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Whether it’s injuries, bye weeks, or a hot waiver wire claim that muddles fantasy lineups, the factors which fantasy owners have to consider before hitting the submit button are always present and rarely uncomplicated. There’s only one way to combat this, and that’s parsing each game, one at a time. Here’s what needs to be considered when the Dallas Cowboys take on the Green Bay Packers.
Dallas Cowboys
Start ‘em
Ezekiel Elliott will face the NFL’s No. 1 run defense, but simply put, Elliott should never be benched. Ever. Now that that is out of the way, Dak Prescott is another rookie who is earning his keep in Dallas, one that could be wrestling the starting quarterback position from Tony Romo, permanently. Prescott is averaging the 12th-most fantasy points per game among quarterbacks, which makes him a low-end QB1 so far in 2016. Though Dez Bryant remains banged-up and highly questionable, Prescott has performed well enough without him to garner QB1 consideration against the Packers. His tight end, Jason Witten, can also be penned into lineups as usual.
Sit ‘em
Cole Beasley, who got off to a hot start, has suddenly drawn just eight targets in his last two games, while Brice Butler, Terrance Williams and Witten have all drawn more. Prescott remains a quarterback who distributes to several receivers, and all except Witten cut into each other’s work enough to be benched in standard formats.
Green Bay Packers
Start ‘em
It’s difficult to call what Aaron Rodgers is going through a slump since it has lasted for over a year. But with Eddie Lacy and James Starks both ailing, more could be asked of Rodgers, who is still capable of putting up huge numbers at home. He and his top receivers, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, all deserve to be in lineups against a middling Cowboys pass defense.
Start ‘em?
Throughout the week, beat reporters have given Lacy a better chance of suiting up than Starks. Lacy can be considered a RB2/flex option in standard formats after participating in practice at a limited capacity, but it is possible the Packers are rushing him into action since they simply have no one else to turn to.
Sit ‘em
Starks, Richard Rodgers and Davante Adams can safely remain on fantasy benches. An impressive 5-85-1 line for Adams in Week 5 isn’t enough to dispel concerns to the point of getting him in fantasy lineups.