QB Tony Romo (Dallas)

He takes a lot of heat in real life, but Romo is a great fantasy quarterback, possibly underrated, in fact. With the exception of 2010 when he played just 6 games, he’s averaged 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions and he’s gone over 4100 yards in his last three 16 game seasons.

Projection: 4320 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 80 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown (280 pts standard/338 pts in 6 pt TD leagues)

RB DeMarco Murray (Dallas)

DeMarco Murray is a very talented back and he should be the lead back because they only have the injury prone and disappointing Felix Jones behind him. There was even some talk that Jones would be traded or cut this offseason. However, Murray got hurt down the stretch last year, something that happened to him often at Oklahoma in college. It’s tough to project him among the league leaders in carries for that reason. It’s also worth noting that the Cowboys have only rushed for an average of 10 touchdowns per season in the last 3 years, including just 5 last year.

Projection: 240 carries 1080 rushing yards 7 total touchdowns 35 catches 250 receiving yards (175 pts standard/210 pts PPR)

RB Felix Jones (Dallas)

There’s really no point in owning Felix Jones unless DeMarco Murray gets hurt. Murray took over for Jones when he got hurt last year and didn’t look back. Even when Jones came back, Murray had 59 carries to Jones’ 11 in 3 games before Murray got hurt. Jones has had every chance to be the lead back and has never been able to hold down the job. Luckily, Murray is injury prone, but even then, Jones could split carries with Phillip Tanner or he might get hurt himself.

Projection: 80 carries 360 rushing yards 2 total touchdowns 27 catches 200 receiving yards (68 pts standard/95 pts PPR)

WR Dez Bryant (Dallas)

8/20/12: Austin is battling hamstring problems still and Witten is out indefinitely with a lacerated spleen. Bryant, who is having a strong offseason on the field, could be due for a huge season in his 3^rd year in the league, typically a breakout year for receivers. He’s the clear #1 option in one of the best passing attacks in the league.

Dez Bryant caught 63 balls for 928 yards and 9 touchdowns in 15 games last year. He’s now in his 3^rd year, a frequent breakout year for receivers, and should have his best year yet, especially if he plays 16 games for the first time in his career.

Projection: 72 catches 1100 receiving yards 10 receiving touchdowns (170 pts standard/242 pts PPR)

WR Miles Austin (Dallas)

8/20/12: Miles Austin has missed all of the Preseason with hamstring problems. He should be fine for week 1, but hamstring problems tend to linger and he missed 6 games and caught just 43 passes for 579 yards and 7 touchdowns last year because of hamstring problems. He’s got upside, but let him be someone else’s problem.

He’s an injury risk after only playing in 10 games last year, in which he caught 43 passes for 579 yards and 7 touchdowns. However, before last year in his previous 17 games with Tony Romo, Austin has 109 catches for 1725 yards and 12 touchdowns. Over 16 games, that’s 103 catches for 1624 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s clearly the #2 receiver to Dez Bryant now, but there’s definitely buy low value with him.

Projection: 63 catches 850 receiving yards 8 receiving touchdowns (133 pts standard/196 pts PPR)

TE Jason Witten (Dallas)

8/31/12: Jason Witten will reportedly be a game time decision for week 1 as he tries to come back from a lacerated spleen suffered a couple of weeks ago. This is much better news than his original prognosis, which was doubtful for week 1. At the very least, this news should mean that he’ll be in the starting lineup week 2.

An incredibly consistent producer, Witten has between 64 catches for 754 yards and 96 catches for 1145 yards in every season since 2004 and is averaging 5.16 catches for 59.07 yards and 0.31 touchdowns per game in that time period. Over 15 games, that’s 77 catches for 886 yards and 5 touchdowns. That’s not a bad year at all. You can safely draft him as your TE1 in fantasy. Even if he misses one game, tight end is a deep enough position that you can pick someone up off waivers for just one game and get decent production.

8/20/12: Witten is out indefinitely with a lacerated spleen. Unfortunately, the timetable for his return is very murky with this type of injury. He’ll have to remain idle for about a week and hope it heals and that he’ll avoid surgery. Reports says that’s the most likely scenario, but even if that scenario, he’d be questionable for week 1. Witten is incredibly tough and hasn’t missed a game since 2003, but I’m still cutting his original projected numbers to estimate that he plays 14 games instead of 16.

Jason Witten is as consistent as they come. He hasn’t missed a game since 2003 and he’s had between 79 and 96 catches and 942 yards and 1145 yards in each of the last 5 years. Believe it or not, he’s still only 30.

Projection: 77 catches 900 receiving yards 5 receiving touchdowns (120 pts standard/197 pts PPR)

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]