The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants will punctuate the first NFL Sunday of the 2023 season. With the return of professional football also comes fantasy season. Offices, friend groups, and families alike are all looking for bragging rights during the new year.
Knowing who to play and who to fade is always tough. Some matchups are better on paper than in practice. Don’t worry; the players to roll with and avoid in Cowboys vs. Giants on Sunday Night Football are all listed below.
Turnin' up the heat 🔥 @oakley pic.twitter.com/R9czRUwlG4
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 6, 2023
Cowboys vs. Giants Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | ML |
| Cowboys | -3
-120 |
Over 46.5
-110 |
-170 |
| Giants | +3
+100 |
Under 46.5
-110 |
+140 |
Cowboys vs. Giants Start ‘Em
Dallas Cowboys
Tony Pollard (RB)
Last year, Pollard had 31 carries for 165 yards against the Giants, along with a receiving touchdown. That production came as a backup in the Dallas backfield. Taking over as the lead guy this year, look for him to take advantage of a vulnerable Giants rush defense again. This week will set the tone for another top-10 season as a fantasy running back.
Dallas D/ST
Dallas’ defense was one of the best in the business last season, finishing second in fantasy points. The 2022 unit finished fifth in scoring, third in sacks, and first in takeaways. Facing New York twice, the Cowboys defense only had one takeaway but managed eight sacks while holding Big Blue to 36 total points. Dallas should be just as stout, and the Giants offensive line is still a question mark, making the Cowboys’ D/ST a strong play.
Brandon Aubrey (K)
Kickers are people too, and Aubrey is taking over as Dallas’ kicker this season. Last year, Brett Maher was busy against the Giants, attempting five field goals and six extra points between the two games. The Cowboys finished fourth in scoring, so it’s no surprise that the kicker gets a lot of work. Brandon Aubrey gets his time to shine on Sunday night, and he should deliver.
New York Giants
Daniel Jones (QB)
The man with the shiny new contract was decent against the Cowboys in 2022, averaging 212.0 yards through the air and another 46.5 on the ground. Dallas’ defensive game plan against the Giants is to stop Saquon Barkley, forcing Jones to beat them. Last year’s Giants lacked weapons, but the infusion of speedy receivers and tight end Darren Waller will give Jones plenty of easy throws all night, without even factoring in his legs.
Darren Waller (TE)
When healthy, there’s no doubt that Darren Waller is one of the game’s premier tight ends. Daniel Jones seems to agree, with reports coming out all Summer that he was targeting Waller frequently. The preseason gave a glimpse of that, too, as the duo connected three times for 30 yards during the only drive they played. Waller’s Giants debut should be a big one.
Graham Gano (K)
Last year, the Giants also turned to their kicker often in these head-to-head battles. Gano, who has knocked in 94.6% of his kicks with the G-Men, is the beneficiary. His top-10 fantasy finish in his position last year wouldn’t have been possible without six attempts in the two Dallas games. Expect a few more on Sunday night, not including any PATs.
Cowboys vs. Giants Sit ‘Em
CeeDee Lamb (WR)
This may seem blasphemous as Lamb is not only Dallas’ undisputed top target but finished sixth among WRs in fantasy last season. He also finished with 14 catches, 193 yards, and a score against New York in 2022. However, the Giants’ additions at the corner have provided some flexibility in the secondary. Big Blue’s top corner, Adoree’ Jackson, will probably follow Lamb in the slot where he did the most damage last year, which will limit his productivity on Sunday night.
Saquon Barkley (RB)
Another tough sell, but Barkley won’t be given much room to operate in this one. It was crystal clear the second time these teams met that Dallas would sell out to stop Saquon Barkley from finding space. There won’t be a point in this game where the Cowboys will stray from that plan, as it worked in 2022. His floor is higher in PPR leagues, as the Giants may force-feed him on short throws, but this won’t be one of the games where he puts the offense on his back. It’ll be quite the opposite.
Sleeper Pick
Jake Ferguson (TE)
New York has struggled to cover tight ends for years, particularly if they play for the Cowboys. Dalton Schultz is gone, leaving Jake Ferguson as TE1 for Jerry’s team. Ferguson caught five passes for 70 yards against them last season, and those numbers should go up. Overall, Dallas tight ends 12 passes for 144 yards against the Giants. Don’t be surprised to see a similar production this weekend.
Fade of the Game
New York D/ST
This defense needs to prove a few things in this matchup. Considering how strong Dallas is offensively, it won’t be easy. Last year’s Giants finished 25th in takeaways, a number that included the NFL’s fewest interceptions. They didn’t sack the Cowboys a single time during the two battles of 2022. Their run defense allowed the second-most yards per carry, and Dallas gashed them for 5.6 per rush. They haven’t proven they can be valuable at all in this battle.
