Blogging The Boys

KaVontae Turpin will miss his second consecutive week after suffering a rib cage injury in the loss to the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 18. He was hurt on the opening kickoff after taking a hit to his ribcage. While he has participated in warm-ups and stretching this week at practice, he has been listed as a non-participant, impacting the Cowboys' receiving corps and special teams.

George Pickens is questionable vs. the Cardinals due to multiple ailments. He is playing this season under the franchise tag, and his status remains uncertain heading into Sunday's matchup.

Bold Week 8 prediction: Tyler Goodson scores his first Cowboys touchdown. Context: Goodson is settling in as the RB2 behind Javonte Williams (who rushed for 155 yards vs Eagles). This would be only the third touchdown of Goodson's four-year NFL career, making it a significant milestone for the backup running back.

Previous week bold prediction miss: Jake Ferguson failed to produce a comeback game against the Eagles, recording zero catches. This represents a whiff on the source's Week 7 prediction and suggests continued struggles for the tight end.

The Cardinals' top draft choice will play this week despite an ankle injury, clearing him for fantasy availability and indicating the team's confidence in his recovery.

Was a full participant in practice with a back injury and has no injury designation ahead of the Cardinals game, indicating he is cleared to play and available for fantasy consideration.

Listed as questionable with a groin injury; did not practice in the past two days, creating uncertainty around his availability for the Cardinals game.

Ruled out for the Cardinals game due to rib injury; worked off the side during the week but did not progress enough to resume team activities, making him unavailable for fantasy consideration.

Brissett leads the league with 282 pass attempts and has thrown 2+ TDs in three games this season. Against the Detroit Lions—a defense similar to Dallas' talent-wise—he completed 29 of 47 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns with a 91.8 passer rating. The source notes that while the Cardinals' offense hasn't been near the top of the league, Brissett is capable of sitting in the pocket and making solid throws if not pressured; Dallas' defense has struggled to rush the passer in recent weeks, suggesting Arizona's passing attack could make plays all game long in Week 8.

Tyler Allgeier is averaging less than four yards per carry on the season alongside Jeremiah Love; the source projects that the Cardinals lack the firepower to generate explosive plays and struggle to put the ball in the end zone consistently, limiting Allgeier's upside.

Jeremiah Love may not be available this week due to injury; even if he plays, he and Tyler Allgeier are both averaging less than four yards per carry on the season, indicating poor efficiency and limited upside from the Cardinals' backfield.

Trey McBride finished with ten receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown in the previous week, marking season highs in both catches and receiving yards; the source identifies him as the Cardinals' most dangerous weapon and notes that outside of McBride, the Cardinals lack legitimate offensive threats.

Jacoby Brissett was sacked three times in the previous week against Denver; the source projects that if the Cowboys can force early stops, they have a legitimate opportunity to put the game away early, suggesting Brissett and the Cardinals offense will face continued pressure.

Jake Ferguson was targeted just once in the previous week and drew a pass interference call, indicating minimal involvement in the passing game and secondary status to Brevyn Spann-Ford at the tight end position.

Brevyn Spann-Ford was the only tight end with a catch in the previous week, finishing with two catches on two targets, indicating he is the preferred receiving option at the position over Jake Ferguson.

George Pickens finished with a touchdown in the previous week despite limited receiver volume overall; the source projects that if the Cowboys execute their run-heavy strategy against Arizona's weak run defense, it will make things easier for Pickens and the other receivers, suggesting continued scoring opportunity.

CeeDee Lamb snagged a pair of touchdowns in the previous week despite limited receiver volume overall; the source projects that if the Cowboys execute their run-heavy strategy against Arizona's weak run defense, it will make things easier for Lamb and the other receivers, suggesting continued scoring opportunity.

Javonte Williams rushed for 155 yards on 25 carries (6.2 yards per carry) in a dominant performance against Philadelphia; Coach Brian Schottenheimer made a conscious decision to stick with the run after abandoning it the week prior, and the source projects the Cowboys should employ the same strategy this week against Arizona, which ranks 28th in rush success percentage allowed, making Williams the primary offensive focus once again.

Dak Prescott threw for 212 yards on a season-low 27 pass attempts in the previous week; the source projects that if the Cowboys execute their run-heavy strategy against Arizona's weak run defense (28th in rush success percentage allowed), it will make things easier for Prescott and the receivers as a result.

McBride is the Cardinals' best and most consistent offensive weapon, coming off his best game of the year against the Broncos with 10 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. The source projects he will look to repeat that type of success against the Cowboys' struggling secondary in Week 8. His production and the game outcome could depend on defensive assignment; the Cowboys held him to just five catches for 55 yards and a TD last year and will attempt to do the same, but McBride is one of the league's best tight ends.

Williams is coming off his best game of the season with 155 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries against the Eagles; the source projects his second 100+ rushing yard game of the season against the Cardinals' 23rd-ranked run defense, which allows 126.3 rushing yards per game. His physicality and ability to pick up chunk yards helped balance the Cowboys offense in one of their most productive games of the season, and if the offensive line continues to open holes like last week, he should repeat that success.

Javonte Williams found success against Philadelphia and should continue to be featured in the run game against Arizona. The source states there is no reason to complicate the approach after Dallas finally found its running game against Philadelphia, and Brian Schottenheimer needs to keep using it. Arizona has surrendered 884 rushing yards through seven games at 4.6 yards per carry (126 yards per game, 10th-worst), and with potential absence of Walter Nolen III, Dallas should go straight back to Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, and Tyler Booker where Williams had huge lanes against Philadelphia.

Trey McBride is the catalyst for Arizona's pass game, leading the Cardinals in targets over their last three games, was one away from doing so in the Giants loss, and maintains double-digit targets in every other game he wasn't the team leader; he caught a touchdown in the previous matchup against the Cowboys, making the score 24-7 in the third quarter, and the Cowboys' schematic answer of clogging the middle of the field is where McBride operates.

First-round pick Jeremiyah Love has a strong chance at rejoining Arizona's offense out of the backfield for this game; he is a load to tackle on inside runs while having home run ability outside the tackle, making him a significant threat in the Cardinals' run game that has posted 116 yards in week one, 120 against the Rams, and only one other game over 100 yards this season.

Brissett's dual-threat ability and hard-to-bring-down nature created major problems for the Cowboys defense in their previous matchup; the source notes the defense couldn't set an edge against him and these Cardinals, and that timely blitzes will be required to finish sacks rather than relying on the edge rusher group, which has been poor at finishing.

Exploded for career-high 155 rushing yards and one touchdown vs. Philadelphia; Cowboys finished with 204 rushing yards at 5.4 yards per carry, signaling a successful return to run-heavy identity. This production validates the offensive adjustment and suggests continued volume opportunity vs. Cardinals.

Prescott emphasized Cowboys' commitment to run-heavy offensive identity after Philadelphia win; acknowledged the offense wasn't committed enough to the run game in weeks prior, which forced them into more passing situations than planned. Against Cardinals, expect continued emphasis on establishing the run.

The source notes that Tampa Bay is only one game behind Dallas in the playoff race and is about to get Baker Mayfield back, positioning his return as a meaningful boost to the Buccaneers' playoff positioning and a threat to Dallas' wild card hopes.

The source states that Philadelphia is not expected to rally and contend without Jalen Hurts, indicating his absence is a significant factor in the Eagles' 2-5 record and diminished playoff prospects.

George Pickens was limited Thursday with shoulder and hamstring injuries, but neither ailment is considered serious and he is not in danger of missing the Cardinals game.

KaVontae Turpin was a DNP Thursday with a rib injury, sidelining the receiver/return specialist ahead of the Cardinals matchup.

Tight end Luke Schoonmaker was a DNP Thursday with a groin injury, creating uncertainty for his availability against the Cardinals.

Dak Prescott led the league in average depth of target for week seven against the Eagles, demonstrating offensive efficiency and balanced play-calling that the source identifies as part of the formula for Dallas success this season.

Over/under on McBride's receiving yards at 81.5 yards sees split opinion: Jorge and Tom favor over, while Dyllan and Sean favor under. McBride is the Cardinals' tight end and primary receiving target.

Tom's rapid-fire prediction for first scorer in the Dallas-Cardinals game; Flournoy is selected with the reasoning 'is due,' suggesting positive regression or opportunity.

Sean's rapid-fire prediction for first scorer in the Dallas-Cardinals game; Ferguson is the tight end selected as the most likely first scorer.

Jorge's rapid-fire prediction for first scorer in the Dallas-Cardinals game; Spann-Ford is the tight end selected as the most likely first scorer.

Pickens is positioned to benefit from the Cowboys' run-first game plan against the Cardinals; Mike's strategy emphasizes establishing Javonte Williams early to create opportunities for Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. The Cardinals' weakness against the run should open up play-action and passing lanes for Dallas' receivers.

Lamb is positioned to benefit from the Cowboys' run-first game plan against the Cardinals; Mike's strategy emphasizes establishing Javonte Williams early to create opportunities for Lamb and George Pickens. The Cardinals have struggled to stop the run, which should open up play-action and passing lanes for Dallas' top receiver.

Prescott benefited from a much cleaner pocket against the Eagles (zero sacks, zero quarterback hits allowed) and showed dominance as a passer on Monday; Sean credits him with getting the Cowboys into right looks. Over/under on 225.5 passing yards sees consensus over from Dyllan, Sean, and Tom, with Tom reasoning the Cardinals will overcommit to stopping Williams.