Cowboys vs. 49ers Sunday Night Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy, Jordan Mason, CeeDee Lamb, Deebo Samuel, and more

Hello, RotoBallers, and welcome to Week 8 of the NFL season! Let's take a look at some fantasy football outlooks for tonight's NFC clash. We have an interesting primetime matchup for Sunday Night Football between two of the league's most storied franchises with the San Francisco 49ers taking on the Dallas Cowboys.

It's been a tougher start to the season than either team would have liked. Injuries have been the main culprit for both squads. The Niners haven't had the services of Christian McCaffrey for a single game in 2024, while Brandon Aiyuk was recently lost for the season, and key playmakers such as Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Jauan Jennings have been in and out of the lineup. The Cowboys have dealt with major losses on the defensive side of the ball with players that include Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and DaRon Bland spending time on IR.

We'll be bringing you Sunday Night Football analysis all year long, focusing on who to definitely start, who is on the fence, and who should find the bench. Let's dive into this awesome Sunday Night matchup. You can also read all Week 8 Matchups for the entire slate. Good luck, RotoBallers!

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Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers - 8:20 pm ET

Spread: Niners -5

Implied Total: 47.5 (San Francisco 25.75 & Dallas 21.25)

Matchup Outlooks

QB Brock Purdy 

Brock Purdy could be down several playmakers in this game, but he is still a strong start against the Cowboys in Week 8. Dallas has given up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks while allowing a top-4 fantasy quarterback in three of the past five games. So, Purdy is a solid QB1 option this week.

RB Jordan Mason

This could be Jordan Mason's final start of the season, as reports have come out that Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) could return in Week 10 following the team's bye. The good news for Mason owners this week is he is a strong start in Week 8. The Cowboys have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season.

Jordan Mason is going to have a masterclass against the Cowboys 👉 pic.twitter.com/2wrvxQKrQs

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) October 26, 2024

TE George Kittle

George Kittle (foot) is dealing with a foot injury, but he should play in Week 8. With Brandon Aiyuk out for the year and Samuel/Jauan Jennings potentially missing this week's game, Kittle could be in for a monster fantasy day. He torched Dallas' secondary for three touchdowns last season, and the Cowboys have allowed three touchdowns to tight ends across the past two games.

Update: Kittle is officially questionable for Sunday night but is expected to play. 

QB Dak Prescott 

There's no doubt that Dak Prescott has struggled recently against the 49ers. In his last three meetings facing them, Prescott has thrown just three touchdowns to six interceptions. As a result, he'll be a risky QB1 option in Week 8. San Francisco has allowed only two quarterbacks to finish top-18 at the position this season.

RB Rico Dowdle 

Rico Dowdle played a season-low 28% of the team's offensive snaps before the team's bye, but expect him to see more opportunities in Week 8. Still, he is likely only a flex play in 12-plus team leagues this weekend. The 49ers are allowing only 3.8 yards per carry to opposing running backs this season, and Dowdle has seen less than 10 carries in four of six games.

WR CeeDee Lamb

CeeDee Lamb got off to a slow start last year before turning it on following the team's Week 7 bye. Fast forward to 2024, and Lamb got off to another slow start. Will history repeat itself for the All-Pro wideout? Either way, though, fantasy managers should be starting him in all formats this weekend against the 49ers.

WR Jalen Tolbert 

With Brandin Cooks (knee) out the past two games, Jalen Tolbert has seen 15 targets while catching 11 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown. His production in this game will depend on Prescott and if the Pro Bowl quarterback can have a solid game. If he does, Tolbert could be a sneaky play in deeper leagues. He'll enter Week 8 against the 49ers as a potential flex option in 14-plus team leagues.

49ers WRs 

The 49ers will not be at 100% this week. Aiyuk (knee) is out for the season, Samuel (illness) is dealing with pneumonia, and Jennings (hip) missed last week's game with a hip injury. There's a chance that Samuel does play on Sunday after practicing in a limited fashion on Thursday. Jennings, though, is trending in the wrong decision after failing to practice on both Wednesday and Thursday.

49ers TE George Kittle, listed as questionable for Sunday night due to a sprained foot, is expected to play vs. the Cowboys, per source.

And so the 49ers are expected to have both Kittle and WR Deebo Samuel vs. Dallas. pic.twitter.com/dSoG0B8gyn

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 27, 2024

If Samuel plays, you are likely playing him in all formats. As for Jennings, he would be a solid WR3 option if he can suit up. He had a WR1 finish only a couple of weeks ago, and he should see more opportunities with Aiyuk now out for the year. If neither can play or one of Samuel/Jennings plays, Ricky Pearsall would be a strong play in all formats. He played 76% of the team's offensive snaps in his first game last week.

Update: Jennings has been ruled out for Sunday, while Samuel is questionable.

TE Jake Ferguson

Fantasy managers should put Jake Ferguson in their lineups in Week 8. Ferguson has caught at least six passes in three of the past four games, and the 49ers just allowed eight catches for 83 yards to Chiefs' tight ends last week. So, the Cowboys playmaker is a solid TE1 option this weekend.

Injuries: 

• George Kittle (foot)
• Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness)
• Jauan Jennings (hip)
• Brandon Aiyuk (knee)
• Brandin Cooks (knee)
• Christian McCaffrey (Achilles)

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