The Dallas Cowboys arguably have the best skill group in the NFL. Dallas boasts a future M.V.P. candidate at quarterback, one of the top running backs, and by far the most skilled pass-catching group in the NFL. As such, they aim to finish the 2021 season as the NFL’s top offense with their skill group and an offensive line becoming healthy and returning to form.
The Dallas Cowboys Have the Best Skill Group in the NFL
Prescott is a Legitimate M.V.P. Candidate
Dak Prescott returns after his gruesome ankle injury in Week 5 of the 2020 season. Against the New York Giants, Prescott rolled out to his left, looking for an open receiver. He was tackled into the turf and his ankle rolled underneath him. He suffered an ankle dislocation and fracture. The young dark-horse M.V.P. candidate underwent a surgical repair and has been rehabilitating his ankle ever since the injury. Recent reports out of Dallas off-season camps suggest Prescott is nearly 100 percent and could even be ready to play if the season started tomorrow.
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The quarterback is coming off of one of his best seasons in 2019 and a scorching hot start in 2020. In 2019, Prescott passed for a career-high 4,902 yards with 30 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. He completed 65.1 percent of his passes, earning a 71.9 QBR. These numbers were not enough to win a Most Valuable Player award, but he was certainly in the conversation. Had Dallas had more success as a team, Prescott likely would have been a more serious contender with those staggering statistics.
In 2020, Prescott had already passed for 1,856 yards and nine touchdowns with a 68 percent completion percentage and a QBR of 78.7. Prescott’s 1,856 yards and nine touchdowns in five games put him on pace for well over 5,000 passing yards and nearly 30 touchdowns for the season. Would Prescott have finished with nearly 6,000 passing yards? Nobody knows, but he was lighting the NFL on fire for five weeks until Logan Ryan rolled over his ankle. If Prescott can hold form with this daunting skill group, the Cowboy’s offense looks to set the pace for the rest of the league.
Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard
Dallas is also incredibly skilled at running back. The Cowboys are blessed to have depth and skill at the running back position with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
Elliott joined the NFL with Prescott in 2016. Ever since, the Cowboys have had a dominant offense. They have controlled the pace of play with Elliott’s physical running style and Prescott knifing through teams with play-action passes. He brings consistency to the Dallas offense, crucial for success in the passing game. The bruising running back has rushed for over 1,000 yards three times and averaged at least four yards per carry every season since entering the league. Eliott is a bruising running back who seems to get stronger as the game drags on. The Ohio State alumnus controls the clock, keeping the offense on the field, and punishes teams who are light in the box.
Which running back will have the better season in 2021?
❤️ for Austin Ekeler
🔄 for Ezekiel Elliott pic.twitter.com/plBioiZOAV— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) June 29, 2021
Tony Pollard is a tremendous insurance policy, as well as a great handcuff and change-of-pace back. Pollard showcased his skills last season against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15 of the 2020 season. When Elliott was sidelined with a calf injury, Pollard capitalized on the opportunity with 69 rushing yards on 12 attempts and 63 receiving yards. Pollard exploded for a 40-yard rushing touchdown late in the game to secure the victory for the Boys in Blue. He has averaged over four yards per attempt each of his two seasons in the NFL. If Elliott is unproductive or bitten by the injury bug, Dallas can still run the ball consistently and help control the clock with solid insurance in Tony Pollard.
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The Most Deadly Wide Receiver Room in the NFL
The most staggering group in Dallas is the pass-catchers. Amari Cooper is the number one wide receiver in Dallas this season. Cooper had some difficulty while playing for the now Las Vegas Raiders, seemingly disappearing in games or for parts of the season. The former Alabama star has been very good for the Cowboys since arriving via trade in 2018. He logged 725 yards in nine games for Dallas in 2018, and over 1,100 yards in both 2019 and 2020. The young, savvy wide receiver also piled up 19 touchdowns in two and a half seasons for Dallas. With Prescott at the helm, Cooper looks to add to his alpha wide receiver resumé.
CeeDee Lamb is the up-and-comer in Dallas. The sophomore wide receiver enjoyed 935 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. He was off to a hot start until Prescott’s season-ending injury in Week 5. Lamb is a consensus breakout candidate for the 2021 season and looks to challenge Cooper for the leading wide receiver in Dallas.
🔹 CeeDee Lamb
🔹 Antonio Gibson
🔹 Derrick Brown @PFF_Zach lists his 2nd-year breakout candidates https://t.co/3w5TeZNZwm— PFF (@PFF) June 30, 2021
Michael Gallup is the third wide receiver for the Cowboys, looking to make a splash. Gallup is entering his fourth season and coming off an 800-yard campaign complete with five touchdowns. He looks to excel when Lamb and Cooper are double-teamed and covered up. However, Gallup is just as explosive and dangerous down the field as the other two, punishing defenses overcommitting to other pass-catchers.
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Dallas Should Finish as NFL’s Top Offense
With the offensive line and Prescott finally healthy and recent additions to the wide receiver room, Dallas looks to finish as the number one offense in the NFL. The Cowboy’s passing attack is, on paper, second to none. Dallas fans have no reason to feel anything but excited for the start of the 2021 season. Prescott looks to return to form with the best skill group in the NFL. Elliott and the offensive line should get back on track and set the pace after a difficult 2020 season plagued by injuries.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
