How to watch, what to watch for Cowboys vs. Rams in Week 1

The Dallas Cowboys kick off the 2020 NFL season against the Los Angeles Rams. Dak Prescott is coming off a career year and has been gifted with even more talent out wide now that CeeDee Lamb has joined a group that includes Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper. That potent mix combined with Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield could give Dallas one of the most explosive offenses in the league.

Los Angeles has moved on from a key contributor in Todd Gurley and could have to lean on rookie Cam Akers at running. It has capable pass catchers in Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Tyler Higbee, but will hope to find a replacement for Brandin Cooks out wide. Both sides have dynamic offenses, so this game will likely come down to defense.

TV Info

Date: September 13
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
Live stream: NBC Sports

Broadcast region: National

Notable Statistical rankings (Football Outsiders)

Cowboys (2019): 17th vs. Pass, 14th vs. Rush
Rams (2019): 8th vs. Pass, 17th vs. Rush

DraftKings Sportsbook odds

Cowboys: -2.5, -162
Rams: +2.5, +133
Total: 51.5

Pick: Cowboys

Two of the fastest paced teams will meet up on Sunday Night Football and I expect plenty of points to be scored. The Cowboys are the team with more offensive firepower with the addition of CeeDee Lamb and should be able to outscore the Rams, who lost Brandin Cooks and Todd Gurley this off-season.

Injury report

Cowboys

Wednesday

DNP: CB Jourdan Lewis (ankle)

Limited: LB Luke Gifford (hamstring)

Full: CB Chidobe Awuzie (knee), WR Amari Cooper (hamstring)

Thursday

DNP: CB Jourdan Lewis (ankle)

Limited: LB Luke Gifford (hamstring)

Full: CB Chidobe Awuzie (knee), WR Amari Cooper (hamstring)

Rams

Wednesday

DNP: T Andrew Whitworth (not injury related)

Full: RB Darrell Henderson (hamstring)

Thursday

Full: RB Darrell Henderson (hamstring), T Andrew Whitworth (not injury related)

Fantasy football start/sit advice

Cowboys

CeeDee Lamb, Wide receiver, $4,100

Lamb will have plenty of competition, but reports from camp indicate that Dallas is willing to get creative when it comes to getting him the ball. He’ll trail Cooper and Gallup on the depth chart but could emerge as one of the best third options in the NFL before long. He shouldn’t have to deal with Jalen Ramsey as much as the starters.

Ezekiel Elliott, Running back, $8,000

Elliott should consistently be one of the more expensive running backs because of his versatility, and he should get a healthy helping of carries and targets in this one. A contract holdout won’t limit his start this time around, so expect him to be his normal self from the start.

Rams

Cooper Kupp, Wide receiver, $6,500

Kupp is coming off a career year and has even less competition now that Cooks is out of the picture. The Cowboys’ secondary has been weakened by the departure of Byron Jones. Kupp is underpriced for a player who could very well notch more than 100 receptions in 2020.

Van Jefferson, Wide receiver, $3,000

Jefferson appears to have stolen the WR3 spot from Josh Reynolds and is dirt cheap. If you know the Rams, you know they like to spread the field. Their WR3s are utilized often, and Jefferson’s route running could help him create plenty of space.