The 2-1 Dallas Cowboys and 1-2 New Orleans Saints are a game apart in the standings, but not the way most would have expected. After looking like a disaster in Week 1, the Cowboys have won back-to-back games to get back to the good side of things, while the Saints, expected to be one of the NFC's top teams, were 0-2 before a strong home win against Minnesota in Week 3.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 4: Saints vs. Cowboys
No one would have guessed it would be the Saints looking up at the Cowboys in the standings through three weeks.
Donald Miralle
Sunday, the Saints play their third road game in the first four weeks, looking to get their first road win. The Cowboys host the 8:30 p.m. ET game, and with those two teams, the fantasy intrigue is high:
Saints
Start in every league: Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham
Start if you're desperate: Khiry Robinson, Pierre Thomas, Brandin Cooks, Marques Colston, Shayne Graham
Bench: Defense/special teams
The difference between playing-at-home Brees and playing-on-the-road Brees is well-documented, but if he’s going to do it on the road, it’ll be against that Dallas defense. I won’t pretend I’m totally confident in him, but I still ranked him as my No. 1 QB this week, so I’m close. ... Graham is still obviously the No. 1 tight end, even if he’s only scored in one of the season’s three games so far.
With Mark Ingram on the shelf, Robinson appears to be getting more of the attention than Thomas in the offense. Both are flex plays, but Robinson ranks higher. ... Cooks has surpassed Colston in the offense. Like the team’s running backs, they’re both flex plays. ... Shayne Graham has only had one game of double-digit fantasy points, back in Week 1. He should get plenty of kicking opportunities Sunday night, but you can’t count on him.
The Saints’ defense was supposed to be decent this year, but it has decidedly not been, with one total fantasy point through three weeks.
Cowboys
Start in every league: DeMarco Murray, Dez Bryant, Dan Bailey
Start if you're desperate: Tony Romo, Jason Witten
Bench: Terrance Williams, Defense/special teams
Through three weeks, only Marshawn Lynch has more fantasy points among running backs than Murray. He's the week's No. 1 running back. ... Even with a rough Week 1, Bryant is in the top 10 among wide receivers this season. ... Bailey is a strong option among fantasy kickers.
Romo hasn’t had a great start to the season. He’s a reasonable QB2 option, but you could probably do better. ... I still don’t think Witten is done, but until he shows it, you might need to look elsewhere.
Williams has had at least nine fantasy points twice in three weeks. It’s been a good start, but he also has only 102 total yards. He needs to accumulate more than just some scores, because those aren’t guarantees. ... The Cowboys’ defense has looked better since its Week 1 goose-egg, but against the Saints they’re a stay-away.
