Despite finishing 13th in fantasy points per game for quarterbacks,
Tony Romo was the most efficient quarterback in the NFL last season,
leading the league in passer rating, completion percentage rate,
and yards per attempt. An improved offensive line gave Romo more
time to survey the field and deliver quality, low-risk throws,
while the emergence of DeMarco Murray and the ground attack forced
opposing defenses to play single coverage outside and opened the
door for more play-action passes. The formula worked so well that
the Cowboys finished the season with a 12-4 record and an NFC
East divisional crown. The Cowboys will continue to use the same
balanced attack in 2015 despite the loss of DeMarco Murray to
the Eagles via free agency. This bodes well for Romo owners in
that he will not be forced to throw the ball 40-plus times to
win a game, however, the continued reduction in pass attempts
and yardage eats into his overall value, keeping him out of the
top-5 quarterback discussion.
Randle enters training camp as the starting running back poised
to replace DeMarco Murray as the lead ball carrier in a potent
rushing attack. The former fifth round pick from Oklahoma State
will compete against veteran tailback Darren McFadden, who signed
a free agent deal after a somewhat disappointing seven-year stint
with the Raiders. Randle showed excellent burst and power as a
change of pace back for Murray last season, averaging just under
seven yards per carry on 51 runs in limited action. However, when
he did see more than 10 carries per game in four games in his
first two seasons, he averaged less than 3.5 yards per carry,
including a dismal 17 yards on 11 carries against the Redskins
in Week 6 of 2013. It remains to be seen if he can handle between
15 and 20 carries per game, which he would need to be worthy of
a top-20 RB ranking. A possible dreaded running back by committee
is another factor that hurts Randle’s value this season, as the
Cowboys could use both Randle and McFadden in early down situations,
with Lance Dunbar acting as the third down back.
A stellar college career at the University of Arkansas earned
McFadden the number four overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft
and a starting role with the Oakland Raiders. Seven injury plagued
and under-productive seasons later, McFadden looks to restart
a once promising career now as a member of the Cowboys. He enters
2015 training camp behind third-year back Joseph Randle on the
depth chart, but will likely see playing time as a change-of-pace
back in an offense built around the offensive line and ground
game. Health has always been a problem for McFadden, who has managed
to play a full 16-game season just once in his seven-year career.
When he did make the field, he struggled in his last three seasons
with the Raiders, managing a paltry 3.3 yards per carry with just
nine touchdowns in 38 games. Now as a member of the Cowboys, McFadden
has without a doubt the best supporting cast of his career, and
an offensive line that will provide the best opportunity for him
to return to his career high of 5.4 yards per carry in 2011. McFadden
should be viewed as a high risk/high reward pick in drafts this
season, with a high ceiling and complete bust floor.
Dunbar is the third head of the possible RBBC in Dallas, acting
as the likely receiving back on third down and passing situations.
He is the smallest of the three backs and typically requires space
on the outside to be effective. He is worthy of a late round flyer
in both PPR and standard leagues, as the Cowboys coaching staff
appears to still be high on him, and both Darren McFadden and
Joseph Randle have question marks with regards to durability and
whether or not they can operate as a lead back.
Bryant posted a third-consecutive season with at least 88 catches,
1200 yards, and 12 touchdowns last season in route to finishing
as the third ranked fantasy wide receiver. He led the league with
a career-high 16 touchdowns, three more than Antonio Brown and
Jordy Nelson. A regression in the run game due to the departure
of DeMarco Murray could have a positive impact on Bryant, should
the Cowboys be forced to throw more. Bryant saw 24 less targets
in 2014 as a result of the effective rushing attack and balanced
offense used by head coach Jason Garrett. If Joseph Randle and
Darren McFadden struggle to pick up the slack in the ground game,
Bryant may see more targets and could have an even bigger season
in 2015. A looming contract dispute and possible holdout has some
fantasy owners worried about using a first or early second round
pick on Bryant. Assuming that Bryant and the Cowboys reach an
accord on a new long-term deal, Bryant is more than worthy of
an early round pick and will make an excellent foundation for
both PPR and standard scoring teams.
With only 37 catches on 65 targets in 2014, Terrence Williams
proved once again that the wide receiver opposite of Dez Bryant
in the Dallas offense will not receive enough volume to be considered
a solid fantasy play. Williams did manage to increase his touchdown
receiving total from five in his rookie season to eight last year.
But that is somewhat misleading as he suffered a reduction in
yards, receptions and targets from year one to year two. His touchdown
production comes in bunches and he is too TD-dependent to be considered
anything more than a WR3 in 12 team leagues. Perhaps his biggest
upside lies in the fact that the Cowboys and Dez Bryant have yet
to come to an agreement on a long-term deal, and Dez has threatened
to hold out. If that does happen, Williams’ value will increase
substantially.
TE Jason
Witten (2014 TE Rank - No. 10, 6.3 FPts/G)
An aging veteran tight end who is likely headed to Canton when
he finally hangs up his cleats, Witten posted top-ten fantasy
numbers despite having a sizable reduction in targets (21 less
from the previous season) and the lowest yardage total since becoming
a starter in 2004. An increase from his five receiving touchdowns
in 2014 is not out the question considering the fact that the
loss of DeMarco Murray may force the Cowboys to use Witten more
in the red zone. But owners looking for Witten to return to his
2012 form in which he logged 110 catches on 147 targets may be
disappointed.
