Buy/Sell Cowboys players against 49ers
Which Cowboys do you think could show up on Sunday night?
The Cowboys’ Week 8 matchup with the 49ers will surely be a challenge. San Francisco has had Dallas’ number in recent years, winning their last three games and generally dominating on both sides of the ball. While Frisco is banged up and struggling at 3-4 right now, the same should be said about the Cowboys. But even if victory feels unlikely, could some Dallas players still have solid individual performances?
BUY
WR Jalen Tolbert
TE Jake Ferguson
The 49ers have been effective in shutting down opponents’ number-one receivers but vulnerable to secondary options. Against the Seahawks in Week 6, Tyler Lockett, Noah Fant, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba combined for 181 receiving yards on 15 receptions. The week before against Arizona, it was Michael Wilson and Trey McBride leading the passing attack with 11 catches for 131 yards.
Coming off the bye week, Ferguson should look as explosive as we’ve seen him since the knee injury in the season opener. If the Niners do key on shutting down CeeDee Lamb as they have with other top receivers, it should create opportunities for the next guys on the list. The pressure will be on Dak Prescott to work through his progressions and make accurate, decisive throws to utilize them.
RB Rico Dowdle
Yes, Dalvin Cook is suiting up tonight but his touches will probably come from Ezekiel Elliott’s bucket. Dowdle is still RB1 until we see otherwise, and the primary backs have had decent days against the 49ers. The Chiefs’ Kareem Hunt had 78 yards and two touchdowns last week but on 22 carries. A few weeks ago, the Cardinals’ James Conner had 86 yards on 19 runs.
The key for Dallas, which they’ve not been good about all season, is allowing for production to come from volume. Whether it’s Dowdle or Cook, the touches need to be consistent and enough for the backs to find a rhythm and the opposing defense to get worn down. All it takes is one play for a decent day to turn into a great one for a back’s numbers, and Dallas needs to remember what worked against the Steelers in Week 5 when they leaned more into Dowdle than at any other point this season.
SELL
WR CeeDee Lamb
Naturally, given what we said above with the receiving options, Lamb will probably have to suffer for other guys to thrive. Like D.K. Metcalf and Marvin Harrison Jr. in recent weeks, held to just a combined five catches for 84 yards on 18 targets, Dallas’ WR1 is going to face a tough game. Even when Justin Jefferson ripped off 133 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 against the Niners, he needed a huge 97-yard play to make it more than a pedestrian performance.
Granted, Lamb is capable of that one big play. But for an offense that has struggled with consistency, trying to force the ball his way isn’t going to end well. The Cowboys have to take that cliché approach of taking what the defense gives them, and San Francisco will make sure that production doesn’t come from the most predictable source.
Cowboys run defense
No Christian McCaffrey; no problem for this 49ers’ rushing attack. Even without their All-Pro back so far this season, and versatile weapon Deebo Samuel missing time with injuries, San Francisco still has one of the NFL’s best rushing offenses at 149.9 yards per game. Jordan Mason’s done the heavy lifting while rookie Isaac Guerendo had chipped in nicely in spots. They’ve been able to consistently produce against all comers, and that’s bad news for a Cowboys’ defense that hasn’t been able to put up much resistance.
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