The Cowboys have held their last three opponents under 222 passing yards. They play the Buccaneers in Week 16.

Analysis: The early magic of the Buccaneers offense has worn off and they've returned to reality, accruing under 180 passing yards and 14 points in two consecutive weeks. The Cowboys defense is trending in the other direction, holding six straight opponents to 23 points or less and forcing eight turnovers in the process. The Buccaneers have been smart with the ball lately, coughing up just three turnovers in the past four weeks, but the Cowboys strong pass rush could make QB Jameis Winston uncomfortable…read more

The Cowboys have held their last five opponents to 23 or less points. They play the Colts in Week 15.

Analysis: The Cowboys have shut down all rushing attacks lately, holding their last five opponents below 80 rushing yards. This won't affect the Colts much, as they rank second in the league with both 41.1 passing attempts per game and 34 passing touchdowns. A strong passing attack won't smother the Cowboys but they'll need to be on top of their game against a unique playbook that features WR T.Y. Hilton, who is on a tear, as a deep threat and TE Eric Ebron as a heavily used red-zone option. This could…read more

The Cowboys have held their last four opponents below 80 rushing yards. They play the Eagles in Week 14.

Analysis: The Cowboys are riding the joy of holding the Saints to just 10 points in Week 13's Thursday Night Football. They held Drew Brees to just 127 passing yards -- his lowest total of the season -- and were the only team to keep the Saints below 24 points this year. This production likely isn't repeatable, but they now have 10 sacks and six forced turnovers in the last four games and are putting up a brick wall against the run. The Eagles have dysfunction in their backfield but can break off the…read more

The Cowboys have notched eight sacks in the last three games. They play the Saints in Week 13.

Analysis: The Cowboys have a strong front seven that can get to the quarterback, but that may not matter against a brick-wall offensive line that's allowed QB Drew Brees to be dropped just 10 times in 11 games. This wasn't a forgiving matchup to begin with, as the Saints have failed to eclipse 30 points just twice this year and have reached 45 three times in the last four games. The Saints have capitalized on supreme talent and added a versatile playbook that has left defenses flat-footed while…read more

The Cowboys rank 28th in the league with four interceptions. They play the Redskins in Week 12.

Analysis: As a result of Alex Smith's gruesome season-ending leg injury, QB Colt McCoy will be under center for Washington. Prior to Washington's Week 11 game, McCoy hadn't thrown a regular-season pass since 2015, so there's no telling what's in store for the Redskins offense. Even with Smith directing the offense, Washington had failed to surpass 23 points in its last seven games. RB Adrian Peterson has been a hit-or-miss performer this season and has averaged just 3.1 YPC over the last three games,…read more

The Cowboys have allowed two 300-yard passers this season. They play the Falcons in Week 11.

Analysis: The Falcons afford opponents little margin for error despite producing a 14-point dud against the Browns last week. Even with that lowly showing, Atlanta still owns the eighth-best scoring offense with 27.1 points per game. The Cowboys haven't faced a wideout group as deep as Atlanta's triumvirate of Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Mohamed Sanu since Week 5 against the Texans, when Deshaun Watson tore them up for 374 passing yards. The fantasy upside isn't there against a club that has turned…read more

The Cowboys have forced two turnovers in three of their last four games. They play the Eagles in Week 10.

Analysis: The Cowboys have 23 sacks through eight games, which surely contributes to the recent turnovers. The team was carved up Monday by QB Marcus Mariota and the Titans, a team that was brutal offensively leading into the matchup. The Eagles will have a new toy (WR Golden Tate) to complement their already-dangerous pass catchers with a possession receiver. There could be some relief because the Eagles have the 10th-most turnovers in the league (12), making the Dallas defense a loose bubble team in…read more

The Cowboys have surrendered at least 300 passing yards in three of the last four games. They play the Titans in Week 9.

Analysis: The Cowboys' defense is a severely underrated unit, and if there's a time to start it, it's now. The Titans only have one receiver with over 20 catches this season (Corey Davis, 30) and QB Marcus Mariota has just three touchdown passes in five starts. In fact, they have just eight total touchdowns through seven games. The Cowboys are poised to reward fantasy owners once again, as they haven't allowed an opponent to score more than 24 points in a game. They have only forced six turnovers this…read more

The Cowboys have forced two turnovers (two interceptions, two fumbles) in both of their last two games. They'll play the Redskins in Week 7.

Analysis: The Cowboys defense has been strong all season, allowing just 17.2 points per game to rank second in the league, but they're gaining value as they force turnovers. The Redskins have yielded a turnover in four of five games this season but just five total, so Dallas could struggle to keep up its recent pace. The Cowboys' success on the scoreboard comes from opponents scoring on just 41.2 percent of red-zone trips, ranking fourth in the league. The Redskins are serviceable when they get past the…read more

LB Sean Lee is dealing with a strained hamstring ahead of the Cowboys' Week 6 game against the Jaguars.

Analysis: The Chiefs rank as the second-worst team against the pass in the NFL but ended up as a top defense in Week 5 when they snagged four picks from Jaguars QB Blake Bortles. That could steer fantasy owners toward the Dallas D/ST, but understand that the Jaguars simply were forced to throw often due to the Chiefs' spectacular offense. Dallas doesn't have nearly as much playmaking talent as Kansas City, but its defense offers a solid floor with no opponent scoring more than 24 points this season.…read more

LB Sean Lee (hamstring) is expected to sit out Week 5 against the Texans.

Analysis: Without their star linebacker in the fold, the Cowboys could be in some trouble against a Texans offense that got rolling in a Week 4 win over the Colts, with QB Deshaun Watson racking up 375 passing yards and two touchdowns in the contest. The Cowboys defense has held its own against two squads in the Panthers and Seahawks that both featured mobile quarterback, but neither of those teams had wideouts of DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller's caliber. The Dallas defense ranks sixth in the league…read more

The Cowboys allowed 295 total yards and 24 points to the Seahawks in Week 3. They'll play the Lions in Week 4.

Analysis: Detroit's passing game has been one of the best in the league, ranking eighth in the league with 294 yards per outing. The Cowboys are equipped to handle the heat, however, as they rank fourth in the league with just 182 passing yards allowed per contest, including allowing Seahawks QB Russell Wilson to just 192 yards in Week 3. The Cowboys defense has been solid keeping opponents to low numbers, but they've forced just two turnovers in three games, limiting their reach to deeper leagues.

The Cowboys beat the Giants 20-13 in Week 2. They'll play the Seahawks in Week 3.

Analysis: Against an elite, dual-threat quarterback like Russell Wilson, it's tough to pick the Cowboys defense to hold its own. Wilson has had a tough two-game start, being sacked 12 times and throwing three interceptions -- one went back for a score. The Seahawks' offensive line is too shaky to support a run game, which will leave plenty of opportunities for the Cowboys to get after Wilson. They've been swarming opposing signal callers, too, racking up nine sacks so far but failing to record an…read more

CB Orlando Scandrick (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Eagles.

Analysis: The Cowboys have five other defensive starters nursing injuries, which dampers their fantasy value even if the Eagles elect to rest offensive starters. Dallas got lit up for 37 points by the Eagles earlier this season, but that was with a healthy Carson Wentz (knee). With the possibility of run stoppers like Sean Lee (back) being ruled out, there just isn't much of an upside to starting Dallas D/ST, especially since QB Nick Foles has turned the ball over just once this season.

DT David Irving (concussion) will sit out of Sunday's game against the Seahawks.

Analysis: Irving has seven sacks in eight games this season, so his contributions would've been helpful in slowing down Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, who is sacked on 6.9 percent of his dropbacks, ranking 19th in the league. The Seahawks were horrid in Week 16, though, posting just seven points and 149 yards of total offense while turning the ball over twice. This was extremely uncharacteristic of Seattle and shouldn't be expected again, as Wilson still tanks second in the league with 30 passing…read more

Defensive tackles David Irving (concussion) and Maliek Collins (foot) are battling injuries ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders.

Analysis: Having these two studs back would help pressure Raiders QB Derek Carr, who ranks last in the league with a QB rating of 34.7 when facing pressure. If given time, Carr has plenty of pass-catching assets to rack up points by himself. Carr has thrown two touchdowns and two interceptions in his last two matchups, but the run support from Marshawn Lynch has been fairly consistent. Still, it seems that having Irving and Collins back would be key to push the Cowboys into a worthy position in the midst…read more

DT David Irving is in concussion protocol, while LB Sean Lee (hamstring) is expected to play Sunday against the Giants.

Analysis: Losing Irving would hurt the Giants pass rush immensely, but Lee returning will help shutdown an already fragile Giants' run game. The Giants have at least one turnover in each of their last six games, and the Cowboys are in the turnover mood after they had four takeaways against Washington in Week 13. In these teams' first matchup of the season -- one without Irving -- Dallas held the Giants to just three points and 233 total yards. Back then, the Giants had Odell Beckham and Brandon Marshall…read more

LB Sean Lee (hamstring) is listed as out for Thursday's game against the Redskins.

Analysis: Dallas struggles immensely in run defense without Lee, and Washington is coming off back-to-back games with over 100 rushing yards. Although the Cowboys allowed just 19 points to the Redskins in their first meeting this season, their opponents have averaged over 30 points per game in their last their games. The Cowboys' offense has been lost without RB Ezekiel Elliott (suspension), and it seems to have affected the defense by means of the time-of-possession battle. This defense has been suspect…read more

LB Sean Lee (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Chargers.

Analysis: The Cowboys continue to struggle in rush defense without Lee, as they let up a season-high 215 yards in a 37-9 loss to the Eagles in Week 11. RB Melvin Gordon has shown threatening glimpses, but he continues to be held back by a poor Chargers' offensive line. Dallas has simply had no answer for opposing offenses with strong running games. Again, the Chargers defense is far from terrifying, but the Cowboys have only forced two turnovers in the last three games, so it's tough to see a high floor…read more

LB Sean Lee (hamstring) is expected to miss Sunday night's game against the Eagles.

Analysis: The Cowboys have let up over 160 rushing yards three times this season, and two of those games they were without Lee. This is troubling against an Eagles squad that has racked up over 100 rushing yards in each of their last eight contests, ranking fourth in the league. On top of that, Eagles' QB Carson Wentz continues to shatter thoughts of a sophomore slump, as he has thrown for 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions in the last three games. And the icing on the cake: they're coming fresh…read more

Maliek Collins is dealing with a foot injury ahead of Sunday's contest against the Falcons.

Analysis: If Collins is unable to play, the Cowboys will have to lean on inexperienced Richard Ash and undrafted rookie Lewis Neal. The Cowboys' defense has been surprisingly hot lately, keeping its last three opponents under 20 points, forcing seven turnovers in that span. Some of this could be an effect of David Irving returning from suspension, as he has racked up six sacks, four pass breakups and one forced fumble in the last four games. If Irving can keep this up and put some pressure on QB Matt…read more