Skip to main content

How will Tony Romo’s injury impact the Dallas Cowboys’ offense?

How will Tony Romo’s injury impact the Dallas Cowboys’ offense?
How will Tony Romo's injury impact the rest of the Cowboys' offense?

How will Tony Romo’s injury impact the rest of the Cowboys’ offense?

FFLockerRoomEric Moody discusses the impact of the Tony Romo’s collarbone injury.

This piece is part of our article program that features quality content from experts exclusively at FantasyPros. For more insight from Eric head to FFLockerRoom.

Did your fantasy football team avoid the injury bug in week? We have seen a number of high-profile players suffer injuries the first two weeks of the season. Last week the Dallas Cowboys had to implement a contingency plan to address the wide receiver position after Dez Bryant fractured his foot. The team felt déjà vu Sunday when franchise quarterback Tony Romo broke his left collarbone against division rival the Philadelphia Eagles. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Romo is expected to be sidelined eight to 10 weeks. How effective will he be upon his return? Aaron Rodgers and Nick Foles returned from broken collarbones with limited results. What will change in the Cowboys’ offense with Brandon Weeden under center? This article will share with you what you should know about Romo and the Cowboys’ offense moving forward.

Import your team for free to get lineup advice partner-arrow

Romo has finished as a top 12 fantasy quarterback the last four NFL seasons. He has averaged 4,163 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions over that time frame. Romo has also averaged 0.50 fantasy points per drop back according to Pro Football Focus. He has averaged a quarterback rating of 115 when throwing to Dez Bryant, and the two have accounted for 50 touchdowns. It will be impossible to replace this type of production and chemistry on the field. Let us take a brief look at the personnel that the Cowboys will have moving forward.

Weeden will fill in for Romo while he is out. He has a career 5,492 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions in four NFL seasons. The Cowboys will likely lean on the running game and their offensive line that features Pro Bowlers Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin. Many defensive coordinators will anticipate this, and the Cowboys may consistently see eight-in-the-box fronts where eight of the 11 defensive players are close to the line of scrimmage. Cowboys QB coach Wade Wilson said Weeden has been the team’s most improved player this offseason. We will find out how accurate that statement is next week. Opposing defenses will want to see how effective Weeden is reading defenses and throwing the football.

Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden have handled the early-down and goal-line carries in the Cowboys running back-by-committee. Lance Dunbar has been used as a receiver out of the backfield. Randle has had 38 touches this season while McFadden has had 19 touches. Dunbar has 13 touches on the season. If the Cowboys find themselves in second or third and long then Dunbar becomes even more valuable as a safety valve for Weeden.

The Cowboys wide receivers will continue to be boom-or-bust without Bryant. Terrance Williams is the beneficiary of Bryant’s foot injury, but is best used as a WR3 in fantasy. He rewarded fantasy owners in Week 2 by catching four of seven targets for 84 yards and a late touchdown. Cole Beasley has had eight catches for 63 yards through two games. He is a WR4/WR5-type in fantasy leagues. Devin Street caught one of two targets for 18 yards and is unlikely to have a big role. The most reliable fantasy play moving forward will be tight end Jason Witten. He caught 7-of-8 targets for 56 yards and is a TE1 moving forward even with Weeden under center. Witten has four red zone targets so far this year, and I anticipate that to increase starting this week against the Atlanta Falcons.

Conclusion

The Cowboys will still try to establish the running game, control time of possession, and thrive on timely turnovers from the defense. The best way to protect your quarterback is to have him do more handing off than throwing. An effective rushing attack can help soften a defense, take them out of an aggressive pass rushing mindset, and take the offense out of third and long scenarios. The defensive line should improve in the near future with the return of rookie Randy Gregory from an injury and Greg Hardy from a suspension. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan would be wise to limit Weeden’s pass attempts. It will also be important for Weeden to communicate with center Travis Frederick in order to be on the same page in regards to where the blitz will come from and to make sure the proper protections are called. The Cowboys will want to leverage outlet receivers to whom Weeden can make a quick underneath throw if plays start to break down. This is an area where Lance Dunbar and Jason Witten can really make a difference for the Cowboys and fantasy owners.

My preferred strategy in fantasy when my starting quarterback is injured for an extended length of time is to stream at the position. If you have a deep enough bench in your fantasy league then you can stash Romo, but I wouldn’t make it a priority. I would recommend you trade Dez Bryant if you can. Hope is not a fantasy football strategy. If Bryant returns he may not be the same player athletically. You don’t want to miss out on a potential season changer at another position because you reserved a roster spot for him. I would package Bryant with another wide receiver and target a player like Jordan Matthews or Brandin Cooks.

Get Start/Sit & Waiver Advice with My Playbook partner-arrow

How have injuries impacted your fantasy team through week 2? I encourage you to reach out to me on Twitter @EricNMoody. I’m always open to giving advice and helping our readers. Until next time!

More Articles

3 Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs (2024)

3 Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs (2024)

fp-headshot by Anthony Corrente | 2 min read
Fantasy Football Mock Draft: FFPC Best Ball Picks (2024)

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: FFPC Best Ball Picks (2024)

fp-headshot by Tom Strachan | 3 min read
3 Fantasy Football Draft Picks to Avoid: Tight Ends (2024)

3 Fantasy Football Draft Picks to Avoid: Tight Ends (2024)

fp-headshot by Mike Fanelli | 2 min read
RB3s with RB1 Potential (2024 Fantasy Football)

RB3s with RB1 Potential (2024 Fantasy Football)

fp-headshot by TJ Horgan | 3 min read

About Author

Hide

Current Article

3 min read

3 Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs (2024)

Next Up - 3 Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs (2024)

Next Article