Dallas Cowboys vs Minnesota Vikings
Spread: Vikings -4
Total: 49.5
Weather: Dome
Injuries
Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott - OUT
Vikings
None Notable
DVOA Defensive Rankings
Cowboys
vs Pass: 10th
vs Run: 15th
Vikings
vs Pass: 3rd
vs Run: 24th
**Please note that players not listed below are not necessarily a complete fade and any player listed can certainly be used as the MVP/Captain. These are merely suggestions for players to use when setting Showdown lineups.
MVP/CPT
Dalvin Cook, MIN - The Cowboys pass defense is kinda decent, especially with Diggs likely shadowing Justin Jefferson tonight. I am figuring that the Vikings are going to have this one in the bag with Dak Prescott ruled out and will therefore lean heavily on the running attack here tonight.
Adam Thielen, MIN - I see Diggs shadowing Justin Jefferson tonight which should mean plenty of volume for our guy Adam Thielen. If you remember, before the bye week, I had Thielen as a favorite play in the contrarian corner video and he went off. Don't sleep on Thielen here as the guy can not only score multiple touchdowns tonight but proved capable of putting up big yards as well.
Ezekiel Elliott, DAL - The Vikings run defense ranks 24th in DVOA and with Dak Prescott out of the lineup I have to believe that Elliott should be in for a major workload here this evening. The prospects for him are not great but this could very easily be a contrarian option.
UTIL
Kirk Cousins, MIN - While I do worry a bit about Diggs in coverage, I still think that the VIkings will have success throwing the football tonight, especially coming out of a bye. Cousins is expensive so I think he is likely best suited as a utility play for tonight's contests.
Justin Jefferson, MIN - The expected coverage from Diggs is something to think about but Jefferson is a big play threat that doesn't need a ton of volume to put up big time numbers. Considering the fact we are not expecting much from the Dallas side of the football he still may come out as one of the higher scoring options.
Tony Pollard, DAL - I think we see Pollard a bit more tonight than usual with the Cowboys not having Dak Prescott. Pollard is great in PPR formats.
Vikings Defense - Usually more of a dart throw play, knowing that Cooper Rush is going to be the QB tonight I think lends some to the idea that playing the Vikings defense could be a strong option. They are very cheap and will allow you to spend up for multiple other options.
CeeDee Lamb, DAL - I tend to lean Lamb over Cooper though I think both can be used tonight. I am not expecting much from this Cowboys passing attack with Cooper Rush but I don't think it will be a complete zero either.
Dalton Schultz, DAL - Whenever a backup QB is playing I tend to use the starting tight end. Often the offense is a bit simplified and the tight end is generally used as the safe throw for the QB if the down field option isn't there. Schultz has been very good this season for Dallas.
Dart Throws
Tyler Conklin, MIN - Conklin has definitely had his moments this season and is a nice red zone target for Kirk Cousins tonight. While I don't think he is going to exactly blow the door off, I do think he will see his share of targets in this one.
Cooper Rush, DAL - Hey, crazier things have happened right? He is a starting QB with great offensive talent around him. We saw Geno Smith enter a game a few weeks back and find success maybe lightning strikes here for Dallas.