Fantasy Preview: With Prescott Healthy and Added WR Depth, Cowboys' Lamb is Primed For a Big Year

By Todd Cordell

The Dallas Cowboys are hoping for a big bounce back season in 2025. While they have some real question marks (the running back position, an unproven head coach, etc.) there is reason to believe they’ll be in the conversation to get into the playoffs.

Dak Prescott is healthy and equipped with one of the best wide receiver duos in the league to throw to. The offense should be excellent. Led by Micah Parsons, the Cowboys also have some playmakers on the defensive side of the ball.  If the secondary can hold up — perhaps aided by a new scheme — then the Cowboys should be much more competitive.

Odds to Make Playoffs: +180

• Quarterback: Dak Prescott

  • Last Season: 8 games, 185-286, 64.7 cmp%, 1,978 yards, 6.9 avg, 247.3 yards/game, 11 TD, 8 Int

  • Dak Prescott didn’t give the Cowboys much bang for their buck in 2024, posting the lowest passer rating, TD:INT ratio, and yards per pass totals of his career while also missing a lot of time with injuries. There won’t be any excuses for Prescott in 2025 as he now has a high-end No. 2 wide receiver in George Pickens, giving the Cowboys a much-needed big play threat beyond CeeDee Lamb. There should be much more explosiveness in the passing game, which should lead to Prescott returning to form and posting healthy numbers.

• Running Back: Javonte Williams

  • Last Season: 17 games, 139 carries, 513 yards, 3.7 average, 4 TD, 30.17 yards/game, 2 fumbles lost

  • Javonte Williams was wildly inefficient in 2024, averaging well below four yards per carry while showing very little explosiveness. The good news is he finds himself in another situation where his team lacks an undisputed No. 1 back, giving him a chance to redeem himself. Williams is unlikely to get much receiving work but is the leading candidate to be the team’s short yardage back, which could be a valuable role in an offense that features two high-end wide receivers and an emerging tight end. They should be able to move the ball and Williams could possess value if he claims some touchdown equity. 

• Wide Receiver: CeeDee Lamb

  • Last Season: 15 games, 101 receptions, 152 targets, 1,194 yards, 11.8 average, 6 TD, 79.60 yards/game, 537 yards after catch

  • CeeDee Lamb had a down season by his standards, but a lot of that can be attributed to quarterback play and having little to no help in the offense (be it from the running game or other receivers). Defenses were able to focus far too much of their attention on slowing him down. That won’t be the case with George Pickens installed into the offense. With a healthy Prescott back behind center, and a dangerous weapon opposite side to help take some attention away from Lamb, he figures to have a monster season in 2025.

• Tight End: Jake Ferguson 

  • Last Season: 14 games, 59 receptions, 86 targets, 494 yards, 8.4 average, 0 TD, 35.3 yards/game, 309 yards after catch

  • Ferguson set new lows in catch rate, yards per target, and touchdowns in 2024. He was clearly held back by three things, all of which were out of his control: Dak Prescott missed over half of the season, CeeDee Lamb was the only quality receiver to take attention away from him in the pass game, and their running game also struggled. While the running back room is still a question mark for the Cowboys, Ferguson should benefit from the return of Prescott and more room to operate with teams focusing on a lethal 1-2 punch of Lamb and George Pickens. He should see a boost in yards per reception as well as touchdowns, making Ferguson a more reliable fantasy option.

• Defense

  • Last Season: 27.5 points allowed per game, 36.8% 3rd down, 35.7% 4th down, 13 interceptions, 52 sacks, 18 fumbles caused, 8 fumbles recovered, 1 touchdowns

  • The Dallas Cowboys did a good job of getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers. However, their defense was very hit and miss as they gave up a ton of big plays and couldn’t find the middle ground between forcing turnovers and avoiding huge mistakes. They’ll be hoping an improved linebacking core, better team health, and new minds on the defensive side of the ball can help them take a big step in 2025.