Cooper Rush, CeeDee Lamb, More Cowboys Fantasy Outlook Amid Dak Prescott Injury

The Dallas Cowboys' situation went from bad to worse on Monday, as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that star quarterback Dak Prescott "is expected to miss multiple weeks" due to his hamstring injury being "worse than initially feared."

The Cowboys are in the midst of a three-game losing streak, and now they will be without their starting signal-caller for an extended period.

Fantasy football managers who have Dallas players on their roster rightfully will be worried, so here's a look at how Prescott's absence will affect the rest of the team.

Cooper Rush, QB

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 03: Cooper Rush #10 of the Dallas Cowboys throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The last time Cooper Rush saw significant action was when he started a career-high five games in 2022 when Prescott missed time with a fractured thumb. He was solid, but unspectacular, finishing that season with 1,051 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 58.0 percent of his passes.

Rush was not a very effective fantasy quarterback during his limited run as Dallas' starter. Per Fantasy Pros, he showed promise in his first three starts by producing 13.6 points, 12.4 points and 17.6 points, but he faltered in his last two outings with just 4.0 points and 8.2 points.

It would be difficult to trust Rush as the starting quarterback on your fantasy roster without seeing him in action first, but it could be wise to add him and stash him on your bench if you have the space. Still, you shouldn't expect much from the 30-year-old, especially not over the next three weeks

On Sunday, Rush will be facing a Philadelphia Eagles defense that ranks seventh in the NFL with 189.0 passing yards allowed per game. He will follow that up with a matchup on Monday Night Football on Nov. 18 against the Houston Texans, who rank third with an average of 167.4 passing yards allowed. On Nov. 24, he will face the Washington Commanders, who lead the NFC East with a 7-2 record and allow just 183.3 yards through the air, ranking fifth in the league.

CeeDee Lamb, WR

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 03: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to the game \aaf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Fantasy football managers who invested a first-round pick in Cowboys star receiver CeeDee Lamb have been left wanting a little bit more this year.

Per Fantasy Pros, Lamb has eclipsed the 10-point mark just three times in eight games this year. His best performance was a 26.6-point finish against the San Francisco 49ers in Dallas' Week 8 loss.

Unfortunately, the absence of Prescott won't help provide any optimism that Lamb will get back on track. While he's sure to see a heavy amount of targets from Rush, he scored over 10 points just twice in Rush's five starts in 2022.

Without a proven No. 2 option in Dallas' passing attack, Lamb will be the focal point of every opposing defense from here on out, which doesn't bode well for his fantasy outlook.

It's impossible to bench Lamb unless you have another top receiver on your roster, but perhaps it would be wise to explore trading him before your league's deadline.

Of note, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday that Lamb avoided a serious shoulder injury in Week 9 and has a chance to play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Rico Dowdle, RB

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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 03: Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle #23 during the Sunday afternoon NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys on November 3, 2024 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

After veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott was benched for disciplinary reasons ahead of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, Rico Dowdle seized his opportunity as the starter and proved he could be effective when given the opportunity.

Dowdle registered 12 carries for 75 yards and five catches for 32 yards and a touchdown, giving him 16.7 fantasy points. Per Fantasy Pros, he has scored over 10 points in all three games where he's had over 10 carries.

While he's yet to score a rushing touchdown, Dowdle is productive in the passing attack with three receiving touchdowns this year. He could be the beneficiary of Prescott's absence if the Cowboys choose to commit to the run game when they face the stout passing defenses.

Dowdle is rostered in less than 70 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues, so he should be the top waiver-wire target if he's available in your league. It would also be wise to explore the possibility of trading for him, as he appears to be trending upward while Dallas tries to mitigate the loss of Prescott.