The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Week 17 matchup between the Commanders and Cowboys on Christmas Day.
Find a breakdown of every Week 17 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.
| Dallas | Rank | @ | Washington | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -6.5 | Spread | 6.5 | ||
| 28.5 | Implied Total | 22.0 | ||
| 28.3 | 5 | Points/Gm | 20.6 | 24 |
| 30.3 | 31 | Points All./Gm | 26.9 | 27 |
| 65.3 | 2 | Plays/Gm | 59.1 | 25 |
| 62.2 | 18 | Opp. Plays/Gm | 62.5 | 19 |
| 6.0 | 4 | Off. Yards/Play | 5.4 | 15 |
| 6.1 | 30 | Def. Yards/Play | 6.1 | 31 |
| 39.94% | 28 | Rush% | 48.19% | 5 |
| 60.06% | 5 | Pass% | 51.81% | 28 |
| 43.30% | 15 | Opp. Rush % | 47.07% | 26 |
| 56.70% | 18 | Opp. Pass % | 52.93% | 7 |
- Cowboys games are averaging a league-high 58.5 combined points per game.
- Dallas is allowing a league-high 2.86 points per drive.
- Washington is allowing 2.65 points per drive, 31st.
- The Cowboys average 2.59 points per drive, 5th in the league.
- Dallas is last in the NFL in EPA per game as a pass defense (-9.2).
- Washington is 31st in EPA per game as a pass defense (-8.5).
Trust = spike production for that player
Quarterback
Dak Prescott (TRUST): Prescott comes into Week 16 sitting as the QB6 in points per game (19.4).
That is despite having a grueling run to close the season.
Prescott has faced the Chargers, Vikings, Chiefs, and Eagles in four of his past five games.
He gets a reprieve this week, drawing a Washington pass defense that is 31st in passing points allowed per game (17.4).
The Commanders have allowed a 66.9% completion rate (25th), a league-high 8.3 yards per pass attempt, and 12.3 yards per completion to go along with a 6.5% touchdown rate (31st).
When these teams met in Week 7, Prescott was the QB8 (23.3 points), completing 21 of 30 passes (70%) for 264 yards (8.8 Y/A) with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
Washington QB: Dan Quinn said there was still a chance that Marcus Mariota could start on Thursday after leaving last week’s game with a quad injury and stitches on his throwing hand.
We will have to follow his status in practice on a short week.
Should Mariota be unable to play, Josh Johnson would make his first start since the 2021 season with the Ravens.
Johnson stepped in relief last week against the Eagles, completing 5 of 9 passes for 43 yards with an interception.
Johnson is 39 years old and has started only nine games over his career.
His teams are 1-8 in those games, with him completing 58% of his passes for 6.4 yards per attempt, 13 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions.
Should Johnson start, he is only viable for needy 2QB rosters, with his most considerable appeal coming on a three-game DFS slate on Thursday.
This Dallas pass defense remains the worst in the league entering the final weeks of the season.
The Cowboys have allowed the most passing points (19.2 per game) and the most rushing points (5.6 per game) to opposing quarterbacks.
Running Back
Javonte Williams: Williams only managed 43 yards on 11 touches Sunday against the Chargers.
He played just 56.9% of the offensive snaps, his lowest rate in a game he did not leave this season.
Williams suffered a shoulder and neck injury in Week 15 against Minnesota.
He returned in that game, but with Dallas out of playoff contention, they could be providing some workload management for Williams to close the year surrounding that injury.
Williams opened the week as a DNP.
Malik Davis handled 8 touches for 23 touches.
If Williams is a full go, he is an upside RB2, but that workload from last week and his DNP potentially dampen a strong matchup.
We will follow his status entering Thursday.
Washington is allowing 4.7 yards per carry to running backs (26th) and 16.9 rushing points per game to backfields (29th).
When these teams played in Week 7, Dallas backs combined for 152 yards and a touchdown on 28 touches.
Washington RBs: After missing Week 15 with a groin injury, Chris Rodriguez was back on the field on Saturday, leading the backfield with 16 touches for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt did cut into the action to open the game.
Croskey-Merritt outtouched Rodriguez 8 to 6 in the first half with 25 yards and a touchdown before Rodriguez took over.
After halftime, Croskey-Merritt did not play a single snap on offense, while Rodriguez played 75%.
We have had some on-and-off usage in this backfield to close the season, but Rodriguez has been the best runner since midseason.
Since Week 9, Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt each have 69 rushing attempts.
On his attempts, Rodriguez has averaged 4.6 YPC with a 52.2% success rate and 4 touchdowns compared to 3.9 YPC and a 33.3% success rate (2 TD) for Croskey-Merritt.
Both of these backs are touchdown-dependent FLEX options.
If Quinnen Williams remains out on a short week while in concussion protocol, there is added matchup appeal here.
Without Williams on Sunday, Dallas allowed 4.4 YPC and 110 yards rushing with a touchdown to the Chargers' backfield.
With Williams on the field since his acquisition, Dallas has allowed 3.5 YPC to running backs.
Williams was not with the team when these teams met in Week 7, and Dallas still managed to slow down this unit.
In that game, Washington backs combined for 89 yards and a touchdown on 21 touches.
Wide Receiver
More Week 17 Fantasy Breakdowns From The Worksheet:
| Matchup | Time |
|---|---|
| Cowboys @ Commanders | Christmas Day |
| Lions @ Vikings | Christmas Day |
| Broncos @ Chiefs | Christmas Day |
| Texans @ Chargers | Saturday -- 4:30 p.m. ET |
| Ravens @ Packers | Saturday -- 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Cardinals @ Bengals | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Steelers @ Browns | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Saints @ Titans | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Jaguars @ Colts | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Bucs @ Dolphins | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Patriots @ Jets | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Seahawks @ Panthers | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Giants @ Raiders | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Eagles @ Bills | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Bears @ 49ers | Sunday Night Football |
| Rams @ Falcons | Monday Night Football |