
K: While I don’t usually talk about kicker, word out of Dallas is that Mike Vanderjagt will play this week. With Washington having a good DEF and the Cowboys offense yet to get off track, the Dallas kicker should have a good week. If you feel lucky go ahead and start Vanderjagt.
Time & Date of this Update (PST): 20:18:52 on Tue Aug 15 2006
News: Cowboys Preseason Player ranking
Fantasy Football Slant:
This analysis is based on your average 10- to 12-team league and standard
scoring, with touchdowns and yardage being evenly weighted. The "Projected
Fantasy Role" is where you should plan on lining that player up on your fantasy
team from week to week.
| Position | Player | Projected Fantasy Role | Comments |
| QB | Drew Bledsoe | Low #1 | The addition of T.O. bumps him up. If the Cowboys line improves watch out! T.O, Glenn, and Witten give him three great targets. Interceptions are his weakness. |
| QB | Tony Romo | #4 | He could push Bledsoe for starting job next year. If you are in a deep keeper league you might want to give him some consideration. He is a nice handcuff for Bledsoe owners. You can get him very late in most drafts. |
| RB | Julius Jones | #2 | Barber will not steal as many carries as most people think. He has worked hard this off season and is ready to go. Speed is his main weapon. He should get 1,000 yards easy. If he is still there in round 4 take him. The only thing holding him back is injuries. |
| RB | Marion Barber III | #3 | The Cowboys will run a lot and Barber will get more carries than most back up RBs. A must have handcuff for Jones owners and a decent bye week filler. He will probably be drafted too early in most leagues due to all the positive press. |
| RB | Tyson Thompson | #6 | Parcells likes him and wants to get him more involved in the game plans. Might be worth a late round flier in deep leagues. |
| WR | Terrell Owens | #1 | A Fantasy stud. He will be a top 5 WR. He had a great first year in Philly too. |
| WR | Terry Glenn | #3 | Will see a lot of man coverage. He still has the speed to go deep. A nice number 3. |
| WR | Patrick Crayton | #6 | Will be the number 3 WR but he will not see enough balls to be more than a handcuff. If T.O. or Glenn gets injured pounce on him because he has skills. |
| TE | Jason Witten | #1 | With an improved line and Fasano on board, he will not need to block as much this year. T.O. will give him man coverage. |
| TE | Anthony Fasano | #3 | He will mostly be asked to block. |
| PK | Mike Vanderjagt | #1 | A very safe choice as a number 1 kicker. |
| D/ST | --------------- | Low #1 | Year two of the 3-4 should move the Cowboys back to #1 status. Young athletes like Ware, Canty, Williams, and Newman lead this young defense. The Cowboys defense can be drafted much later than their performance will indicate. If you wait on a defense, they are a nice late round pick who could play like a top defense. |