No DeMarco Murray? No problem. The Dallas Cowboys and fantasy football owners may have been worried about the running game sans the NFL's leading rusher from last season, but the league's best offensive line helps to make up some of the difference. Sure, the loss of Tony Romo and Dez Bryant hurts the offense overall. But it also does afford more opportunity for Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar to make their mark.
In fact, ESPN Senior Fantasy Analyst Matthew Berry thinks that both are poised for a big game this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
"What are the Cowboys going to do, let Brandon Weeden throw it? Exactly," Berry wrote. "Run, run some more and then maybe a short swing pass to Dunbar. That's Dallas' offense these days, and this Sunday, I think it'll work, at least as far as these guys' fantasy value is concerned. Randle is currently getting 67 percent of the running back rushes, and very quietly, Dunbar has 115 receiving yards this season, second most in the league among RBs. Since the start of last season, the Falcons have allowed three more rushing TDs than any other team, the most PPR fantasy points to opposing RBs, and the second most in standard leagues. Just this season they have allowed the most receptions (24) and receiving yards (199) to opposing RBs."
Through two games, Randle is averaging a disappointing 3.4 yards per carry and has yet to see the end zone. Dunbar, meanwhile, has received just a single carry but has already racked up 11 receptions on 13 targets for 115 yards. He's clearly assumed the third-down role for this offense, while Randle is still the nominal starter.
