Analysis
11/23/22
6 min read
Giants vs. Cowboys DFS Thanksgiving Showdown
The New York Giants are dealing with many injuries at the moment. If their primary corners can’t play, it will drastically change the slate. The Dallas Cowboys are coming off a dominant win against the Minnesota Vikings and are finding a rhythm as an offense. The first matchup between these two teams featured a much different group of players and shouldn’t be utilized much in this one.
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Vegas Line: Cowboys -9.5
Over Under: 44.5
Notable Injuries:
Giants: OUT: TE Daniel Bellinger, OL Josh Ezeudu, OL Jon Feliciano, DB Adoree' Jackson, OL Shane Lemieux, DB Fabian Moreau, OL Evan Neal QUESTIONABLE: DB Dane Belton, WR Richie James, OL Tyre Phillips, DB Jason Pinnock, OL Andrew Thomas
Cowboys: OUT: LB Anthony Barr DOUBTFUL: DE Tarell Basham, DT Johnathan Hakins QUESTIONABLE: DE Dante Fowler, CB Kelvin Joesph, DE Demarcus Lawrence, DT Osa Odighizua, LB Micah Parsons, DT Neville Gallimore, S Donovan Wilson
Data to Know Provided by TruMedia
Giants Offense vs. Cowboys Defense
- Daniel Jones averages 6.9 yards per attempt, 6.8 air yards per attempt, and a 3.2% pass touchdown rate.
- Jones gets sacked on 8.6% of dropbacks this year.
- The Cowboys give up 6.5 yards per attempt, 7.6 air yards per attempt, and a 3.6% pass touchdown rate.
- The Cowboys have an 11.4% sack rate.
- The Cowboys' primary coverage is a zone, and they played it at a 78% rate in their first matchup.
- Against zone coverage, Jones averages 7.1 yards per attempt, 6.8 air yards per attempt, and has a 1.4% pass touchdown rate.
- Darius Slayton is this team's number-one wide receiver and averages 2.1 yards per route run against zone coverage.
- Slayton gets targeted on 22% of his routes against zone coverage.
- Richie James and Marcus Johnson are the two names to replace Wan’Dale Robinson in the slot.
- James averages 1.7 yards per route run against zone coverage.
- Johnson averages .5 yards per route run against zone coverage.
- Isaiah Hodgins and Lawrence Cager are the other two notable pass catchers.
- Hodgins is a former Buffalo Bill that has a role in this offense.
- Cager is a WR converted to TE and is a big athletic target.
- The Cowboys' secondary has played well against each receiver alignment.
- The Cowboys’ run defense has not been great this year, and they give up 4.5 yards per carry.
- Saquon Barkley ran for 81 yards and had four receptions for 45 yards in their first matchup.
- This past weekend against the Lions, Barkley averaged 1.5 yards per carry, and the Giants had multiple offensive linemen get hurt.
- Matt Breida will see work if the game gets out of hand.
Cowboys Offense vs. Giants Defense
- Dak Prescott averages 7.5 yards per attempt, 7.5 air yards per attempt, and a 5.3% pass touchdown rate.
- The Giants' defense plays man coverage and blitzes at a high rate.
- Against a blitz, Prescott averages 6.9 yards per attempt, 6.3 air yards per attempt, and a 7.1% pass touchdown rate.
- Against man coverage, Prescott averages 6.2 yards per attempt, 11.6 air yards per attempt, and has yet to throw a touchdown.
- With the cornerbacks hurt for the Giants, there is no reason the Cowboys shouldn’t find players open down the field.
- The Cowboys have three main wide receivers: CeeDee Lamb, Noah Brown, and Michael Gallup.
- Against man coverage, Lamb averages 2.4 yards per route run and a target on 34.6% target of his routes. Gallup averages 1.3 yards per route run and a target on 30.8% of his routes. Brown averages 2.5 yards per route run and a target on 25.4% of his routes.
- Against a blitz, Lamb has a 38.6% target share and averages 2.9 yards per route run.
- The Giants have struggled in the slot, where we will see Lamb and Brown line up the most.
- The Cowboys utilize three tight ends: Dalton Schultz, Peyton Hendershot, and Jake Ferguson.
- Schultz is a go-to in zone coverage, but in man coverage, he gets targeted on 15.8% of his routes.
- Hendershot has run more routes than Ferguson, but Ferguson has been more productive when running routes.
- None of the tight ends are heavily targeted against man coverage.
- The Cowboys will utilize two running backs: Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
- Elliott is the goal line back, the bruiser, and the guy that will always run to the designed gap.
- Pollard is the playmaker who can break off the big run and run a route for a long touchdown.
- Both players say 15 carries, Elliott scored twice, and Pollard had 38 more yards rushing.
- In the passing game, Pollard dominated and had over 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Overall Thoughts
The Giants have had a great run as a team this year, but this is a nightmare matchup for them, and the injuries are piling up. The Cowboys have an advantage in the trenches, secondary, and the weapons supporting their quarterbacks. Daniel Jones had 79 yards rushing in their first matchup and will need to utilize his legs as much as possible to keep the game within reach. Dak Prescott has found a rhythm and wants to air it out against man coverage. Michael Gallup hasn’t had the blowup game just yet but will be facing lower-tier corners and in a spot where it should build some confidence. Tony Pollard will still have a big role in this offense, but it is risky without the goal-line work that Ezekiel Elliott will control.
Giants vs. Cowboys DFS Multiplier Pool
- QB Dak Prescott
- WR CeeDee Lamb
- RB Saquon Barkley
- WR Michael Gallup
- WR Noah Brown
Giants vs. Cowboys DFS FLEX Pool
- RB Tony Pollard
- QB Daniel Jones
- RB Ezekiel Elliott
- WR Darius Slayton
- D/ST Cowboys
- WR Richie James
- WR Noah Brown
- K Brett Maher
- K Graham Gano
- D/ST Giants
- WR Isaiah Hodgins
- TE Jake Ferguson
- TE Lawrence Cager
- WR Marcus Johnson
WATCH MORE: Thanksgiving Day Games DFS Breakdown with Jordan Vanek and Ryan Reynolds.
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