Fantasy Football Week 1 Projections: Dallas Cowboys

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The Dallas Cowboys are still America’s team. Yes, it’s true. I know they haven’t won anything in what seems like 50 years now, but when you measure the actual interest of the general public in the NFL, most fans are more familiar with the Cowboys than any other team in football.

This year, fantasy football fans, which tend to be more particular than the casual viewer, will have lots of interest in the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have all kinds of players worthy of fantasy football speculation. From Tony Romo to Dez Bryant, this team has big names with big talents that, if for nothing else, can spark trade debate in your fantasy football league. Here are our Fantasy Football Week 1 Projections for the Dallas Cowboys as they prepare to face the Washington Redskins:

Tony Romo, Quarterback

We see big things for Tony Romo in Fantasy Football Week 1. While the Washington Redskins have a formidable defense, they are in a transition stage right now. The Redskins defense could be as good as it was last year by the end of this year, but in the opening weeks of the NFL season, I expect them to struggle, especially when they aren’t getting the best out of their highest paid defensive player: Albert Haynesworth. Thus, expect Tony Romo to do some damage a secondary that is probably going to be exposed on Sunday night. With no defensive pass rush up the middle, Romo should have plenty of time to play—which is important given how bad his offensive line is. We’re not saying Romo is going to be among Week 1’s fantasy leaders, but a strong performance of at least 240 passing yards and 2 touchdowns is to be expected.

Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Running Backs

The three-headed monster of the Dallas Cowboys makes things very tricky. This team has a lot going for it in the backfield, but from a fantasy football perspective, it’s impossible to project which of these running backs is going to have the finer day. Felix Jones would appear to be the big play guy that should get the majority of screen passes, outside runs and draw plays. However, Marion Barber is still likely to be the goal line back for the Cowboys, and Tashard Choice is a more complete back than both of the other runners. If you have one of these guys, your best option is to not start any of them and wait until later in the season, when their roles should be more definitive.

Miles Austin, Wide Receiver

Miles Austin is the main target on this team, and he should be. He is very capable of producing in every situation there is. When you compare Austin to every other wide receiver in the league, he does just about everything as well or better than the next guy. Whether it’s running short routes, or facing top-notch corners, Austin’s ability to catch and run remains among the best in the NFL. Against the Redskins in Fantasy Football Week 1, we project a continuation of those good numbers and a big day for the Cowboys #1 wideout.

Roy Williams, Wide Receiver

We don’t know what to expect from Roy Williams in Week 1. I suppose that if we were as down on him as the rest of the country, we could slam away. But for whatever reason, we still have some faith in this man, and we really believe that he is tried to get better this offseason. Now we could be wrong, but this man has been a dominant receiver before and those same skills are still there. We’re not expecting anything huge in Week 1, but if you have Roy Williams on your roster, don’t get rid of him just yet.

Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver

Dez Bryant said that he’s ready to “unleash” his abilities on the NFL this regular season. His coaches are no less optimistic about the rookie wide receiver, but I am somewhat skeptical. It’s not that he doesn’t have the skills, but for whatever reason, wide receivers seem to be late bloomers when they come up through the Dallas Cowboys. Miles Austin’s skills wouldn’t have been unleashed if not for an injury. Roy Williams continues to struggle in the system. And Terrell Owens was never used as well as we thought he should have been during his time with the Cowboys. Maybe a lot of this falls on the shoulders of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who is not the most creative coordinator ever, if you know what I’m saying. So while Bryant may have the skills, I don’t know if the system has his back. You can start him in Week 1 if you want to, but I’d be very weary of it for now.

Jason Witten, Tight End

Jason Witten is entirely underutilized in this offense. He used to be the focal point, now he’s a secondary thought. At best, Jason Witten is only going to have a good day if Tony Romo checks the ball down a lot. For some reason, the Cowboys don’t seem to think that Witten is worthy of being the primary target more often than he was last season. I don’t expect things to change in 2010, especially given the arrival of Bryant and the three-headed monster in the backfield. So while Witten is a no-brainer as far as starting goes, the likelihood of him turning up a huge game in Fantasy Football Week 1, even against the Redskins, is unlikely.

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