2015 Review
The Dallas Cowboys were hit by the injury bug big time last season with Dez Bryant and Tony Romo missing a combined 19 games. Needless to say, Dallas followed up a division-winning 2014 campaign by posting a 4-12 record and finishing in last place.
In reality, it was the lack of any sort of a passing game that was the biggest issue here. The likes of Matt Cassel, Kellen Moore and Brandon Weeden combined to throw 11 touchdowns compared to 15 interceptions. Meanwhile, Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams tied one another for a team high in catches from the wide receiver position with just 52.
Though, Darren McFadden found his way big time in his first season with the Cowboys. The injury-plagued veteran tallied over 1,400 total yards for a rushing attack that finished in the top 10 in the NFL. Here's a look at the Dallas Cowboys from a fantasy perspective heading into the 2016 season.
Quarterbacks: Tony Romo
We really can't look too much into last season here. In reality, the sample size was too small. But when on the field, Romo struggled a bit time. He threw just five touchdowns with seven interceptions in four starts, including a three-interception performance against the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving.
What we do know here is that Romo has been a fantasy stud in the past. Prior to last season, Romo finished no worst than 12th among fantasy quarterbacks over the previous four years. Back in 2014, Romo tallied 3,705 yards with 34 touchdowns and just nine interceptions en route to finishing as a QB1 option in 12-team leagues.
There's really no reason believe Romo will take a step back in 2016. He has the talent on offense and is being viewed as a QB2 option in terms of his current ADP. The value is most definitely here should he remain healthy.
Running Backs: Ezekiel Elliott, Alfred Morris, Darren McFadden
Talk about a three-headed running back monster. Morris and McFadden have each put up 1,000-yard seasons in their careers. Meanwhile, Elliott has to be considered a generational running back prospect. How this plays out during the preseason will tell us a lot about the Cowboys running game looks early in the year.
With that said, there's absolutely no reason to believe Elliott won't be the featured back here. Dallas didn't exhaust the fourth overall pick on him to see the running back limited by lesser veterans. If that's the case, he should finish as a top-five fantasy running back this season.
We're talking about a guy that put up 1,800-plus rushing yards in each of the past two seasons, tallying a combined 41 touchdowns during that span. Needless to say, it's this type of production that made him the most-talented offensive prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft. Add in a Cowboys offensive line that's the best in the NFL in terms of run blocking, and everything is point up for Elliott from a fantasy perspective.
Though, Elliott's likely presence on the Cowboys' offense will surely have a negative impact for both Morris and McFadden, neither of whom can be considered anywhere near a roster option in 12-team leagues.
Wide Receivers: Dez Bryant, Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams
As with Romo, there's really no reason to look at Bryant's 2015 season. While he did play in nine games, the former All Pro was banged up all year. When healthy, he's proven to be a top-end fantasy option. Back in 2014, Bryant put up 88 receptions for 1,320 yards and a league-leading 16 scores. It was his third consecutive season with 80-plus receptions, 1,200-plus yards and double digit scores. It also enabled Bryant to finish as a top-five fantasy receiver for the third consecutive season. That'll likely be the case again in 2016.
Outside of Bryant, there's not much to look at here. Neither Beasley or Williams stepped up in his stead last season. They combined to catch less than 60 percent of the passes thrown in their direction. With Bryant returning to full health, both have become fantasy irrelevant.
Tight Ends: Jason Witten
It's been a couple years since Witten has been considered a top end option in 12-team leagues. Last year alone, Witten tallied just 713 yards with three scores, finishing as the 11th-best fantasy tight end. That's pretty much where we can value Witten heading into the 2016 season. Not too shabby considering he's currently the 15th tight end off the board based on ADP.