DFS Thursday Night Football Preview: Buccaneers vs Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers-8 | O/U: 52

Football is finally back, and we start the season off with a bang with the high-flying offense of the Dallas Cowboys travel to Tampa Bay to face off against the Super Bowl Champions Buccaneers. This game has plenty of storylines surrounding the two teams: Will Dak Prescott be fully healthy? Can Ezekiel Elliot return to form? Will Tom Brady continue to dominant the NFL? Finally, can The Tampa Bay Buccaneers run it back this year to make it back-to-back championships? Let’s break down how each team can win the season opener.

Quick Links for NFL Week 1

How Do The Dallas Cowboys Win This Game?

The strength of the Dallas Cowboys is on the offensive side of the ball, and they will need to rely on that to keep up with the high-flying Buccaneers offense. The Buccaneers, although they have a strong run defense, can be vulnerable through the passing attack. Dak Prescott will have to return to his early 2020 form before his injury and sling the football around the field to his primary weapons of Mari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup. Using their running backs in the passing game will be crucial to their victory as well as to your DFS lineup(we will break down why in the running back section).

How Do The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Win The Game?

The answer seems too simple to say, “play the same way as you did at the end of 2020.” However, it would be sound advice. The Buccaneer’s offense clicked with their trio of wide receivers at the end of the year. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown all began to shine, which led their team to the championship. Dallas’ defense, however, is also weak against the run as they gave up the second-most rushing yards last season, with only the Houston Texans being worse than their defense. Expect Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette to enjoy some running room on the field Thursday night.

How does this game break down for your DFS Showdown play? First, let’s break down the players by position and see the best plays for your lineup.

Quarterbacks

Tom Brady ($11,200)

Tom Brady is one of the best of all time at his position. Last year, he showed us that age isn’t an issue, and switching teams isn’t an issue either. Last year the Dallas Cowboys gave up the sixth Most touchdown to the quarterback position, and with the number of weapons Brady has in this high-scoring affair, you have to put him into your lineup.

Dak Prescott ($10,400)

Dak Prescott season ended early last year with an ankle injury, and now throughout training camp, he has been nursing a shoulder/lat injury. Some people may be afraid to use him with the vaunted Buccaneers defense and his best guard Zack Martin out due to Covid-19 protocols. However, the Cowboys will have to throw to keep up in this game. Last season, the Buccaneer’s offense gave up the 11th most touchdowns(29) and the tenth most yards (4,293). This game should be high-scoring with plenty of stats through the air, so you should try to find a way to put both quarterbacks in your lineups.

Running Backs

Ezekiel Elliot ($9,600)

Losing Zack Martin for this game does hurt Ezekiel Elliot’s catches of a big game on the ground against a run defense that was the best in the league, only surrendering 964 yards all last season. The Buccaneers also relinquished eight touchdowns last season, which was top three in the NFL. For the cash you have to lay down for Zeke, you may be better off pivoting to a better running back option.

Leonard Fournette ($7,000)

Leonard Fournette, aka Playoff Lenny, was excellent for the Buccaneers championship run. However, I don’t believe he is the option you want to roster for this game from this backfield. Ronald Jones produces more in my game script, and the third-down work will go to the newly added Giovani Bernard. If you decide to you Fournette and need reasoning to do so, the Cowboys were the sixth worse with touchdowns to the running back position with 15 total touchdowns. As mentioned earlier, they also surrendered the second-most yards with 2,036 yards to the running back position.

Ronald Jones II ($5,000)

I am sure you are wondering why do I like Ronald Jones more than I like Leonard Fournette? Well, it’s simple, lineup flexibility. If both running backs are about even when it comes to what services they provide to their team, then you should use the cheaper option to have better lineup flexibility.

Tony Pollard ($4,200)

Tony Pollard is my sneaky play of the week for this DFS Showdown Thursday night. Last season he finished the year on fire, and many rumors began to swirl if he should be the back to feature in the offense. Combine the end of the season with the Buccaneers giving up the most receptions(101) to the running back position and the second-most targets(127)in 2020, and I think Pollard could play a role in this game. Remember Zack Martin being out weakened this line, and with Dak Prescott returning from injury, the Cowboys would be wise to call quick plays, such as screen passes to their backs.

Giovani Bernard ($2,000)

Giovani Bernard could come in as the third-down back and give Tom Brady the pass-catcher he hasn’t had since James White. For his price point, you can take a dart throw and hope for upside.

Wide Receivers

Mike Evans ($9,200)

Mike Evans is a big body receiver, and the Dallas Cowboys had 27 touchdowns scored against them(most in the league) from the wide receiver position. Evans and the Cowboy’s defense seem like a match made in heaven for your lineup.

Chris Godwin ($8,600)

If you are looking for a safe floor for your lineup, the PPR option of Chris Godwin can help provide some stability to your lineup. The Cowboy’s defense is still working on becoming a better squad. However, with them being the seventh-worst offense against wide receiver yardage (2,807), Godwin has enough opportunity to produce.

Amari Cooper ($8,400)

Amari Cooper should see a decent target share Thursday night with Dak throwing the football to keep pace with the Buccaneers. Cooper is more of my GPP play than CeeDee Lamb due to the increased popularity of Lamb this season.

CeeDee Lamb ($8,200)

As I stated above with Rojo/ Fournette dilemma, if both options are close to each other in talent and opportunity, then take the cheaper option. Allow yourself the lineup flexibility with Lamb being $200 cheaper.

Michael Gallup ($6,200)

If you rostered Michael Gallup last year, you know how frustrating he was to have on your team. With CeeDee Lamb emerging, Cooper stability connected to the target share, and Zeke in the backfield, I would steer clear from Gallup unless you need his cheaper salary to build your roster.

Antonio Brown ($5,600)

I am a big fan of Antonio Brown this season, and with this price point, he lets you have a little more salary for the rest of your roster. However, Brown can still take over the game, as he showed at the end of the season, and he would be an excellent dart throw for this showdown.

Tight Ends

Rob Gronkowski ($5,400)

Rob Gronkowski is an average play at best. I am swinging for the fences with touchdowns when it comes to tight ends. Unless I am rostering Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, or George Kittle, you are best changing directions with your lineup. The Cowboys were middle of the pack in the NFL with touchdowns scored against them from the tight end position (7). Your money is better spent elsewhere.

Blake Jarwin ($5,200)/ Dalton Schultz ($4,600)

Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz are lumped together because the Cowboys will be using both of them. With Zack Martin out, The Cowboys should look for quick routes, and a tight end can be your best friend in this scenario. With Schultz as the tight end one according to the depth chart, just remember what we mentioned before:

Equal talent/opportunity = take the cheaper option

Cameron Brate ($2,600)/ OJ Howard ($2,200)

Both Cameron Brate and OJ Howard are darts throws for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense at the moment, which means they are dart throws at best for your lineup.

Kickers & Defense

Buccaneers Defense ($4,800)/ Ryan Succop ($4,000)/ Greg Zuerlein ($3,600)/ Cowboys Defense ($3,000)

We won’t be using the defenses in the game that have an O/U of 52 because you need sacks and turnovers to crank up your lineups’ potential. So when it comes to these kickers, I am probably looking elsewhere and using my cash on better options.

Prediction and Free DFS Head To Head Cash Lineup

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat the Dallas Cowboys 30-21

DFS Lineup

Mike Evans ($13,800) *Captain*
Tom Brady ($11,200)
Antonio Brown ($5,600)
Tony Pollard ($4,200)
Dak Prescott ($10,400)
Dalton Schultz ($4,600)