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With the NFL Playoffs underway, Sunday's slate will feature two Wild Card round clashes. Below you can read our matchups analysis article for the Packers vs. Cowboys game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for both playoff leagues and DFS.
This Wild Card clash features a Green Bay Packers squad that squeaked into the Playoffs thanks to three straight wins to close out the regular season. It will mark the first postseason start for rising Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are a team that's had plenty of postseason appearances in recent years, just very few wins. Thanks to their strong play throughout the regular season, Dallas will host this matchup and look to keep an impressive 16-game home winning streak alive. This will be a fun one!
Read our fantasy football breakdowns for these games -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Wild Card Weekend matchups. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys
Spread: Cowboys -7.0
Implied Total: Packers (21.75) vs. Cowboys (28.75)
Pace: Packers (17th) vs. Cowboys (19th)
Packers Off. DVOA: 34.9% Pass (4th), -4.2% Rush (15th)
Cowboys Off. DVOA: 24.9% Pass (11th), -4.3% Rush (16th)
Packers Def. DVOA: 17.8% Pass (26th), -3.3% Rush (26th)
Cowboys Def. DVOA: -3.3% Pass (7th), -15.4% Rush (5th)
PFF Coverage Grade: Packers (19th) vs. Cowboys (7th)
PFF Rush D Grade: Packers (18th) vs. Cowboys (8th)
Offensive EPA/Play: Packers (5th) vs. Cowboys (2nd)
EPA/Play Allowed: Packers (23rd) vs. Cowboys (4th)
Matchups We Love
Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)
The revenge narrative continues here as head coach Mike McCarthy hosts his former team. Green Bay has a history of knocking off the Cowboys, so he'll look to rewrite the ending this time around.
Dak Prescott among QBs this season | min. 250 attempts
🥉 4,519 passing yards (3rd)
🥇 36 passing TDs (1st)
🥇 69.5% completion percentage (T-1st)
🥈 105.9 passer rating (2nd) pic.twitter.com/i8zJwPTNkZ— PFF (@PFF) January 8, 2024
Prescott enters the postseason on an absolute heater. Aside from one letdown performance against Buffalo, he's been in the MVP conversation for the entire second half of the year. He massacred Washington as anticipated, landing them the No. 2 seed. Hosting Green Bay is a treat for the offense as the Packers are a perfect matchup for them. In addition, Green Bay has the firepower to force the offense to stay aggressive, creating a shootout environment as evidenced by an over/under above 50. Prescott comes in as the QB2 this week.
CeeDee Lamb & Brandin Cooks (WR, DAL)
The man who can one-up him is his star wide receiver, who repeatedly delivered awesome performances. He finished as the WR1 and WR3 to end the season while adding three more top-four finishes after their bye week. Jaire Alexander is a quality NFL CB, but he's been beaten at times by lesser receivers than Lamb and he's questionable to play, securing Lamb's spot as the overall WR1 this week.
Cooks has proven to be a valuable addition to the offense, stepping up when defenses focus their attention on Lamb. It took some time for him to separate himself from Michael Gallup, but since Week 5 he's scored eight times in 13 games, including each of the last three weeks. He's a good bet to find the end zone in this one with Alexander lined up across from Lamb. He's a nice complement ranking as the WR15.
Jake Ferguson (TE, DAL)
One of the reasons Cooks has been so touchdown-dependent is because Ferguson is the No. 2 receiving option. He's leveled up from his rookie campaign, emerging as one of the more reliable tight ends in the NFL. It's a role we know is valuable with Prescott at the helm, so against the Packers, he's one of the big four.
Tony Pollard (RB, DAL)
If only Pollard could play Washington every week, he wouldn't be a candidate for the most disappointing fantasy player based on ADP. While that's not possible, Green Bay has been exploitable on the ground all season. He typically does well when the offense is leading, they're at home, and the matchup is good. All three criteria apply this week, pushing him inside the top 10.
Aaron Jones (RB, GB)
Don't let Dallas being heavy favorites at home fool you into thinking that you should avoid Green Bay's offense this week. Last week capped off an impressive run, winning six of their final eight outings to earn a spot in the playoffs. Arguably their most talented weapon is Jones, who leads the league in rushing yards since returning from injury.
Aaron Jones has 411 rushing yards since week 15, which leads the NFL. pic.twitter.com/2AC6pMCl61
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) January 14, 2024
We know he's one of the more versatile backs, he just usually has to split work with a second RB. However, he's handled over 20 carries each of the past three weeks. AJ Dillon is dealing with a thumb injury that will likely keep him out of this one, thrusting Jones into the top five.
UPDATE: Dillon has been listed as doubtful, which almost always means the player will be ruled out. Patrick Taylor will be the backup if Dillon misses.
Jayden Reed (WR, GB)
If not Jones, then Reed is the one you want to design your offense for. His rookie campaign has been overshadowed because he started slower, but since their bye week, he's been outside the top 25 just twice with four top-12 finishes. He's quietly hit 10 total touchdowns thanks to his usage as a runner and receiver. Deciphering the distribution of targets has been a challenge at times, but Reed remains the one player you can count on. He could draw coverage from Stephon Gilmore, who is on the injury report, but they use him all around the formation, so he's the WR11 this week.
Matchups We Hate
Tucker Kraft & Luke Musgrave (TE, GB)
When they drafted both Musgrave and Kraft, the assumption was Musgrave would open as the starter, which is how it unfolded. Unfortunately, he dealt with injuries that sidelined him for a significant portion of the season, opening the door for Kraft, who nailed his audition. Both would be exciting options if not for the other existing to take away snaps and volume. Combine their shared role with the laundry list of young wide receivers on the roster and it makes both too risky to gamble on.
Other Matchups
Jordan Love (QB, GB)
Putting Love in the top section against Dallas on the road would be a bit presumptuous given it's essentially his rookie year. However, he's made a statement, not only cementing himself as their starter for next year but causing many to consider if he's among the great signal-callers in the NFL. Fresh off throwing for over 300 yards and two scores against a stingy Chicago defense, he's worth throwing in your lineup as a top-five QB this week.
Jordan Love: PFF's 2023 Breakout Player of the Year 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Fs3oL5MntF
— PFF (@PFF) January 11, 2024
Packers WR2
The revolving door of receivers has been comical. The likes of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, and Malik Heath have all made contributions at one point or another. Watson is undoubtedly the most talented, but he cannot stay healthy. He played in just nine games and hasn't been on the field in over two months.
#Packers WR Christian Watson, out since Dec. 3, will work out pregame to test his hamstring and determine if he can play today, source said. For the first time in a month, there is some optimism that he can go. But the workout is key.
Star CB Jaire Alexander is viewed as 50/50.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2024
Meanwhile, Doubs, who has a nose for the end zone, injured his chest against the Bears, raising questions about his availability. Watson and Doubs both practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday, providing hope for their ability to suit up. If both are active, Watson becomes the one to go after behind Reed with Doubs next. Otherwise, Wicks would enter the equation followed by Melton. Watson would be around WR20 in that scenario.
UPDATE: Watson is listed as questionable while Doubs is good to go, which means we'll need more information to know about Watson.
Notable Injuries
Christian Watson (hamstring)
AJ Dillon (thumb/neck)
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