Before jumping into tonight's game, a word about handcuff RB rankings. Each Tuesday I send subscribers a weekly report ranking the top 32 handcuffs. My pre-Week 1 report listed Braelon Allen at #4, Zach Charbonnet at #6, etc. Raheem Mostert was #15 to start the season -- essentially droppable and/or a huge sell-high player despite an RB25 ADP.
Heading into Week 2, subscribers received rankings showing Bucky Irving was #4 -- a must-add in all leagues when Rachaad White was still the presumptive bell cow. This week Irving has been trending, with many experts urging managers to buy low. But in most leagues, it's too late to buy low. The time to buy low was weeks ago.
I'm trying to help managers stay ahead of the curve. Picking up Allen, Irving, Jordan Mason (don't get me started on Mason . . .), etc. can be huge. Or it could have been when it was still possible.
If these rankings can help you, test it out for a week and then decide if you want it in your Inbox every Tuesday. Subscription details far below.
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If you need yet another reason not to reach early in drafts for an "elite" DST, tonight's matchup clears things up. The top preseason ADP DSTs were (in order) the 49ers, Ravens, Cowboys, Browns, Jets, and Chiefs. Only the Jets (#9) are currently in the top 12. the Niners, Ravens, and Cowboys range between #18 and #21. Dallas has a seemingly prime matchup against the 1-2 Giants. But maybe not.
Malik Nabers is easily New York's best WR since Odell Beckham Jr. The rookie is on pace for a 130-1,536-17 receiving line. While his current 210-target pace seems impossible to sustain, he's clearly legit and is a co-frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. It's a perfect storm of success, thanks to a sub-par defense, a quarterback desperate to keep his job, and a middling running game that's already pushing against its production ceiling.
All this month I've wondered aloud if Wan'Dale Robinson can be fantasy-relevant alongside Nabers. So far, the answer is yes. In the absence of dynamic offensive playmakers, Robinson seems rosterable in almost every league. Daniel Jones somehow has room to improve, averaging a career-low 59.6% completion rate. He's also averaging the most pass attempts (34.7) since his rookie campaign.
So it seems there's room for Jones to grow through the air, and with it, continued success for Robinson. On the ground, however, Jones's 3.5 YPC is more than two yards below his career average. He's also not running as much as he did during his 2022 breakout. It's a different offense than what we're used to seeing, and that's good news for new York's primary pass-catchers.
For Dallas, some early-season confusion is starting to clear up. Jalen Tolbert is on the verge of becoming the #2 WR, which would put him in prime position for top-40 numbers in a plus offense. Rico Dowdle is poised to take another step forward as he pushes to become the Cowboys' #1 RB. Jake Ferguson finally got going last weekend, as did Dak Prescott (albeit largely in garbage time / catch-up mode).
And while Rico Dowdle isn't guaranteed a bell cow role, Zeke Elliott is fading as expected: 10 carries in Week 1, six in Week 2, and then three in Week 3. While game script might have hurt his case last weekend, one would think he'd still be useful in the passing game. Instead, he had only one catch compared to three for Dowdle. In fact, Dowdle's earned 10 targets in his last two contests.
I want to caution that Dowdle's ascension doesn't mean he'll keep ascending. 3.8 yards per carry isn't cause for celebration. Neither is his minimal bell cow experience dating back to freshman year of college. I believe his optimal range is 11-13 carries per game, plus whatever he gets through the air. This franchise learned their lesson with Tony Pollard, who was hit-or-miss when thrust into a workhorse role, before fading down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Dowdle seems like a useful #3 fantasy RB -- a plug-in when needed. But I'd be shocked if he has more than one 18+ point performance all year.
Final score prediction: Cowboys 26, Giants 22. Leave yours below.
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