Cowboys vs. Texans MNF Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - C.J. Stroud, CeeDee Lamb, Joe Mixon, Rico Dowdle, Nico Collins, and more

In what feels like an instant, we're already into the second half of the 2024 fantasy football and NFL season. Read our Monday Night Football matchups analysis article for the Cowboys vs. Texans game to help make any fantasy football lineup decisions for both season-long and DFS.

This week's Monday night showdown features two teams headed in different directions. The Cowboys are near the bottom of the league standings with Dak Prescott out for the rest of the year, while the Texans look to be on cruise control in the AFC South with eyes toward making a playoff run.

Let's waste no more time and dive into the fantasy football matchups for Nico Collins, CeeDee Lamb, Joe Mixon, C.J. Stroud, and more. Read our fantasy football breakdowns for this game -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 11 matchups. Good luck, RotoBallers!

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys - 8:15 PM ET

Spread: Texans -7
Total: 41.5

Matchups We Love

QB C.J. Stroud 

It has been a couple of disappointing weeks for C.J. Stroud, as he hasn't finished as a top-12 fantasy option in six straight weeks. However, this could be the week that he breaks that streak. The Cowboys have allowed a top-4 fantasy quarterback in three of the past four games, and this defense has given up the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season. So, Stroud is a solid QB1 play.

RB Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon will be a strong RB1 option in Week 11 against a struggling Cowboys defense. Dallas is allowing over 4.5 yards per carry to opposing running backs this season while giving up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the position. So, look for Mixon to have a strong fantasy day this week. 

Matchups We Hate

RB Rico Dowdle

Even though Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy raved about Rico Dowdle earlier this week and called him the team's lead back, he will be a risky flex play in Week 11. The Texans have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season while giving up only 4.04 yards per carry on the ground this season. With Cooper Rush under center, Dowdle does not have much upside in this Dallas offense. 

TE Jake Ferguson 

It's hard to start any player in this Dallas offense following Dak Prescott's season-ending hamstring injury. After catching only four passes for 24 yards last week, Jake Ferguson will be a riskier TE1 option this weekend against a tough Texans defense. Houston has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends this season.

Other Matchups

QB Cooper Rush

After throwing for only 45 yards last week, Rush should only be started in deeper Superflex formats this weekend. He averaged only 3.5 yards on his completions in Week 10, and that makes him extremely hard to start in most leagues. Even though the Texans have allowed a top-12 fantasy quarterback in three of the past five weeks, Rush doesn't have much upside in fantasy. 

WR CeeDee Lamb

There was good and there was bad with CeeDee Lamb last week. The good was that he saw 10 targets, and he should have caught a touchdown -- if it wasn't for the sun at AT&T Stadium. The bad, though, is that Lamb only totaled 8.4 PPR fantasy points. With Rush under center, the All-Pro just doesn't have a high ceiling in fantasy anymore. However, you're likely still starting him in most cases this week after seeing 10 targets a week ago.

UPDATE: CeeDee Lamb was a late-week addition to the Dallas injury report. He is questionable with a back injury.

Texans WRs 

Nico Collins (hamstring) should be back this week, and if he is, you are starting him in all formats. Collins was averaging 21.3 PPR fantasy points before his multi-week absence. As for Tank Dell, he is more of a WR3 option this week against the Cowboys. However, he still could be a solid start against a Cowboys secondary that hasn't played well in recent weeks. 

TE Dalton Schultz

Dalton Schultz will play against his former team on Monday, but he should only be an option in deeper formats this weekend. With Collins back, Schultz will likely see fewer targets. Given that he has caught three passes or less in three of the past four games, he doesn't have much upside in fantasy this week. The Cowboys have also allowed only two tight ends to catch more than three passes against them this season.

Notable Injuries

• Dak Prescott (hamstring) - Out
• Nico Collins (hamstring) - Expected to Play
• CeeDee Lamb (back) - Questionable

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