Cowboys vs. Texans Fantasy Football Worksheet, Week 4

The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Cowboys vs. Texans Week 4 matchup.

Find a breakdown of every Week 4 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.

Trust = spike production for that player

Cowboys vs. Texans Fantasy Quarterback Preview

Dak Prescott

Prescott has opened the season with weeks as the QB18 (14.4 points), QB3 (29.8 points), and QB17 (18.9 points).

He is currently QB20 in yards per pass attempt (7.0).

Teams have played a lot of two-high coverages against Dallas to open the year.

Prescott has faced those looks 78.8% of the time, the second-highest rate in the league.

That hasn't been how Houston has played to open the season.

The Texans have played single-high coverage on 67% of their snaps, the third-highest rate in the league.

That's a shift for them this year compared to last year.

The Texans are playing less man coverage and more Cover 3 to open 2026.

Houston has played man coverage 11.5% of the time, down from 20% last season.

They have raised their Cover 3 rate to 57.1% (37% in 2025) as a trade-off.

Prescott has not seen a lot of Cover 3 (17 dropbacks), averaging 6.1 Y/A (21st).

But that man coverage has gotten Houston into trouble early this year.

Houston has allowed a 71.4% completion rate (26th) and a league-high 13.4 yards per pass attempt in man coverage compared to a 66.3% completion rate (14th) and 7.3 Y/A in zone coverage (15th).

Even removing the Buffalo game, those splits are pronounced.

Houston has allowed 6.1 Y/A in zone coverage over the past two weeks (6th) compared to 11.3 Y/A in man coverage (31st).

They have also struggled on third downs this year.

Passers are 19 of 27 (70.4%) for 257 yards (10.6 Y/A) with 3 touchdowns on third downs against Houston.

That said, Houston has still held Joe Burrow (16.2 points) and Daniel Jones (7.9 points) to QB2 scoring weeks after getting thumped by Josh Allen in Week 1.

I don't think you need to stream for Prescott, but with Dak operating as more of a QB2 himself, I have him as a higher-end QB2 in Week 4 rather than chasing a ceiling week.

This is still a strong pass rush, creating pressure 39.4% of the dropbacks (9th) with a 10.3% sack rate (2nd).

C.J. Stroud

Stroud has struggled to generate efficiency over the past two weeks without Nico Collins.

Over the past two weeks, Stroud has completed 56.1% of his passes (27th) for 6.3 yards per attempt (25th) with 1 touchdown.

Collins' absence has been felt.

Over the past two weeks, Stroud has completed 17 of 41 (41.5%) passes to wide receivers for 6.0 yards per attempt.

To running backs and tight ends, he has completed 29 of 34 (85.3%) passes for 8.0 yards per attempt.

Stroud has still protected the ball.

He has not thrown an interception this season.

If Collins is back this week, then Stroud gets a lift as a fringe QB1.

He would have some appeal in 1QB leagues if you are needy, but with Collins still potentially limited, I am pricing in some volatility.

Houston still hasn't had a running game to open the year, and that has hurt Stroud's ability to go under center and use play action.

Stroud has been under center for 32.3% of his dropbacks (26th) and thus has used play action on 23.3% of his dropbacks (25th).

This could be a spot to run and open things up, especially with Collins back, but it does take a step of faith.

The matchup is plenty appealing overall, though.

Dallas should push Houston, and the Cowboys' pass defense has been rough so far.

The Cowboys have allowed a 72.6% completion rate (31st), 7.4 Y/A (21st), and an 8.3% touchdown rate (29th).

Dallas has allowed 17.6 passing points per game (26th).

They rank 30th in sack rate (2.3%) and 22nd in pressure rate (33.7%).

Cowboys vs. Texans Fantasy Running Back Preview

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