![](https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2022/09/USP-NFL_-Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-at-Dallas-Cowboys.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
It’s a really, truly rough morning for Dallas Cowboys fans.
Dak Prescott was in the middle of having a terrible game, and then … it was a thumb injury for the quarterback. And surgery could mean he’s going to be out for six to eight weeks.
And in fantasy football? Welp.
Cooper Rush will take over the reins under center this week, although maybe Jerry Jones opts to go acquire another QB from around the NFL. So it’s time to look at what this injury means in the fantasy world.
Let’s dive in with the key players affected:
Dak Prescott
Let’s start with what to do with him. I’d say if you have a large amount of IR spots, you can stash him.
But otherwise? If he’s missing eight weeks (the Cowboys have a bye in Week 9, for what it’s worth), you might need the room on your bench. I’d say it’s OK to drop him for another quarterback. Ugh.
WR CeeDee Lamb
"Dak Prescott will miss multiple weeks."
CeeDee Lamb fantasy managers: pic.twitter.com/nmQ9icsGKh
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) September 12, 2022
Sooo yeah. The big season we all expected now that Amari Cooper is in Cleveland is out the window.
But I’m here to argue that he’s still got value. I expect Rush or whoever is the Cowboys’ QB to pepper him with targets. They may be less quality targets, but volume counts for something.
Heck, I’d lowball the manager in your league with an offer to see if they bite. The point here is that he’s probably more WR2 than WR1 now in terms of tiers, but he could still get the ball a lot.
TE Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
Here’s the guy who benefits the most. He got nine targets, good for seven catches and 62 yards in the loss to the Bucs. I could see a scenario where Rush needs to look his way a lot going forward.
Ezekiel Elliott
A downgrade in the passing attack means more of a focus from defenses on the run. Uh-oh. You drafted him to be a FLEX, I hope, and that’s probably what he’ll be.
Yeah obviously a bad game for DAL tonight. Outcoached & outplayed. But TB is a very good defense. Would have still expected DAL O to be much better going fwd. Losing Dak is a blow to Lamb, Zeke, Schultz, Pollard, Gallup when he’s back…plus many FF tms have just Dak as QB. Brutal https://t.co/fWoDOmie4f
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) September 12, 2022
RB Tony Pollard
Again, if Rush is checking down a lot, maybe he benefits? I’m grasping at straws here!
QB Cooper Rush
Yes, I listed him in my waiver wire post. That’s really for deep leagues and those that start two quarterbacks.
But, really: Rush could be a streamer or a decent QB2 given the talent around him.