How to Fix the Cowboys
Fantasy

How to Fix the Cowboys

The Cowboys have delivered back-to-back 12-5 seasons on the back of strong play on both sides of the football.

The NFL offseason is in full swing, with coaching changes, free agency, and the NFL draft reshaping the 2023 fantasy football landscape. With that in mind, the Fantasy Life squad is breaking down every NFL team to determine what went wrong in 2022 and identify paths to improvement. Who knows, maybe an NFL GM will read this and realize those fantasy nerds aren’t so crazy after all – we all want the same thing, more points, and more wins!!!

Team Summary

The Cowboys have delivered back-to-back 12-5 seasons on the back of strong play on both sides of the football. However, they haven’t been able to translate their regular season success to the postseason, leading the team to move on from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

The team promoted Brian Schottenheimer to replace Moore, and Mike McCarthy will take over play-calling duties. The head coach suggested the Cowboys won’t make wholesale changes, but an estimated 30-35% would differ. However, when pressed about the differences, McCarthy provided a puzzling reply.

The Cowboys ran the ball above the NFL average in close (8th) and trailing game scripts (6th) and ranked fourth in rushing plays per game, excluding overtime. So, McCarthy’s response doesn’t make much sense on that front. However, no team left more time on the play clock in neutral situations than Dallas (11.6 seconds).

Moore’s formula worked to the tune of 26.8 points per game (4th), ranking sixth in the percentage of drives converted to TDs (27%). The Cowboys played with a lead of four or more points on 39% of snaps – the third-most in the NFL.

Those leading scripts played perfectly into Dan Quinn’s aggressive defense that wants to unleash the pass rush, where Dallas ranked No. 1 in pressure rate (40%). Of course, it also kept them from worrying about run defense – where they ranked No. 20 in PFF grades.

From a macro perspective, the Cowboys have young centerpieces on both sides of the ball with Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb that can provide big plays that win games. However, they have multiple former superstars that are aging and making big dollars.

  • Edge: DeMarcus Lawrence (31) – $26M
  • Guard: Zack Martin (33) – $19.9M
  • Tackle: Tyron Smith (33) – $17.6M
  • RB: Ezekiel Elliott (28) – $16.7M

Dallas must get their succession plan in order on the offensive and defensive lines. Smith could be a cap casualty, with the team currently $11M over the cap. Cutting Smith and Elliott would provide Dallas with about $14M in cap savings.

The team also faces a decision on Dalton Schultz, who was a big part of the 2023 attack after the trade of Amari Cooper for a bag of chips in the 2022 offseason. The Cowboys will use the franchise tag on Tony Pollard.

Fantasy Fixer Recommendations

Cut Ezekiel Elliott and Feature Tony Pollard

Elliott’s contract is $16.7M this season, but the team can save almost $5M by moving on before June 1st. A post-June-1 cut would save them nearly $11M but add dead cap money to 2024.

The eighth-year veteran has been below average in key efficiency metrics over the past three years. In 2022, those numbers hit a crescendo, with Elliott ranking outside the top 24 across the board.

Dallas must move on from this contract.Saquon BarkleyJosh JacobsAlvin KamaraAustin EkelerDraft a Playmaker in the Passing GameMichael GallupMichael MayerDalton KincaidLuke MusgraveDarnell WashingtonSam LaPortaInject Youth Into the Offensive Line
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com)37
Dane Brugler (Athletic)39
Mike Renner (PFF)88
 Another name the Cowboys could consider in the second round is Steve Avila, who sits at pick 63 in consensus mock drafts. Avila is a hometown option out of TCU that Jeremiah projects as a “solid starting guard right away at the next level.”

AnalystRank
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com)35
Dane Brugler (Athletic)41
Mike Renner (PFF)41

Grabbing one of these two options or another player like Joe Tippman out of Wisconsin makes a ton of sense given the Cowboys' needs and where they are picking in the second round.

Fantasy Fixers