Team news: Dallas Cowboys | Page 5

Jake Ferguson is officially doubtful for Sunday. John Stephens is out. All other Cowboys enter the game without a status designation.

Related Players: Luke Schoonmaker

Now locked in as the No. 2 pass-catcher, Brandin Cooks should be started as a WR3/4 anywhere you have him. Schoonmaker makes for a decent streaming option for managers looking to avoid a goose egg.

Broncos are placing rookie RB Audric Estime on injured reserve due to an ankle injury; Estime now will miss a minimum of four weeks.

Related Players: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Blake Watson

Just a few short weeks ago, this backfield looked like a mess, but now it's down to Williams and McLaughlin, which makes it much more palatable. Estime can safely be dropped anywhere he may have been stashed away.

Jerry Jones says he’s optimistic about Jake Ferguson (knee) playing Sunday vs Saints.

The news about Ferguson continues to be on an upward trend since his injury on Sunday. Ferguson is dealing with a bone bruise and a minor sprain to his MCL, but over the last 24 hours there is a lot of optimism he'll be a go in Week 2. The Cowboys do have an early game on Sunday so owners will have plenty of time to adjust lineups either way. It's hard to imagine Ferguson will be at 100% but stranger things have happened. Injury reports should tell us more as the week goes on.

Jake Ferguson could still play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Ferguson was diagnosed with a bone bruise and a minor sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee suffered Sunday in Week 1 vs. the Browns, according to Archer. It's great news for owners as things didn't look so great for Ferguson less than a day ago. Ferguson may not be 100% for Week 2 even if he does play, so owners may still want to have a backup plan in place. We likely won't know a whole lot more until later in the week.

Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is going to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of his left knee injury, but X-rays were negative.

Todd Archer of ESPN reports Ferguson’s ACL is intact.

“I think we dodged a big one,” Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “Talking to him, he gave me a lot of confidence that he’ll be OK.”

Related players: Luke Schoonmaker

Ferguson caught three passes for 15 yards in Sunday’s win over the Browns. It's not clear if Ferguson will miss time, but owners should probably prepare as if he will. With Ferguson possibly out, Schoonmaker could be next up. Given Ferguson's potential in this offense, Schoonmaker could make for a productive fantasy player at the position as well if Ferguson does have to miss time, and is at least worth a look in deeper leagues.

The Cowboys agreed to terms with quarterback Dak Prescott on a four-year extension worth $240 million.

Prescott becomes the first player to receive a contract averaging $60 million per year and shatters the previous record of $55 million that was shared by Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence. After an offseason full of speculation about Prescott’s future, the Cowboys get the deal done after all. They now have Prescott at $60 million per year and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb at $34 million per year. The next step is Micah Parsons. But for now, the quarterback saga is over in Dallas.

The Cowboys activated WR CeeDee Lamb from the exempt list Saturday, making him eligible to play Sunday against the Browns.

This was a formality for the Cowboys now that Lamb has his new contract as the second-highest-paid receiver in terms of average annual value, behind only Justin Jefferson. Jefferson is arguably the No. 1 fantasy option at wide receiver following his incredible 2023 season. Even against a strong defense such as Cleveland's, Lamb is matchup-proof.

Rico Dowdle should be the favorite to lead the Cowboys in rushing attempts and rushing yards this season.

Related players: Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn

The expectation going into camp was that Dowdle would be in position to have a larger role with Tony Pollard leaving in free agency. But the story said the fifth-year back looked to make the most of his opportunities. It went on to say he was Dallas’ most explosive back and showcased an ability in the passing game to be a complete back. Elliott will likely still be a factor but it's good news for those who took a chance on Dowdle or had secured him from last season.

Four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook is signing with the Cowboys.

Cook was waiting for the right opportunity and always felt it was Dallas. A marquee addition in Big D.

Related Players: Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn

Vaughn was a surprising "keep" on roster cut days, but this all but eradicates him from the touch share.

Cook figures to rotate in enough to make none of the top three options serviceable in fantasy, including Cook himself. In his 2023 stint with the Jets, he averaged 3.2 yards per carry and 2.21 yards after contact, a harbinger of what he brings to the table in Dallas.

The Cowboys cut RBs Royce Freeman and Malik Davis.

Related players: Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn

For about a week this summer, Freeman seemed to be the darling of the Cowboys backfield, but that quickly changed and those who follow the team pointed to Dowdle as the back who stood out the most at times in camp. Both Freeman and Davis could resign on the practice squad, however. While we don't know how the workload will be split, it looks like the Cowboys are going with Elliott and Dowdle. We do rank Elliott 34th and Dowdle 51st on our RB list.