2025 Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Preview
Queue up “Ch-Ch-Changes” from David Bowie as background music. With owner Jerry Jones and executive VP Stephen Jones under pressure to rebound, the Cowboys faced significant roster turnover and a coaching shakeup after a disappointing 7-10 finish. And with expensive extensions for QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb, very little cap maneuverability. With two new coordinators and a new head coach in former OC Brian Schottenheimer, 2025 could be a year for Cowboys fans to “turn and face the strain.”
Prescott’s season ended with a Week 9 hamstring injury in Atlanta. Before that, Prescott had his worst fantasy output since his rookie campaign. He ranked 18th with 0.08 EPA per play and 20th with a 46.7 percent success rate. Additionally, he isn’t the runner he once was. With a questionable supporting cast and an offensive line that is rebuilding, Prescott is a mid-range QB2 that will go undrafted in many single-QB leagues.
Dallas was thought to be in the market for a first-round running back. However, the retirement of G Zack Martin and little cap space prompted a draft focus on fortifying the trenches. They brought in veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders on team-friendly short-term deals. It projects to be another split backfield, with Williams offering more fantasy appeal due to his pass-catching prowess.
The draft did bring Texas alum Jaydon Blue, who ran the fastest 40 (4.28) in the 2025 running back class. Blue also ranked fourth in the class in yards after contact per attempt and second with a 25 percent target share. He’s not built to be a three-down workhorse, but he has enough big-play ability for fantasy managers to rejoice, “You’re my boy, Blue!” when he emerges as a game-breaker.
Before the 2025 NFL Draft, Dallas employed one of the weakest wide receiving corps in football. However, after the draft, the Cowboys *checks notes* added…nobody? That is, until Jones overpaid for George Pickens, who the Steelers didn’t want.
Pickens is a malcontent, but he is entering a contract year. If he’s a good citizen, he’ll be a big upgrade at WR2 over Jalen Tolbert, who drops down to WR3. Kavonte Turpin offers some big-play ability, particularly in the return game, and also warrants attention in the closing rounds. Expect the club to be active trying to attract a veteran wideout. Perhaps a reunion with Amari Cooper?
Tight end Jake Ferguson missed three games with a concussion and fell to 24th in fantasy points per game. A full season of Dak Prescott would help, but Ferguson is just a modest TE2 with some week-to-week streaming value for managers who punt the position.
Fantasy Grade: C+
There are reports that Milton was traded because he viewed himself as a starting quarterback. That wasn’t going to happen in New England, which landed Drake Maye as their franchise signal caller last April. But could it happen in Dallas? Dak Prescott missed nine games with a hamstring injury, but he wasn’t playing all that well. However, Prescott’s contract ties him to Dallas until 2028, leaving Milton to high-end reserve duties. Milton is athletic, posting an 88th percentile agility score, and might possess the strongest arm in the league. He’s a name to know in dynasty formats.
RB Williams, Javonte, DAL [RB1]
Per FantasyLife’s Ian Hartitz, Javonte Williams is a middling running back, ranking 29th in explosive run rate, 32nd in yards per tote, and 35th in yards over expected per carry. These are woefully unimpressive metrics. Williams is a plus receiver, but isn’t breaking tackles or creating yards. He’ll likely be stuck in a committee and could get passed on the depth chart by speedy Texas rookie Jaydon Blue.
RB Blue, Jaydon, DAL [RB2] Sleeper
Jaydon Blue, the Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 fifth-round pick, is a fantasy football sleeper with significant upside. At Texas, he tallied 730 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 134 carries (5.4 YPC), adding 42 receptions for 368 yards and six receiving scores in 2024. His 4.38-second 40-yard dash time was the second-fastest among incoming rookie rushers. Blue’s dual-threat ability and elite speed could earn him early touches in Dallas’ revamped offense. While ball security (seven fumbles over two seasons) is a concern, his receiving skills and agility make him a valuable late-round fantasy stash, especially in PPR formats.
ADVICE: Sanders is in play for a rotational spot in Dallas. He’s a decent receiver and scored 11 touchdowns in 2022. He’s worth a late-round flier on the chance he emerges as the Cowboys’ starter at some point in 2025.
Lamb remains the centerpiece of the Cowboys’ passing attack. Over the first eight weeks, Lamb started as a top-seven fantasy wide receiver, averaging 18.9 fantasy points per game. Despite some inconsistencies in 2024, due to an injury to QB Dak Prescott, he still posted over 1,100 receiving yards. The addition of WR George Pickens should help Lamb avoid as many double teams, creating better efficiency. With a healthy Dak Prescott and offensive adjustments, he’s poised for a bounce-back season.
Last season, George Pickens led the NFL in most receiving yards on routes of 15-plus yards and had the 2nd most catches on deep ‘go’ routes. Now, he’s paired with QB Dak Prescott, who led the league in passing yards when throwing those routes. Additionally, Dallas ranked 1st in pace of play last season. Pickens complained his way out of Pittsburgh but now finds himself in a better situation and playing for his first long-term contract. There’s a chance of volatility in Dallas, but Pickens is a high-end WR3 with plenty of boom potential.
ADVICE: Tolbert made an impact last season, catching 5-of-7 targets inside the 10-yard line for five touchdowns. He should be the Cowboys’ WR3 behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, giving him modest fantasy value
WR Turpin, KaVontae, DAL [WR4]
ADVICE: Turpin is an ace returner with a handful of splash plays as a runner and receiver. However, the trade for George Pickens reduces Turpin to the Cowboys’ WR4 role, giving him fewer opportunities to contribute this season. Upgrade Turpin to WR4 range in leagues where return yards count.
After surging to TE10 in PPR points per game in 2023, Ferguson plummeted down to TE22 last year. He was still decent in the first half of the season, but once Dak Prescott was injured, Ferguson’s role eroded. He scored fewer than seven fantasy points in six of Dallas’ last seven games. While Prescott is back, the Cowboys added George Pickens to compete for targets. Fantasy managers should view Ferguson as a fringe streamer and hope he regains his 2023 form with Prescott back under center.
One of the safest kicking options. Aubrey is accurate and gets plenty of opportunities in a high-octane Dallas offense.
The Cowboys fell off as a defense last season but remained an excellent fantasy unit thanks to 52 sacks, 27 turnovers, and a DST score. They remain a good fantasy DST worth drafting. But only in the final two rounds.
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