Tag: Jake Ferguson

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Week 3

Check out our starts and sits in fantasy football for Week 3.

With the season in full swing, fantasy football managers enter Week 3 with some crucial start/sit decisions as injuries and performance trends continue to have major impacts on lineups.

Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.

Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.

Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11) or check out our player projections for Week 2:

WATCH: A former Wisconsin tight end finds the end zone for Dallas Cowboys

A former Badger finds the end zone for the first time this season

The man known by some as Barry Alvarez’s grandson found pay dirt in week 2 of the NFL season.

On Dallas’ opening drive of the game against the Jets, Jake Ferguson found the end zone on a third-and-goal grab. The former Badger had a pair of touchdowns last season, and is now up to five catches for 22 yards and the lone score through two games this year.

He has emerged as the starting tight end for the Cowboys this season, and will continue to be a red zone threat for a Dallas team off to a flying 2-0 start.

Here is a look at the score:

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Week 2

Check out these starts and sits in Week 2 for fantasy football.

The fantasy football season is officially underway, and managers already are focusing on the ever-challenging objectives of making the correct start/sit decisions for their lineups.

Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.

Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.

Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11) or check out our player projections for Week 2:

Behind Enemy Lines: Week 1 Q&A with Cowboys Wire

With a Week 1 matchup between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys on tap, we go behind enemy lines for a chat with Cowboys Wire.

The New York Giants (0-0) and Dallas Cowboys (0-0) will square off on Sunday night in a Week 1 matchup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Giants opened the week as 3.5-point home underdogs but that has improved to +3 as of this writing.

With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Cowboys Wire managing editor KD Drummond.

Fantasy Football: Potential bargains, must-plays from Giants-Cowboys game

Here’s a look at some potential bargains for daily fantasy from the New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys Week 1 game on Sunday night.

The New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday night at MetLife Stadium to open their 2023 regular season schedule.

As usual, there will be plenty of wagering/fantasy interest in the game. It’s tough to decipher as it’s Week 1 and no fresh data to refer to, but here’s a quick look at the top 5 fantasy bargains and steals in the game.

With Schoonmaker out, pressure on Ferguson to perform for Cowboys

Jake Ferguson knew more would be asked of him in Year 2 but with Schoonmaker’s injury, the pressure increases even more for the tight end. From @ReidDHanson

When the Cowboys let Dalton Schultz leave in free agency, they didn’t know how the tight end position would shake out in 2023. For three seasons Schultz had TE1 locked down. Young players like Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot showed promise but no one appeared to be the clear long-term solution.

The unknown prompted the Cowboys to address the TE position with their second pick in the 2023 draft. With selection No. 58, Dallas collected Luke Schoonmaker. The 24-year-old was older than most rookie prospects but came with a level of polish as a run blocker. Unfortunately, Schoonmaker’s plantar fasciitis had other plans and the rookie TE now plays the waiting game with his injured foot.

The hope was Schoonmaker’s experience would pay dividends early since the Cowboys may need to lean on him in Year 1. It would relieve some of the burden from Ferguson and spread the Cowboys’ eggs across multiple baskets.

Dallas placed their rookie TE on the non-football injury list last week with a partial tear. The notoriously cranky injury needs time and rest to improve which means it’s not something the Cowboys want Schoonmaker to tough out and push through.

Now the weight falls back on Ferguson to be to be the stabilizing force of the TE group at the ripe age of 24-years-old (younger than Schoonmaker).

Hailing from another run-heavy football program, Ferguson showed last season he’s up to the task.

The Wisconsin product surprised Dallas with his well-rounded game as a rookie. He understood blocking assignments and looked like a promising weapon downfield. His athletic traits are less than that of Schoonmaker, but his awareness and technique make him an ideal high-floor alternative.

“I think I know what’s going on and what to expect a little more,” Ferguson said of his second season. “And I know what to expect out of myself but also that ceiling that I think I need to reach as a player and also for this team.”

There’s no telling when Schoonmaker will get integrated into the offense, or how effective he’ll be when he does return. The TE1 job is truly Ferguson’s to lose. The extra hours working in the Dak Yard (Dak Prescott’s backyard football field) will hopefully pay dividends for the young TE.

There’s a good chance Ferguson will never get a better chance than right now in the NFL and the Cowboys are banking on him to seize the opportunity.

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Ferguson vs Odighizuwa: Which young talent’s ceiling would best serve Cowboys?

If only one of these players could jump to the top of league rankings, would Dallas be better off with Jake Ferguson as a top TE, or Osa Odighizuwa as a top DT? | From @cdpiglet

The Dallas Cowboys have lacked game changing impact players at two positions that have been very important to getting to and winning Super Bowls recently, tight end and defensive tackle. Over the last five Super Bowl matchups the tight ends have included Travis Kelce twice, Rob Gronkowski three times, Dallas Goedert, and Zach Ertz. In the same timeframe defensive tackles in the big game included Chris Jones, Aaron Donald, and Fletcher Cox two times, plus Vita Vea, and Javon Hargrave. These two positions mean a lot for contending teams.

The Cowboys seems to know they need improved play in those spots as well, using their top two picks in the draft on Michigan players at those positions. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith in round one and tight end Luke Schoonmaker their next selection.

Dallas doesn’t need to rely on rookies though to become the necessary impact players at each position, Jake Ferguson was a fourth-round selection that showed promise in his rookie season and should get a ton of opportunities with Dalton Schultz leaving in free agency. At DT, Osa Odighizuwa is entering year three, and won’t have to worry about holding up at the one technique position with Smith, Jonathan Hankins, and Quinton Bohanna on the team.

If only one player could breakout to become one of the top players at their position which would be better for the Cowboys overall success, TE Ferguson or DT Odighizuwa?

Ranking the tight ends on the Eagles’ 2023 schedule by PFF grade

We are ranking the tight ends the Philadelphia Eagles will face on their 2023 schedule by PFF grade

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The Eagles have a loaded 2023 schedule and face 7+ playoff teams as they work towards making the postseason every season in each season, Nick Sirianni has been head coach.

Philadelphia will face some high-powered offenses with MVP candidates at quarterback and elite talent at the wide receiver position.

The Birds will face Travis Kelce, George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson,Dawson Knox, Darren Waller, Zach Ertz and other talented pass catchers.

With training camp fast approaching, we’re ranking the tight ends on the schedule by PFF grades.

The tight end are listed below in order of their PFF grades and finish among all players at the position listed.

 

How NFC East teams rank at the TE position heading into 2023

TEs might be an afterthought to some, but top teams have them and the NFC East is in an arms race. | From @cdpiglet

Previously an afterthought, tight ends seem to be en vogue among the league’s best teams. Almost all of the true contenders seem to have tight ends who are matchup problems for opposing defenses. The Kansas City Chiefs have Travis Kelce, the San Francisco 49ers have George Kittle, the Philadelphia Eagles are starting Dallas Goedert, and Rob Gronkowski has Super Bowl victories for both the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NFC East teams seem to understand this. In addition to the Eagles with a top-five TE in Goedert, New York went out and got Darren Waller to pair with 2022 rookie, Daniel Bellinger. Dallas spent a second-round draft pick to add to a TE room that looks to have incredible potential. So how do they rank in comparison to each other?

Badger Countdown: Former number 84 could be set to breakout in NFL

The return of CFB is coming up faster than you think and the Badgers are 84 days away from their Week 1 matchup with Buffalo on Sept. 2. 

The return of college football is coming up faster than you think and the Badgers are 84 days away from their Week 1 matchup with Buffalo on Sept. 2. Former Badger tight end and second-year NFL player Jake Ferguson could be in for a very productive season with the Cowboys.

Ferguson spent four seasons with Wisconsin from 2018-2021, playing for the program that his grandfather Barry Alvarez once coached and that he was at the time, the athletic director. The tight end carved out a very successful career in Madison, reeling in 145 catches for 1,618 yards and 13 touchdowns over 47 contests with the Badgers.

He went on to be selected in fourth round (129th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and he spent his rookie season as a reserve option behind starter Dalton Schultz. Ferguson caught 19 passes for 174 yards and two scores while playing in 16 games.

Now heading into the 2023 campaign, Ferguson is slotted in as the Cowboys’ top tight end following Schultz’s departure to Houston via free agency. With Dallas looking to increase their production in the passing game, Ferguson could become a top target for quarterback Dak Prescott. His 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame has transitioned well to the professional level and he could become the next former Badger to make a major splash in the NFL.

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