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Welcome to Week 1 and Sunday Night Football! Fellow RotoBallers -- it was a long off-season, but we finally made it.
Below you will find our matchups analysis for the Sunday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Read our fantasy football breakdowns for this game -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 1 matchup. Good luck RotoBallers!
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys - 8:20 pm ET
Spread: Buccaneers -2.5
Implied Total: Buccaneers (26.5) vs. Cowboys (24)
Pace: Buccaneers (4th) vs. Cowboys (3rd)
Buccaneers Off. DVOA: 43.9% Pass (1st), 6.9% Rush (5th)
Cowboys Off. DVOA: 32.0% Pass (6th), -4.0% Rush (13th)
Buccaneers Def. DVOA: 1.8% Pass (11th), -9.2% Rush (14th)
Cowboys Def. DVOA: -20.5% Pass (2nd), -7.0% Rush (16th)
Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - Sunday Night Football
Matchups We Love:
CeeDee Lamb (WR, DAL)
Lamb scored an 84.1 grade on PFF, eighth-best among receivers. He also finished 13th in yards per route run, clearing 1,100 receiving yards in the process. Unfortunately, he only generated six touchdowns and lacked consistency, resulting in a WR18 finish in half-PPR scoring.
The team traded Cooper away to the Browns, cementing Lamb as the No. 1 option. Furthermore, until Michael Gallup returns healthy, the target competition is very minimal. Lamb is a must-start, entering what is expected to be a breakout year.
Mike Evans (WR, TB)
Evans finds himself in a similar situation with Chris Godwin sidelined to begin the season although the depth chart is a little stronger. Nonetheless, Evans is coming off back-to-back campaigns of 1,000-plus yards and 13-plus touchdowns, illustrating his elite ceiling. He's a strong play in what projects to be another one of the league's highest-scoring matchups.
Bucs Running Backs
Leonard Fournette was an ADP hero last season, finishing as a top-10 option despite being drafted well outside the top 30. He was impactful on the ground but really made his mark through the air, accumulating 69 receptions for 454 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with the second-most receptions and third-most receiving yards among all running backs.
The Buccaneers let Ronald Jones leave in free agency, choosing to replace him in the draft with rookie Rachaad White. White profiles as an excellent receiver himself and impressed during the preseason. Fournette is a great play and White slots in as an upside flex player.
Dalton Schultz (TE, DAL)
Schultz capitalized on his opportunity when other players were injured last year, catching 78 passes for 808 yards and eight touchdowns, as the TE3. It's doubtful he sustains this production entering 2022 but he'll be a focal point of the offense in this matchup.
Matchups We Hate:
None
Other Matchups:
Jalen Tolbert (WR, DAL)
UPDATE: Jalen Tolbert is officially out for Week 1. He is a healthy scratch.
This is the kind of high-scoring contest to search for secondary players who have the potential to blow up, which is what Tolbert is. The preseason reports have been mixed but their receiving options are limited so he'll have a chance to produce.
Cowboys Running Backs
The duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard is right up there with the Packers and Browns as the best in the league. Pollard scored an 86.0 PFF grade, finishing fourth among halfbacks, along with the 11th highest elusive rating. Elliot did not look like his usual self, which could be attributed to the PCL tear he experienced.
Despite his inefficiency, he still finished as the RB6 (half-PPR) or RB7 (PPR). The matchup isn't favorable for these two but the over/under is high and the Cowboys' offense is lacking weapons, forcing them to rely on their rushing attack. Elliot is still a top-20 play and Pollard remains a worthy flex option.
Key Injuries:
Michael Gallup (knee) - OUT
Chris Godwin (knee) - Godwin is expected to play, although to what extent remains unclear. He's best left on your bench this week.
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