Dallas Cowboys News

Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith (thumb) had surgery on his left thumb on Tuesday and will be placed on Injured Reserve, which will cause him to miss at least the first four games of the 2026 season, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. Smith tried to play through the injury, but ultimately, he and the team decided it was in the best interest of both sides to undergo surgery, which will fix a ligament tear. The earliest Smith could return to Dallas is on Oct. 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5 on Thursday Night Football. The more realistic date for Smith's return might be the following week on Oct. 18 against the Green Bay Packers. The 25-year-old is a key piece of Dallas' offense, as he has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons, joining only Larry Allen and Zack Martin as the only guards in franchise history to accomplish that feat in their first four seasons. Smith also had a clean-up procedure on his right knee in February. With Smith out for at least the first four games this year, T.J. Bass is expected to replace him in the starting lineup after starting 10 games in his first three NFL seasons.

Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis is the undisputed No. 2 option on the depth chart, making him a priority target on the waiver wire in fantasy football. Specifically, he has appeal as a handcuff for managers in 14+ team leagues, as well as managers who have Javonte Williams in leagues with 10 or 12 teams. Williams is expected to occupy an every-down role this season, which means he's a candidate for some wear and tear. If he were to miss any time due to injury, his managers would want to be ready to plug and play his replacement, which would be Davis. Adding Davis off the waiver wire doesn't give managers a running back with standalone weekly fantasy value, but rather protects those managers in case Williams misses any time this season. We saw what Davis could do in the lead-back role last year, as he totaled 28 carries, 124 rushing yards, and one touchdown across the two games in which Williams played less than 50% of the snaps.

Across 16 games in 2025, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy recorded 40 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns on 56 targets. Entering 2026, Flournoy remains behind star Cowboys wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, which may make it difficult for him to provide consistently fantasy-relevant production. However, Flournoy closed the 2025 season strong, recording 20 catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns on 27 targets across his final four games played. The 26-year-old has also drawn positive buzz from both team personnel and Cowboys beat writers throughout this summer. When Dallas deploys three-wide receiver sets, the attention defenses are forced to give to Lamb and Pickens should open up the field for Flournoy. In leagues where he remains available, Flournoy profiles as a must-add stash for fantasy managers.

Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis is worth stashing as a handcuff in deeper fantasy football leagues. The Cowboys brought in Emari Demercado to round out their backfield this past week, but there's no question that Davis remains the direct backup to Javonte Williams. We expect Williams to occupy an every-down role this year, so Davis doesn't have much standalone value at the moment. However, if Williams were to miss time, Davis would instantly jump into the RB2 range for fantasy purposes. Injuries impacted Williams near the end of last season, giving us an opportunity to see the backup in action. Across the two games in which Williams played less than 50% of the snaps, Davis totaled 28 carries, 124 rushing yards, two catches, 16 receiving yards, and one touchdown. He currently has an ADP of 231.4 in redraft leagues. That price tag indicates that he's going undrafted in most leagues, but we believe managers in leagues with 12+ teams would be justified in drafting Davis if they already have Williams on their roster.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's production dropped off significantly in 2025, as he finished the year with 75 catches for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns on 117 targets across 14 games. Part of that was due to an early-season ankle injury, which caused Lamb to miss three full games and most of a fourth. However, another factor in Lamb's reduced usage was the emergence of Cowboys wideout George Pickens, who recorded over 1,400 receiving yards and nine touchdown grabs. Pickens has also consistently drawn rave reviews for his work in Cowboys camp throughout the summer, with several reporters in Dallas categorizing him as the team's best wide receiver. While Lamb will surely see plenty of targets as well, Pickens' presence may limit his high-end production upside, particularly in the red zone. Lamb remains a worthy early-round pick for fantasy managers, but his status as a no-doubt fantasy WR1 may be in question entering 2026.

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams enjoyed a career year in 2025 in his first year in Dallas, carrying the ball 252 times for 1,201 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 16 starts. He added 35 receptions on 51 targets for 137 yards and another two touchdowns as a receiver. The Cowboys and fantasy managers are expecting something similar for an encore in 2026 behind a strong offensive line. However, The Dallas Morning News' Joseph Hoyt reports that the Cowboys mentioned that they "wanted to be conscientious of the tread he was putting on his tires." Hoyt thinks that Williams getting back to the 252-carry mark from a year ago "feels like a stretch," and Dallas could lean more on No. 2 back Malik Davis. Still, Hoyt has Williams projected for another 1,000-yard season with nine rushing touchdowns on 215 carries. Fantasy managers selecting Williams as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 would be fine with that final stat line. RotoBaller currently has the former Denver Broncos RB ranked as the No. 12 overall option at his position.

The Dallas Morning News' Joseph Hoyt predicts that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens will have a better fantasy football season in 2026 than CeeDee Lamb for the second straight year. Hoyt projects Pickens to come down with 90 catches, 1,380 yards, and 12 touchdowns after the 25-year-old caught 93 of 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns as a first-time Pro Bowler in 2025 in his first year with the Cowboys. Pickens was late to some team meetings and did not always appear to be locked in, but teammates and coaches have said he has been different as he heads into a contract year. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers has continued to make plays in training camp and looks as comfortable as ever in a pass-happy offense. It might be difficult for Pickens to outproduce Lamb for a second straight season, but even if he doesn't, he should have a pretty high fantasy floor. RotoBaller has Pickens ranked as the No. 8 fantasy WR for 2026, with Lamb coming in at No. 5. If Pickens stays healthy, he should have another big season.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy established a role in his team's passing game in 2025, recording 40 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns on 56 targets across 16 games (four starts). Flournoy has a pair of high-volume target earners ahead of him on the Cowboys wide receiver depth chart in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, which may make it difficult for him to provide consistently fantasy-relevant production. However, Flournoy routinely garnered praise from both Cowboys coaches and reporters for his work throughout training camp and the preseason. If either Lamb or Pickens goes down with an injury for any stretch of time in 2026, Flournoy could immediately step into a high-value role in Dallas. As a late-round draft target, Flournoy should be on the radar of fantasy managers.

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams is expected to occupy an every-down role once again this season. The Cowboys recently released Phil Mafah and Jaydon Blue, leaving them with a backfield of Williams, Malik Davis, and Emari Demercado. Although Davis and Demercado have both been in the league for a while, they've established themself as depth options and won't sniff the lead-back role as long as Williams is healthy. As a result, the 26-year-old has a legitimate chance to replicate (or even improve upon) last year's RB12 finish in PPR leagues, especially with the Cowboys' offense projected to be effective again this year. Last year, Williams had 1,201 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, shattering his previous career-high rushing yards (903) and rushing touchdowns (four). At the moment, he ranks as the RB12 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for PPR leagues. He has an ADP of 32.9, which corresponds to the third round of fantasy drafts and makes him the 15th running back off the board.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens keeps making it harder to write off last year's breakout as a one-season spike. Pickens finished 2025 with 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 137 targets, good for a WR5 finish in PPR, then followed it with one of the loudest camps on the roster. Dallas' own coverage repeatedly highlighted him for making plays downfield and winning in contested situations, and the buzz carried through joint practices and the team's return to Texas. CeeDee Lamb is healthy again and remains one of the league's best receivers, so Pickens is not suddenly walking into a bigger share by default. What has changed is the confidence that last year's production was sustainable. Pickens is still starting opposite Lamb, still tied to Dak Prescott, and Dallas spent the summer talking about how difficult he has been to cover. He enters the season as WR8 in RotoBaller's latest half-PPR rankings. After the camp he just put together, another high-end fantasy season looks well within reach.

Dallas Cowboys 27-year-old tight end Jake Ferguson restructured his contract with the Cowboys, turning his $7.25 million base salary into a signing bonus, and Ferguson's cap number will increase by $1.2 million, Todd Archer of ESPN reports. Archer also mentions that the adjustments are accounting tools and do not change how much the players are paid weekly. Ferguson finished the 2025 season as the TE5, hauling in 82 of his 105 targets for 600 yards and eight touchdowns. His 7.32 YPR was very modest, and the eight touchdowns were a career high for him. With Dak Prescott leaning mostly on his two stud wide receivers, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, it will be tough sledding for Ferguson to be a reliable fantasy asset if he experiences any sort of touchdown regression. RotoBaller ranks Ferguson as the TE16 for the season, and fantasy managers who decide to wait on the tight end position should look to target Ferguson based on the high-powered nature of this Cowboys offense.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott put together one of the better seasons of his career in 2025, completing 67.3% of his pass attempts for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. While health has hampered Prescott at times in his career, he's topped 4,400 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in each of the last three seasons in which he's played at least 16 games. Entering 2026, Prescott might also be working with the league's best supporting cast of pass-catchers, including wide receivers CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy, as well as tight end Jake Ferguson. The 33-year-old Prescott is no longer much of a threat with his legs, but the Cowboys' passing game should be potent enough for him to put up solid fantasy numbers without being a high-end rusher. Given the talent around him in Dallas, Prescott remains a solid fantasy QB1 option entering 2026.

The Dallas Cowboys are re-signing quarterback Joe Milton III to their practice squad on Wednesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Cowboys waived Milton after he lost out on the backup competition to Sam Howell, but he cleared waivers on Tuesday and is now back with the Cowboys organization as QB insurance. The 26-year-old went 29-for-43 passing for 378 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in three preseason games, but it was not enough to unseat Howell as the backup behind starter Dak Prescott. The former sixth-round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL draft from Tennessee has appeared in just five NFL games (zero starts) in his two seasons, throwing for 424 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Four of his games came last year with Dallas. Milton has less stash appeal in deep dynasty/keeper leagues as the QB3 for the Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb recently spoke about how he believes both himself and George Pickens can improve this upcoming season. Lamb recently told Jon Machota of The Athletic that he believes the two of them can be extremely vicious together. Lamb said he knows both of them strive to be the best and there's much more in them. Despite missing four games, Lamb still finished with 75 receptions with over 1,000 receiving yards. The expectation is that Pickens will be more comfortable during his second year with the organization. This could be an extremely dangerous Cowboys offense this upcoming season.

Quarterback Joe Milton III is being released by the Dallas Cowboys, according to Adam Schefter. The move comes just one day after Dallas initially kept Milton, Dak Prescott and Sam Howell on its 53-man roster. Milton and Howell spent the summer battling for the backup job, and Milton looked like the favorite after the first two preseason games. He finished August 29-of-43 for 378 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while also rushing for a score. His final outing wasn't nearly as strong, however, as Milton went 8-of-15 for 92 yards against New Orleans before Howell threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Milton also appeared in four games for Dallas last season, throwing for 183 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. His release leaves Howell as the clear backup behind Prescott for now, unless the Cowboys make another move at quarterback.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is healthy again, but his path back to the very top of the fantasy position looks a little less clean than it did earlier this summer. Lamb still topped 1,000 yards last season despite missing three full games with a high ankle sprain, finishing with 75 catches for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns. The bigger issue now is George Pickens. Pickens led Dallas with 93 catches, 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, and the buzz around him only grew during camp. DallasCowboys.com writer Nick Eatman recently suggested Pickens may have elevated into the receiver defenses worry about most, while RotoBaller noted Monday that there has been plenty of chatter about Pickens having the better camp. Lamb remains an elite option and has looked sharp with Dak Prescott, including several deep connections in August. He is also healthy entering Week 1. Still, RotoBaller currently has Lamb at WR5 in half-PPR. With Pickens pushing for an even bigger role, Lamb's ceiling looks a little less automatic than it once did.

The Dallas Cowboys claimed running back Emari Demercado off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. In a surprising move on roster cutdown day on Sunday, the Cowboys waived both running backs Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, leaving them with just Javonte Williams and Malik Davis in their backfield entering Week 1 of the 2026 regular season. Demercado, who was with the Chiefs during training camp, will now head to Dallas, where he will serve as the RB3 to open the regular season. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of TCU spent his first three NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, averaging a notable 6.5 yards per carry for 819 yards and three rushing scores in 40 games (two starts) while adding 50 receptions on 70 targets for 324 yards and one touchdown as a receiver. Demercado has been efficient when he has gotten opportunities so far, but he will open 2026 as the clear third option out of Dallas' backfield, and he could also face competition from fullback Hunter Luepke.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens enjoyed a career year in 2025, but he might soar even higher during the 2026 season. In his first campaign with Dallas, Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He ranked as the overall WR5 in PPR leagues and outproduced teammate CeeDee Lamb -- not only in total, but also on a points-per-game basis. At first glance, it seems like Lamb, who missed three games last year but is now healthy, should step back up as the top pass catcher in Dallas this year, but that's not guaranteed. Recently, an audio clip went viral of DallasCowboys.com writer Nick Eatman saying that Pickens could end up being the No. 1 receiver ahead of Lamb in 2026. "This might cause some issues, but it does seem like Pickens has kind of elevated as the dude," Eatman said. "CeeDee is really good, but Pickens is the one that defensive coordinators are going to have even more of a problem with." In a similar vein, there has been plenty of chatter in recent weeks that Pickens had a better training camp than Lamb. To be clear, this is not an anti-Lamb sentiment, but rather excitement about the potential for Pickens to take an even bigger step forward in 2026. If it seems like he could repeat or even surpass his WR5 finish from last year, then he's somewhat of a steal at his current ADP of 25.4, which corresponds to the third round of fantasy drafts and makes him the 10th receiver off the board.

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams appears poised to remain in the workhorse role following the team's latest batch of cuts. Dallas cut running backs Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Israel Abanikanda on Sunday, leaving the Cowboys with a backfield of just Williams and Malik Davis. We saw Dallas carry just two running backs into game day quite often last year, and it looks like they're sticking with that same strategy this year. We could see Blue or Mafah return to the practice squad, but at the very least, the Cowboys are making it clear that they only felt compelled to keep Williams and Davis. That's great news for Williams' fantasy managers, as it points to him being used as the workhorse back once again this year. If the Cowboys wanted to spread the workload around, they would've likely kept three running backs. Williams' exact workload will depend on game script, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him consistently get at least 18 to 20 touches per game. Last year, he averaged 18.9 touches per game with 1,138 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns by season's end. He remains a mid-to-low RB1 for fantasy purposes in 2026.

The Dallas Cowboys are releasing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, according to Aaron Wilson. Dallas signed the veteran to a one-year deal shortly after the draft, but he never separated himself in a crowded battle behind CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Ryan Flournoy. Valdes-Scantling caught three passes for 45 yards during the preseason, including two for 31 yards in Friday's finale against New Orleans. The 31-year-old spent last season between San Francisco and Pittsburgh, finishing with 14 catches for 120 yards and one touchdown across 10 games. He brought plenty of experience to camp with 3,686 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns over 116 career games, but Dallas had several younger receivers pushing for the remaining roster spots. Valdes-Scantling was brought in as veteran depth with field-stretching ability, but he'll now look for another opportunity as teams finish setting their opening rosters.