Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys: Fantasy Football Player Projections

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Dallas Cowboys will enter Week One with a ton of questions especially for fantasy owners. Let’s take a look at some player projections for Sunday.

Week One of the 2016 NFL season is finally upon us and the Dallas Cowboys have a crucial divisional battle with the New York Giants. This also means there are big fantasy football implications for plenty of Cowboys fans.

Projecting the fantasy stats for Sunday’s Week One clash is somewhat like trying to figure the outcomes of a magic eight ball, it all comes down to probability. In this article we will take a look at all of the numbers from the preseason along with some interesting practice insights that could give you the inside track on starting your Cowboys effectively.

Jason Witten (Tight End): Witten has been extremely confident in this season and in rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. The Cowboys have never had this much faith in a backup quarterback and it appears that they may finally have found an answer for the spot behind number 9 (quarterback Tony Romo).

During the preseason Witten only amassed three receptions, 41 receiving yards, but gained 13.7 yards per reception. He also proved to be an effective red zone target against starting defensive units as he hauled in a touchdown. Witten should be the rookie quarterbacks safety net just like Romo but another tight end may steal some of his thunder.

Projection: 67 receiving yards, (possibly a red zone touchdown)

Aug 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Geoff Swaim (87) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kelcie McCray (33) during a NFL football game at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Cowboys 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Geoff Swaim (Tight End): Swaim has been the main target of Prescott during offseason practices however it has not really translated during preseason play. Swaim recorded eight receptions and gained 56 yards. He averaged seven yards per reception, and his longest catch went for 22 yards.

He never got into the end zone so realistically Swaim may not be a fantasy option. There is an off chance though, that he could help out Dak more than we all know.

Projection: 48 yards, 3 receptions

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Dez Bryant (Wide Receiver): Cowboys star wide receiver Dez Bryant had an excellent showing during the preseason. He recorded four receptions for 74 yards and averaged 18.5 yards per catch. His longest reception went for 28 yards and got into the red zone twice.

That is pretty impressive for a player who barely saw the field during preseason. Dez and Dak have incredible chemistry and the rookie barely played with Bryant so the potential is enormous. Dez’s ADP (average draft position) still remains in the late first early second rounds.

Projection: 4 receptions,155 yards, two touchdowns (Dez is ready to flat out ball)

Terrance Williams (Wide Receiver): The Cowboys second wide receiver on the depth chart has had an excellent training camp. The main qualm with Williams seems to be his level of consistency during the season. Williams managed to reel in three receptions for 55 yards, and managed to gain 18.3 yards per reception.

His longest catch from Prescott was a gain of 32 yards and he managed to get into the end zone. If Williams can move the chains and continue to make plays for this offense on a more consistent basis he will have finally gain some steady fantasy value, it looks like he is ready to make that jump.

Projection: 5 receptions, 72 yards

Aug 21, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) prior to the first practice at the Ford Center at the Star. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ezekiel Elliott (Running Back): Elliott is ready to be the Cowboys workhorse back and is extremely fresh for the Week One matchup. There seem to be some concerns with his conditioning as this is his first real regular season game however I do not believe that will play a factor in his numbers.

The first round pick will get a ton of chances to not only break off big plays behind this offensive line but to get most of the red zone looks at the running back position. He only played in one preseason game however his performance sent repercussions throughout the NFL.

The Cowboys starting running back gained 6.9 yards per rushing attempt against the Seattle starting defense. He ripped off a big game of 13 yards and did not hesitate to deliver a big hit. Zeke is ready to lead the Cowboys rushing attack into the future.

Projection: 205 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns

Dak Prescott (Quarterback): The Cowboys fourth round pick is seemingly the best rookie quarterback entering the first game of the 2016 season. His preseason performance cannot be matched. Throughout 50 attempts, he threw for 454 yards, gained 9.1 yards per attempt, and had zero interceptions.

His longest passing completion went for 58 yards and gained five touchdowns. Prescott is not only a passing threat but also can make some big plays with his feet. He gained 53 yards on 7 rushing attempts during the preseason gaining 7.6 yards per carry on the ground.

His longest carry was a 20 yard scamper into the end zone for a touchdown. Prescott is looking like the future for the Cowboys quarterback position according to the numbers.

Projection: 245 passing, 45 rushing yards, 3 passing touchdowns (possibly one rushing touchdown)

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