For the 3rd straight year under the leadership of Wade Phillips and Tony Romo the Cowboys were a train wreck of an organization and failed to live up to their pre-season Super Bowl hype. In 2006 it was the botched snap against the Seahawks in Seattle. In 2007, the errant end zone pass thrown by Romo spelled their doom and last year the team failed to qualify for the playoffs outright by getting blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles 44-6 during the last week of the regular season in a winner goes to the playoffs and loser goes home scenario. This backdrop brings us to the 2009 version of America's Team in the brand new multi-billion dollar Dallas Cowboys Stadium which debuts to the nation on September, 20th against the NY Giants on NBC's Sunday Night Football. I cannot think of a team with more pressure on it this year than Dallas. Terrell Owens is gone in a move owner Jerry Jones described as making the Cowboys "more Romo friendly". I am not a fan of T.O. but to his defense the outrageous receiver has been made to be the scapegoat for everything that has been going wrong in Big D. In my opinion this is a make or break year for Romo. Everything in the organization is being catered towards his continued development and there will be nobody else to blame if things go array this year. You think Dirk Nowitzki's feelings were hurt after getting scammed over by that cougar wait to you see how Jones deals with Romo if the Cowboys don't perform in their new fortress type stadium this year. With that in mind let’s take a look at what the Cowboys offer up fantasy owners heading into 2009.
As I mentioned along with JaMarcus Russell this is put up or shut up time for Romo who in my estimation is an overrated putz who is lazy and more concerned with his public image than with being a great NFL QB. I am not alone as HOF Cowboy QB Troy Aikman took similar shots at Romo on the Michael Irvin show on ESPN Radio shortly after the season ended. No question Romo has some talent and if he dedicates himself to his craft can be a star in this league. He has shown that potential. However, it always seems that potential comes in the first 3/4 of the season and then when December and the playoffs roll around he is a complete train wreck costing the Pokes games time and time again. (Remember the game in Pittsburgh against the Steelers that the Cowboys had won until Romo singlehandedly lost the game for them with his INT's in the final minutes??) Furthermore, from a fantasy standpoint Romo has another major negative working against him and that is clearly the loss of Owens. Say what you want about him but the man produces. In his 3 years with the Cowboys Owens caught 235 passes for 3587 yds and an amazing 38 TD's. Who is going to make up for those numbers? Roy Williams?? Please. Williams is not half the receiver T.O. is nor does he possess half his work ethic. That leaves the Cowboys with Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton, along with a bunch of rag tag guys that really have no business being in the NFL to go with Pro Bowl TE Jason Witten. Romo is a number one fantasy QB but I won't be drafting him as there at least 10-12 QB's I would rather have. To be perfectly blunt, there is really nothing I like about number 9 and that includes everything from his decisions, work habits, and the corps of receivers he will be throwing to in 2009. Let Romo be some other owners problem this year not yours.
As with many teams in the new era NFL the Cowboys will utilize numerous backfield options none of which is any higher than a number 2 RB. Obviously, the focal point in the backfield is Marion Barber who rushed for 885 yds and 7 TD's while chipping in with 52 receptions for 417 yds and an additional 2 scores. Barber's running style which has rightfully earned him the nickname "Marion the Barbarian" makes him prone to injuries and he wears down as the season goes on. This is evidenced by the fact that Barber has never rushed for 1000 yds in a season despite being dominant at times. Management also sees this in Barber and his pounding style of running is the reason the team drafted speedster Felix Jones out of Arkansas in the 2008 NFL Draft. Jones made an immediate impact for the 'Boys by taking his first career NFL handoff to the house on an 11 yard TD run against the Cleveland Browns. His rookie season was progressing very well until a partially torn hamstring ended his 2008 campaign 6 games into the season. Jones ended up rushing for 266 yds and 3 scores and he also returned a kickoff 98 yards for a TD against the Eagles during that classic 41-37 Monday Night Football contest early in the year. When both backs ultimately went down rookie Tashard Choice filled in admirably. Barber is unquestionably the best fantasy option for the Cowboys heading into 2009 and draft him as a number 2 RB somewhere in the neighborhood of round 4 right alongside backs such as Marshawn Lynch and Darren McFadden. Jones is a number 4 borderline number 3/Flex option for owners heading into this season and in the mock drafts that I have been participating in on CBS Sports has been going around the 7th-8th round. In my estimation Jones is a nice selection around that time. Choice is worth taking a late round flier on as he did well when called upon last year and if either Barber or Jones gets hurt again this year his value would immediately increase due to increased reps.
While I agree with the releasing of T.O. I am not a big believer in Roy Williams and certainly not as much of a believer as Jerry Jones is. First, what they gave up for Williams was astonishing; a first, third and sixth round pick for a receiver that although has been stuck on a horrible team has never really lived up to his press clippings since coming out of the University of Texas in 2004. The Cowboys are banking on Williams replacing much of if not all of T.O. above referenced stats and quite frankly I just don't see it happening. First, while the Lions are atrocious that didn’t seem to bother my man Calvin Johnson this year who helped lead me to a league title by catching passes from a QB who literally didn’t know where the back line of the end zone was. Williams is decent and I believe a nice number 2 option for fantasy owners this year due to the amount of balls he is sure to see his way with Owens now in Buffalo but if you are thinking that he is going to put up number 81 type numbers you are sadly mistaken. Keep an eye on Williams on draft day this August but don't reach for him too high or you will surely be disappointed. Crayton and Austin are the other main receiving options for Dallas and out of the 2 I like Austin better because of his deep ball capabilities but don't even think about drafting Miles until at least the 10th round. Crayton is a late round flier at best and no other Cowboy WR warrants draft consideration at press time.
Dallas does sport one of the league’s best TE's in Jason Witten who helped me to a league title last year. Continue to treat Witten as one of the top 3 TE's available this year as workload will most likely increase if that is possible with the departure of T.O. If you really want Witten be prepared to spend a 4th no later than 5th round pick on him as that is where he has been consistently going in the CBS mocks.
Heading into last year I actually was quite high the Dallas DST and why not? The team had signed troubled but talented CB Adam "Pac Man" Jones and also had one of the leagues rising defensive stars in LB DeMarcus Ware. Things however never panned out as Pac man did nothing on the field and kept doing things off of it and was ultimately released and the entire unit was inconsistent all year long. While things may improve this year (hard to get much worse than '08) until this unit proves that it can be a dominant force on a regular basis do not consider using them as a number one option. Jones provides a nice spark in the return game but you need more than that especially if you play in a league like mine that is defensive heavy and allot points for tackles, sacks ect.
Well that concludes my fantasy examination of the Cowboys. Next up: The Philadelphia Eagles.
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