FANTASY FOOTBALL NEWS

If You Blinked You Missed Dalvin Cook's Debut

By Matt Schauf | Updated on Mon, Oct 28 2024 1:34 PM UTC

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero talked up RB Dalvin Cook ahead of the veteran's first game with the Cowboys on Sunday night against the 49ers. Someone must have forgotten to tell Cook or the team how good he had looked in practice, though. Cook carried six times for just 12 yards and added a 10-yard catch on his lone target. He trailed RB Ezekiel Elliott in carries, yards, and yards per rush, and watched Elliott claim the team's only rushing TD.

What They're Saying

Pelissero: "Dalvin Cook ... could be in line for a big load tonight against the 49ers."

Pelissero earlier in the week: "Cook has been tearing it up in practice."

2024 Fantasy Football Impact

We certainly didn't expect anything big from Cook, who was last seen averaging 3.2 yards per rush for last year's Jets -- and then contributing an 8-23 line (2.9 yards per rush) in his lone playoff appearance for Baltimore.

But Pelissero's reports indicated a more significant role. Instead Cook played just 17 snaps (to Elliott's 28) and trailed the other plodding vet in both rushing and passing-game usage.

Rico Dowdle should be ready for Week 9 after a late-arriving illness made him inactive for the Niners game.

We'll see how the Cowboys arrange work among the trio. But Dowdle should remain the top option in the league's most unattractive backfield.

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.