Cowboys Fantasy Football Outlook for Week 13: Should You Start Dak Prescott, Tony Pollard, CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Michael Gallup, Jake Ferguson and More?
Discussing the Dallas Cowboys week 13 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks and determining which Cowboys you can start.
Week 13 of the NFL season kicks off with an NFC battle between the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys. It’s a big game for both teams, as the Cowboys are trying to keep pace with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, while the Seahawks try to hold on to their playoff spot.
As of this publication, the over/under for the game is 47.5 and the Cowboys are favored by 8.5 points. I like Dallas to prevail late and win by more than a score, but think it’s a lower-scoring game. Something like 27-13 sounds right to me.
As we have most weeks, let’s take a look at each team’s top fantasy players and determine if this is a matchup you’d want to possibly start them in. We covered the Seahawks, so now it’s time for the Cowboys’ writeup.
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Dak Prescott Fantasy Outlook
Prescott has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league over the last month or so. He’s got multiple touchdown passes in five straight games.
Prescott has 200 or more passing yards in all but three contests. He’s thrown just six interceptions this season, but three of them came in one game. This might end up being Prescott’s career season.
This is an average matchup for Prescott, as the Seahawks’ defense allows 16 fantasy points per game. In the week 13 projections, Smith is the second-ranked quarterback behind Jalen Hurts. Imagine saying that at the start of the season.
Running Back Fantasy Outlook
Tony Pollard has had a pretty disappointing season considering the overall success of the Cowboys’ offense. He hasn’t had to split the snaps or touches pretty much all season, so Pollard has still been a solid fantasy player.
Rico Dowdle has backed Pollard up and gotten a bit more work of late, but most of it has been in blowout wins. Dowdle only has 58 attempts on the season, going for 246 rushing yards and one score. He’s caught 10-of-11 targets for 69 yards and two scores.
Pollard has at least 15 touches in each of the last four games. Dowdle has 28 touches in that span, but 22 came across two blowout wins.
This is a great matchup for the backs, as Seattle’s defense allows 26 fantasy points per week, the fourth-most points in the NFL. This could be a get right game for Pollard. Pollard is the 10th-ranked back in the projections, while Dowdle slots in 43rd.
Wide Receiver Fantasy Outlook
CeeDee Lamb has dominated in the Cowboys’ passing game, with Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup helping out here and there.
Cooks has caught 33 of his 48 targets for 452 yards and four scores. He’s got 19 targets over the past three games.
Gallup has 28 catches on 46 targets, going for 357 yards and one score. He’s only had eight targets over the past three games.
Jalen Tolbert has actually been targeted more than Gallup of late. Tolbert has 13 targets over the past three games and has caught 16-of-28 targets this season for 183 yards and a touchdown.
KaVontae Turpin is also worth mentioning, as he’s scored three touchdowns this season. He’s caught 10-of-13 targets this season for 113 yards. He had three targets in week 11, but has just two combined targets across the three other games in the last month.
It’s a pretty average matchup for the Dallas receivers, as Seattle allows 36 fantasy points to the position per week. In the weekly projections, Lamb is the second-ranked receiver, behind only Tyreek Hill. Cooks sits in 34th, while Gallup is 54th.
Tight End Fantasy Outlook
Jake Ferguson is the team’s best fantasy tight end, but Luke Schoonmaker also has been targeted over the past few weeks.
Schoonmaker has two targets in each of the past two games and has scored twice this season. He only has six grabs on 13 targets, going for 49 yards in total though.
It’s a bit of a tougher matchup for the Dallas TE, as Seattle allows 11 fantasy points per week. In the week 13 projections, Ferguson is currently ranked ninth.
Kicker and Defense Outlook
Brandon Aubrey does the kicking for Dallas. He’s made all 22 of his field goal attempts, but is 33-of-36 on extra points. Aubrey has made five kicks over 50 yards.
His perfect season has Aubrey as the top-ranked kicker for week 13.
The Cowboys’ defense is one of the best in the league. They allow only 16.8 points and 276.3 yards per contest. They especially excel in slowing the pass. Seattle’s offense has been below average, with 20.8 points and 317.6 yards per game.
Seattle takes pretty good care of the ball, with only 13 giveaways so far. Dallas has 17 takeaways and is tied for fourth with 12 interceptions.
Dallas is the top-ranked defense for week 13.
Who to Start in Week 13
Unlike the Seattle writeup, there’s a handful of Dallas players I like as fantasy starters this week.
Prescott has reached must start status for fantasy purposes. This is an average matchup for him, but if he can take care of the ball and account for a couple scores, he might just be QB1 for week 13.
Pollard has been underwhelming all season, but this matchup is too good to pass up. Hopefully, the Cowboys don’t blow the Seahawks out, and Pollard can get plenty of work. Dowdle should get a little work, but I’d only consider him as a starting option in deeper leagues.
Lamb is another must-start player every week. He could challenge for WR1 this week if he scores a couple times.
Cooks and Gallup are flex options for me, but I’d probably look elsewhere for my starter. They are just too inconsistent to trust, and the matchup is only average. They are solid starting options in deeper leagues.
Tolbert is a sleeper starting option in deeper leagues, and I’d probably take him over Gallup given last week’s numbers. Turpin I’d avoid in all formats.
Ferguson is another guy I like this week, but I wouldn’t automatically place him in my starting lineup. If you have another more favorable matchup, I’m fine with leaving Ferguson on the bench. He’s a strong starting option in deeper formats. Schoonmaker is a guy I’d avoid in all formats.
Aubrey has been arguably the best kicker this season, and there’s no reason to not play him this week. He should get plenty of work, especially if the Seattle defense can force a couple field goals.
The Cowboys have the best fantasy defense in the NFL, and this matchup is a pretty good one for them. Start them without any hesitation. They might be the top-scoring defense again in week 13.
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