Of the 4 NFC East groups, solely Philadelphia is favored to win in Week 1, however standout play from the appropriate participant may put them everywhere in the high. Right here’s a have a look at every group’s X issue heading into Week 1.
Rico Dowdle (RB) Dallas Cowboys
Dallas opens the season as slight underdogs on the street in opposition to Cleveland on Sunday. The Browns are coming off simply their second playoff look since 2003 and boast the NFL’s high protection by way of yards allowed per recreation (270.2) final yr.
However whereas Cleveland’s protection allowed a league-low 164.7 yards per recreation by way of the air, it was much less efficient in opposition to the run, giving up 105.5 yards per contest. If the Cowboys hope to beat the Browns, they’ll must run the ball and with operating again Ezekiel Elliott coming off career-lows in yards (642), yards per carry (3.5) and touchdowns (three) as a Patriot, fourth-year operating again Rico Dowdle might be the important thing to victory.
Dowdle had 89 carries for 361 yards and two scores final season however head coach Mike McCarthy has already stated he’ll have an elevated position on offense and will probably be used much less on particular groups. If quarterback Dak Prescott and well-rested extensive receiver CeeDee Lamb can’t get issues going in opposition to the league’s stingiest secondary, Dowdle may have an enormous day.
Darius Slayton (WR) New York Giants
Slayton led the group in receiving in 4 of the previous 5 seasons however turned the Giants No. 2 pass-catcher as soon as they drafted Malik Nabers with the sixth choose on this yr’s draft.
In opposition to Minnesota in Week 1, New York will face the league’s Twenty fourth-ranked secondary, a group that gave up 234.5 yards per recreation to opposing quarterbacks final season. Nabers had 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns for LSU final yr and can obtain loads of consideration from the Vikings defensive backs.
