Week 11 at Kansas City Chiefs
We missed you, Michael! Gallup saw 53% of snaps as the third wideout for Dallas and beat out teammate Amari Cooper with five targets. Kansas City has yet to allow three receivers on the same team to be successful in the same game, so Gallup has his work cut out for him in Week 11. Or will it be Cooper or Lamb that has to fight for Week 11 relevancy?
Week 10 vs Atlanta Falcons
Michael Gallup is expected back Week 10 in time for a top 10 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Gallup saw seven targets and 60% of snaps as the third wideout in three-wide sets Week 1. Look for him to continue in that role, strengthening an already great Cowboys passing attack.
Week 1 vs Buccaneers
The field-stretching Michael Gallup may have trouble getting going in Week 1. Despite ranking 17th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, the Buccaneers secondary is a sound unit. Gallup’s upside is attached to Air Yards. In four complete games with Dak Prescott in 2020, Gallup saw 26% of the wide receiver Air Yards, second behind Amari Cooper. Gallup’s hit-or-miss targets led him to be third behind Cooper and CeeDee Lamb in fantasy points per game.
Fantasy Upside
It was clear by Week 3 that Michael Gallup would be the Cowboys' deep threat, allowing teammates Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb to run the intermediary and short routes. It worked well for the four weeks that Dak Prescott was healthy. Gallup reached double-digit yards per route in the four games Prescott finished, as well as Week 5 when Prescott was lost for the season. Gallup also played the most snaps of any Dallas receiver and was the only one to play at least 75% of snaps in every game. His health was a contributor to keeping the Dallas offense somewhat afloat without Prescott, allowing the three Cowboys' backup quarterbacks to have consistent pass-catching options. Gallup also has massive upside should Cooper or Lamb miss time. Having previous, successful chemistry with Prescott is vital to his fantasy production.
Fantasy Downside
Gallup will never be confused as the Alpha receiver in Dallas. He also saw his role diminish once Prescott was lost in Week 4. It is not Gallup’s fault the talent behind Dak was that bad, but it is a byproduct of a league desperate for QB talent. Gallup was targeted once every 9.55 routes run. Cooper was the next closest at one target per 7.25 routes run. If Gallup is not catching home run balls from Prescott or whoever is under center, his weekly output could be tough on the eyes. A healthy offensive line may also mean more emphasis on the running game, especially with the idea of keeping Prescott upright and opposing defenses honest.
2021 Bottom Line
The return of Prescott is the tide that lifts all boats in the Cowboys' offense. Gallup should be drafted as a WR3 with WR2 upside due to injuries and spike weeks with one of the best QBs slinging the ball.
Week 17 vs. New York Giants
Andy Dalton’s insertion into the starting lineup has been a significant upgrade in Michael Gallup’s fantasy profile. Gallup was almost an afterthought with Dak Prescott under center, but he has emerged to rival teammates Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb for targets with Dalton managing the passing game. Gallup’s production continues to be somewhat inconsistent due to his role as a volatile downfield receiver. Gallup should avoid James Bradberry for the most part in Week 17 as Bradberry will likely follow Cooper the majority of the day. Gallup has one of the better matchups in the Dallas passing game and makes for an intriguing boom-or-bust option in DFS lineups.
Week 15 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Michael Gallup actually leads the Cowboys' receivers in targets over the last six games, but has only topped 40 yards in two of those matchups. His deep-threat role means efficiency can be hard to come by and the matchup with the 49ers' secondary this week won't help his cause. Gallup will see a lot of Richard Sherman and Jason Verrett in coverage, two corners who both can cause problems in the deep passing game. Gallup's usage has trended upward as the season goes on, but that has not necessarily translated to fantasy production and Week 15 looks like another matchup where big numbers will be hard to come by. Gallup is a risky flex play against San Francisco.
Week 14 at Cincinnati Bengals
Michael Gallup was off the fantasy radar but re-emerged last week by posting a 7-86-1 line against Baltimore in Week 13. Gallup has been seeing a healthy dose of targets from Andy Dalton in recent weeks, but his role as the Cowboys' perimeter deep threat means his floor remains low given the volatile nature of the targets he gets. Gallup is back in the fantasy conversation in a matchup with the Bengals in Week 14, but will be a boom-or-bust option with the Cowboys being likely to deploy a run-heavy gameplan. Gallup's recent target share and the soft matchup make him an intriguing WR4 or longshot flex play for Week 14.
Week 12 vs. Washington Football Team
Michael Gallup's role has remained unchanged throughout all of the turmoil in Dallas after the team lost Dak Prescott to injury. Gallup continues to operate outside as a deep threat who receives low target volume (14.6% target share) but high aDOT (13.3) usage. This combination makes Gallup a strictly boom-or-bust option who has settled into the WR4 range for fantasy purposes. Week 12 brings a tough matchup with Washington, who has done a good job limiting the production of opposing receivers this season. Gallup should remain on fantasy benches outside of deep leagues or teams decimated by injuries or bye weeks.
Week 11 at Minnesota Vikings
Michael Gallup has finished as a WR3 or better once this season and that came against Seattle's atrocious secondary. Gallup remains a boom or bust proposition with the busts coming much more frequently than the booms in the Cowboys' depleted offensive state. Gallup will face off with the Vikings bad secondary this weekend, but he is more interesting as a DFS tournament play than a starter in season-long leagues as you're essentially praying he connects with Dalton on a deep ball for him to return any value. Gallup is no better than a desperation flex play, even in the good matchup.
Week 9 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Amazingly enough, Gallup had his best volume game of the season with Ben DiNucci under center last week when he received 12 targets. Of course the sorry state of the Dallas offense meant he only turned those targets into seven catches for 61 yards and no touchdowns. The knock on Gallup all season in fantasy was his lack of consistent volume, and it looks as though he may be used more heavily with Dak Prescott injured. That being said, the efficiency of the entire offense, including Gallup, has taken a massive hit with Prescott hurt and all of the Dallas skill players will be risky plays moving forward, particularly this week when they take on a tough Steelers defense.
