Lions vs. Cowboys: Latest Odds and Stat Predictions for Top Fantasy Stars

This clash of NFC juggernauts is poised to be highly entertaining. The Dallas Cowboys boast the league's rushing leader, and the Detroit Lions own the NFL's stingiest run defense.

These teams haven't met yet this season, but both have enjoyed success against similar opponents. In Week 6, Dallas emerged victorious over the great defense of the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 30-23. Detroit has notched wins over the prolific offenses of the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons this season.

Both of these teams feature a bevy of talent. If these squads didn't have such skilled players, they wouldn't still be alive at this time of year. For those fantasy enthusiasts out there who are looking for players to activate in one-day leagues, let's take a look at some studs who could be of use. Before we delve into the fantasy realm, here's a look at the game's updated odds and viewing information to ensure you don't miss a moment of the action.

Game Information

When: Sunday, January 4

Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

Time: 4:40 p.m. ET

Channel: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Betting Info (via Odds Shark):

• Over/Under: 48
• Spread: Cowboys -6.5

Fantasy Breakdown

Dallas Cowboys

Player	Pos.	Projected Stats	Fantasy Points
Tony Romo	QB	236 pass yds, 2 TD	17
DeMarco Murray	RB	92 rush yds, 1 TD, 22 rec yds	17
Dez Bryant	WR	96 rec yds, 1 TD	15
Jason Witten	TE	63 rec yds	6

Expect Tony Romo's performance in this contest to closely resemble his Week 6 showing against the Seahawks. Like Seattle, the Lions have been good at containing the league's better signal-callers, but Detroit has also given up two passing touchdowns in six of its last seven games. Romo may not light up the scoreboard, but he should provide a fantasy performance worthy of a start.

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

DeMarco Murray has simply been incredible this season, but so has Detroit's run defense. Murray has found success against stingier defenses this season, and the Lions did allow a total of 132 rushing yards to the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. Expect this ball-carrier to come away with his eighth consecutive double-digit fantasy performance.

Here's a breakdown of Murray's phenomenal season, courtesy of SportsCenter:

Remember that stat about Detroit allowing two passing touchdowns in six of its last seven games? Well, both of those scores were caught by wide receivers in four of those contests. That makes Dez Bryant a solid play during Wild Card Weekend, as he's been on an absolute tear of late, scoring a total of six touchdowns over his last three games.

Jason Witten may not be as prolific of a tight end as he once was, but he still garners plenty of targets from his quarterback, catching 18 passes over his last three games. The Lions haven't allowed a touchdown to a tight end in five games, but they have given up at least five receptions to the position in six of their last eight games.

Detroit Lions

Player	Pos.	Projected Stats	Fantasy Points
Matthew Stafford	QB	278 pass yds, 2 TD, 1 INT	17
Joique Bell	RB	53 rush yds, 19 rec yds	6
Calvin Johnson	WR	88 rec yds, 1 TD	14
Golden Tate	WR	102 rec yds	10

Matthew Stafford had trouble generating fantasy points for a couple weeks, but he did end the season with a 20-point performance against the Packers. He tends to put up big numbers when he's on the same page as Calvin Johnson, and considering Dallas has given up at least 18 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in four of its last six games, Stafford has a great chance to find his favorite target often.

Fantasy owners should be wary of Stafford this week, though, and Bleacher Report's Zach Kruse tweeted why:

The odds aren't in favor of running back Joique Bell putting up a big fantasy performance unless he can steal a couple goal-line carries. Bell's inconsistent usage led to him completing the season without a 100-yard performance, and considering Dallas hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown in its last two games, expect a single-digit showing for this ball-carrier.

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Johnson had a down year for his fantasy owners due to lingering injuries, but he did manage to put up four 100-yard outings in his last eight games, scoring six touchdowns along the way. Dallas has been very good at keeping most receivers out of the end zone this season, but it has struggled against better pass-catchers. Expect Johnson to find paydirt at least once as Stafford should be expected to look his way often.

Golden Tate had some monster performances while Johnson missed time earlier in the season; however, his production has dropped off since, and he hasn't recorded a 100-yard game since Week 10. Expect that to change this week, as the Cowboys should be rolling coverage toward Johnson, allowing Tate many opportunities to break big gains.

All fantasy statistics and rankings courtesy of ESPN.com standard scoring leagues and current as of December 31.