Overvalued or Undervalued
Ask most people what they think of Dak Prescott in Fantasy and they will likely say he’s a solid backup quarterback. The Cowboys quarterback has finished as a QB1 in each of his first three seasons and isn’t viewed that way.
Waiting to draft a quarterback has become a popular strategy in Fantasy Football and is especially true in the FFWC. One of the best targets to get late in the double-digit rounds this season is Prescott.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys quarterback has been streaky, but he didn’t have weapons to throw to last season until Amari Cooper was acquired in a trade with the Raiders. Before that, the Cowboys had one of the worst receiving groups in the NFL and the stats showed it. Once Cooper arrived and rookie Michael Gallup improved as the season went on, Prescott’s numbers improved.
In seven games without Cooper last season, Prescott had a 62.1 percent completion rate, 6.88 yards per attempt and 202.4 yards passing per game. With Cooper, including the playoffs, Prescott had a 70.1 percent completion rate, 7.69 yards per attempt and 269.1 yards passing per game. The touchdown percentage increased from 3.9 percent to 4.2 percent and the interception rate decreased from 1.9 percent to 1.3 percent. Prescott was the QB4 in Fantasy with Cooper.
Running quarterbacks always get a boost in Fantasy and he will run. In his first three seasons, Prescott has rushed for six touchdowns in each year. Prescott is a good athlete and tough to bring down. Over the last three seasons, Prescott has 30 rushing attempts inside the 10-yard line, including nine inside the five-yard line. Only Cam Newton (33) has more. Prescott rushed 75 times for 305 yards with six touchdowns last season. He rushed 57 times for 357 yards in 2017.
The Cowboys offense should be better this season. The offensive line wasn’t healthy last season. Cowboys center Travis Frederick, one of the best in the NFL, missed last year with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that blitzes the nervous system and causes muscle weakness. Tight end Jason Witten is back and will help in the red zone and blocking, Randall Cobb replaces Cole Beasley and Kellen Moore takes over as offensive coordinator and the offense could open up more with him calling the plays. Ezekiel Elliott will be the primary focus, but expect the Cowboys to take more shots through the air.
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The offense has lacked creativity the last few seasons. The Cowboys had no problem moving the ball last season, but struggled in the red zone. A full season of Cooper, more development for Gallup, a healthy offensive line and a potential uptick in aggressiveness all bode well for Prescott having his best season.
Prescott won’t have many 300-yard passing games and he has yet to throw for 4,000 yards in a season, but he’s steady and this is the best offense he will be a part of. In his three seasons, he’s totaled 29, 28 and 28 touchdowns. Prescott doesn’t throw many interceptions. In 48 games, he has been picked off 25 times. In two of his three seasons, he’s thrown eight or fewer.
Even with things going wrong last season, he still had a productive Fantasy season. He was sacked 56 times, which was one less than the first two seasons combined. Considering the offense and Prescott’s performance in his first three seasons, he’s in store for his best season and as always, he’s cheap. If you wait on quarterback, consider Prescott as an option.
