We’re back! Another season, another weekly prediction of which Cowboys players will shine and struggle in the upcoming game. Whose performance are we buying in Week 1, and who are we selling?
The stakes couldn’t be higher in this opener, playing the defending champion, division rival, and otherwise villainous Philadelphia Eagles. Whether Dallas comes away with a victory or not, how will individual players fare in this challenging matchup? And given it’s only Week 1, who might be able to take advantage of some early-season mysteriousness?
BUY
TE Jake Ferguson
If you believe in a bounce-back year for Ferguson, then you should be confident in him getting off to a hot start in Philly. In 2023, Ferguson totaled 12 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown in the two Eagles games. Granted, that was when Dallas was still struggling with the idea of a true number-two receiver. Brandin Cooks hadn’t established himself yet, if he ever did, and Michael Gallup was already limping his way out the door. As such, Ferguson finished the year behind only CeeDee Lamb in targets, receptions, and yards.
We still have to see how George Pickens’ arrival affects Ferguson’s stats. But if you go back to 2021, Dalton Schultz had his best year when Lamb and Amari Cooper were atop the WR depth chart. All three had over 100 targets. Even if Ferguson doesn’t get more looks than he has in past years, there will likely be better opportunities with Lamb and Pickens commanding attention. Even without career-high catches, Ferguson could easily beat his personal bests in yardage, touchdowns, and overall efficiency.
WR KaVontae Turpin
There’s no better time to break out your bag of tricks than when you’re on the road against your biggest division threat. Throw in that it’s Week 1, and there’s just so much we don’t know about how Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams plan to utilize Turpin this year. What we do know, though, is that they’re more intent on it than Mike McCarthy ever was. The Cowboys can’t win this game if they try to outpower the Eagles, but Turpin’s speed can be very effective against any scheme.
SELL
Offensive Line
We think this group can gel as the season goes along and be solid, even formidable, by November. But starting on the road against Vic Fangio’s defense is far from ideal. Between rookie Tyler Booker, a rusty Tyler Guyton, and the ever-suspect Terence Steele, there seems to be too many liabilities for the Eagles to exploit. Even if two of those guys are surprisingly good, it only takes one for everything to crumble.
CB Trevon Diggs
Speaking of rusty, Diggs is going to be up against it if he plays Thursday night. He deserves so much credit for working his way back to where it’s even possible, but trying to stop A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith is a tough ask even when you’re at your best. We’re bullish on DaRon Bland, now fully recovered from injury, but whoever his running mate is will likely get picked on a lot.
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