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The 2019 Dallas Cowboys fell well below expectations. With an extremely talented team, missing the playoffs is beyond inexcusable and led to changes in the coaching staff. But from a fantasy perspective, they still provided plenty of value. Will the NFL Draft also welcome in talent to further this team's potential? Let's find out in our latest edition of the NFL Draft 32 for 32 series.
The focus of this series is to dive into each NFL team's needs to project their draft picks in this year's draft, which will go on as planned in late April. I will predict the first three selections and give fantasy football owners perspective on how this affects fantasy value. Whether it be a positional player or players on the defensive side of the ball, all selections made can help in some way when it comes to fantasy scoring.
As we have seen in recent memory, some rookies can enter this league and make an immediate impact. Based on the appropriate landing spot, this year's crop of prospects has the potential to create some very fantasy-friendly situations. When you're done here, look back on our previous installments by checking the links at the bottom of this page.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including Best NFL Series, MLB Series, NBA Writer, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!
2019 Review
The 2019 Dallas Cowboys were the poster-child of failed expectations. They were inside the top-10 in both total offense and defense, yet failed to make the playoffs due to inexcusable losses. Some of the blame could be placed on Dak Prescott, but from a fantasy perspective, he turned in a QB2 finish and could've been the reason for some fantasy title-winning teams.
Prescott attacked down the field more than ever before, ranking third in throws 20-plus yards down the field and second in touchdowns of 40-yards or more with seven. He finished just shy of 5,000 yards passing (4,901) and proved that with the right supporting cast around him, he can be a very productive fantasy QB. But the thing to monitor with Prescott is how he tends to shrink in big games. The better the competition, Prescott seems to struggle and is a reason that he and the Cowboys are struggling to agree on a new contract.
Perennial top pick, Ezekiel Elliott, once again turned in a top-five season at the RB position (RB3). His 301 carries were second in the league to Derrick Henry and even with the yardage (1,357) and scoring (14 total TD) it felt like a down year for Elliott. He led the league in carries inside the red-zone (61) and his scoring percentage inside the five yard-line was amazingly high (83.3%).
The problem with Elliott was the predictability of playcalling by the Cowboys offense. In certain situations or packages, you knew he would be getting the ball, allowing defenses to stack the box. But playing behind one of the better O-lines in the game, Elliott could still be productive. One thing to note is his dip in receptions with the emergence of Tony Pollard. Elliott went from 77 catches in 2018 down to 54 a year ago - something to keep in mind for his PPR potential.
As for the pass catchers, Amari Cooper is what makes this engine run. His impeccable route-running skills are second to none in the league and allow him to separate in coverage. Prescott looks his way often (116 targets) but at times has trouble connecting (79 catches and 7 drops). As was the case for the Cowboys in 2019, Cooper's finish as WR10 on the year felt like he disappointed to a degree. But that has more to do with the overall perception of talent on this roster.
The WR2, Michael Gallup, turned in a solid season himself (1,107 yards and six TDs) finishing as WR24. Drops were a major issue for Gallup (13) and many of them occurred on plays where he had beat coverage and could have led to long scores. The connection between he and Prescott seemed to be off at times in 2019 and is something that has to get worked out in 2020.
As far as the fantasy potential of this team goes, all should remain the same in 2020. Prescott will have a lot to prove if he remains on the franchise tag and similar numbers should be expected this year. Another great season is well within reach. Ezekiel Elliott is a no-brainer early first-round pick in all formats and should finish among the tops in the league as long as he's on the field for 16 games. Cooper, with the new contract, should once again be a strong play as a WR1 in 2020, while Gallup will be drafted as a WR3 in most formats but has the upside to yet again become a WR2 in this offense.
Looking ahead to the draft, The Cowboys mostly should focus on the defensive side of the ball. They suffered a few losses here in free agency and although the additions of Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe help, there are plenty of holes to fill. The secondary will need major upgrades with Byron Jones now gone and with the team never truly finding an answer at safety. The sudden retirement of Travis Frederick opens a spot for a need at center, which could be looked at during the draft, but overall this team must find playmakers on defense.
Dallas Cowboys - 2020 Outlook
TEAM GRADES
Offense: 83.2 (5th)
Defense: 79.0 (8th)
Overall: 91.8 (5th)
TEAM NEEDS
CB, S, EDGE, OL
First Selection (1.17)
Grant Delpit, S LSU
Many look at Delpit's 2019 tape and believe that he took a step back. But he was playing through most of the season with a high ankle sprain which affected his production. He is an aggressive striker at the position with a very high ceiling. He is a very physical defender that loves to come down and play the run. He plays in coverage very well and can line-up against any tight end in the league.
His willingness to provide the big hit will catch the coach's eyes but tackling inconsistencies could haunt him. Delpit is a heavy hitter whose size and length plays well in coverage and helps him win contested catches. He will be a solid addition to this Cowboys Defense that is in dire need of a center-fielder in the secondary.
Second Selection (2.19)
Trevon Diggs, CB Alabama
If Diggs were to fall to this pick for the Cowboys in the second round, they could not turn in the ticket fast enough. He could become the immediate replacement for Byron Jones and help this secondary from day one. He has a rare combination of size, strength, and ball skills that will make him a quality starter very quickly in this league. He is very fluid in coverage and can open up and match routes with his opposition.
He has above-average foot agility that helps him get in and out of breaks. Sometimes he does lose his discipline as he goes for the playmaking move instead of the sound one. Overall, Diggs has all the makings to become a team's shut-down corner, which is what the Cowboys will need him to be.
Third Selection (3.18)
Marlon Davidson, DE Auburn
Davidson was a four-year starter in college who showed solid production against both the run and pass in his final season. Although Derrick Brown gets all the headlines as a teammate, Davidson is quite the player himself. He can be a diverse player and switch inside if need be, but his nimble feet can become a problem for outside blockers. He sets strong edges and can dominate tight ends on the outside.
Quickness is the name of his game as he can become overpowered by stronger offensive lineman. His stutter can create confusion as he ramps up his rush speed to get to the QB. He played limited snaps against the run, which may make him a primarily passing down defender. But being drafted to a Cowboys defense that just lost it's leading sack artist in free agency (Robert Quinn), Davidson could find a spot as a starter early on.
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