Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Outlook: Life without Tony Romo on the Field

Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Football Outlook

The Tony Romo injury news pretty much doomed the Dallas Cowboys chances of making the playoffs this season. However fantasy wise Dez Bryant and Ezekiel Elliott still hold tons of value. Dak Prescott has been great in the preseason so far. However in my opinion this success will not hold up in the regular season. Many argue that since Romo went down the Cowboys will run the ball more. This could be the case but opposing defenses will quickly learn to send more defenders to the line. This will slow the run down and if Prescott cannot throw the ball, this is a likely situation. Others argue that Prescott will rely more on Dez Bryant and only target him. Without Romo throwing the ball, Bryant’s value automatically decreases. In spite of all of this I believe that Bryant and Elliott will be able to hold out until Romo returns.

Fewer Yards (and First Downs)

Losing Romo hurts the entire Dallas offense. This is simply because the ball will not move as well and drives will be shorter. When the ball does not move down the field, fewer red zone attempts will be taken. It is not a hard concept but if the ball cannot move down the field then the offense will be scoring far fewer points. Generally fantasy players on more powerful offenses perform better. They also score more fantasy points simply because of more trips to the red zone and more time with the ball.

It is no secret that Dallas as a team has struggled without Romo. This injury certainly subtracts a lot of value from Elliott and Bryant right away. However I still believe without Romo both players will still put up a few big weeks and will score enough fantasy points for owners who selected them. For players who have not drafted, it is safe to say Bryant and Elliott will start to slide in drafts. Selecting either of them at the right place is not a bad idea. Both players will only get better throughout the season and can help win games down the stretch.

Next: What if Romo comes back?

When and If Romo Returns

If Romo returns when he is expected the fantasy season will be heading into the final weeks of the regular season. This is the perfect time for fantasy owners of any of Dallas’ offensive players to get hot and make a run towards the championship. When Romo returns the threat of passing will become drastically more lethal. This will open up more of the field for Ezekiel Elliott to gain yards and score more touchdowns. When Romo returns around the week 6-10 mark, he will instantly make all of the players around him better. Hold onto the Cowboys players and do not sell them at too low of a price. These players can be the difference maker in the playoffs especially when Romo returns and gets the offense moving again.

If Prescott Plays Well

Dak Prescott has never taken a snap in an NFL game. If he plays remotely close to the way he did this preseason, the Cowboys offense will not skip a beat. As previously stated I believe Prescott will slow down significantly. However if he does not than there is no fear for the Cowboys offense. This situation makes the value of Elliott and Bryant increase more than it is at right now due to many anticipating Prescott’s eventual stall on offense. It is highly unlikely that Prescott will play at a Tony Romo level but if he can hold it together until Romo returns then fantasy owners should not be concerned.

Next: Is Coby Fleener the answer at TE?

Verdict

Overall although the Tony Romo injury undoubtedly slows down the Dallas offense, I believe they are more than capable of holding it together until Romo returns. Prescott remains a huge question mark but could turn into a force. Fantasy owners should not be overly concerned yet and definitely should not be selling their Dallas players just yet. For teams looking to heat up around the playoffs I highly encourage selecting Bryant and Elliott only at the right place.

Home/Fantasy Football