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Few teams are stacked the way the Dallas Cowboys are. Love them or hate them, you have to respect the talent they have on both sides of the ball. Fantasy owners will be clamoring for the ‘Boys. Here’s a look at how they stack up.

Fantasy Playoff Schedule:  Slightly Difficult
They are very talented and showed they can win down the stretch. The next step is proving they can do it in the playoffs, but that has no bearing on their fantasy rating. Dallas faces Philly and Washington at home and Arizona on the road. While the match-ups are difficult, the fact that they play two of the games at home help. Weather should not play a role in the games.

Five Star Fantasy Options
Tony Romo – He dates extremely hot women. When he’s not playing football, he’s an amazing golfer. He should be easy to hate, but his smile makes it hard to…at least until you face him in fantasy. He threw for 4483 yards last year with 26 TDs to 9 INT. He was good for a 63.1 completion percentage and a 97.6 passer rating. Throw in 105 yards and a score on the ground and you’re looking at one of the top fantasy QBs in the league. One that got another weapon via the draft.

Jason Witten – I’d like to see more than two TDs out of Witten, but he’s easily one of the premier TEs in the league. Over the past six seasons he’s averaged 81.3 catches for 936.3 yards and 4.3 TDs.
Update:  The Cowboys will make it a priority to get the ball to Witten in the red zone this year according to the Dallas Morning News, which further solidifies him as one of the premier fantasy TEs to target this year.

Four Star Fantasy Options
Felix Jones – If the Cowboys didn’t have such a crowded backfield I’d put him as a five star option, but he will have to share with Marion Barber III and Tashard Choice. That said, he is an explosive back that, when healthy, will help carry fantasy teams.

Miles Austin – Clearly he had five star production last year wit 81 catches for 1320 yards and 11 TDs, but he’ll have to prove it before he gets a five star rating from me. Especially when you consider the other weapons at the Cowboys’ disposal. He’s a big, physical receiver that can impose his will on his opponents.

Three Star Fantasy Options
Marion Barber – Barber, assuming he’s healthy, will get plenty of touches. He’ll likely be the goal line back as well. Barber is leaner this year, which will give him a burst that was lacking last year. He’s a capable receiver and blocker. He would see increased value if Jones got hurt, but it would be a limited increase as Tashard Choice would be in line for increased opportunities as well.

Roy Williams – I know he’s underachieved in Dallas, but I’m banking on Dez Bryant’s arrival to push Roy. He only had 38 catches for 596 yards last year, but did manage 7 TDs.

Cowboys Defense/Special Teams - The Cowboys aren’t just loaded on the offensive side of the ball. They have a very capable defense. Unfortunately they have a tough schedule (Eagles & Giants twice, Texans, Titans, Vikings, Packers, Saints, Colts, and Cardinals).

Two Star Fantasy Options
Tashard Choice – No team in the NFL can boast about a trio of RBs like the Cowboys have. The only thing keeping Choice for three or four star rating is opportunity. He can handle the load if called upon. Unfortunately he’s third on the totem pole.

Dez Bryant – He’s full of talent, but has a little baggage. Well, he came to the right place. Dallas can look past it, especially since it’s nothing major, and get production out of him. Unfortunately there will be a learning curve as a rookie. Not to mention a plethora of options he has to compete with for the football.

One Star Fantasy Options
Patrick Crayton – Crayton is almost certain to have a new home in 2010. Depending on where he lands, he could easily see his value jump up to the two or three star range. If he isn’t moved, he just won’t get enough opportunities.

Martellus Bennett – Bennett would need a Witten injury to emerge, but he is a big, talented TE. In the least I expect him to be more of a red zone thread in 2010.

Click here for additional 2010 NFL Team Previews.

I’ve been invited to participate in Fantasy Trader’s fantasy football roundtable.

This week’s topic:
Which Cowboys RB will present the most value at fantasy drafts in 2010?

Click here for the full article.

My response:
This is a little bit of a trick question. I’m expecting Felix Jones to be drafted higher than Marion Barber III, who will be selected higher than Tashard Choice. Clearly I am expecting Felix Jones to be the most productive of the Cowboys’ RBs. That isn’t the question though.

The question is which one will present the most value. I actually think that honor belongs to Tashard Choice. Marion Barber will likely be the short yardage back. Choice will likely be the one to spell Jones when he needs a breather. I also think if Felix Jones were to get hurt, Choice would be the one to replace him as lead back.

Barber still has some name value, and the potential to score double-digit TDs, so I expect him to be the second Cowboy off the board. Since his role seems to most in question, I think he’s the worst value of the three.

Felix Jones will be the first one off the board, but given the committee he’s in, I don’t see him standing out from the crowd of similar picks.

Choice, however, will be a late flier that could end up producing like an RB2. While I would rather have Felix Jones on my roster, I think Tashard Choice presents the best fantasy value of the three Cowboy RBs.

Marshawn Lynch has served his suspension and should give the Bills a much needed shot in the arm.  With Beast Mode back on the field, perhaps Trent Edwards will be more likely to take some shots down field to Terrell Owens and Lee Evans.  Lynch’s return diminishes Fred Jackson‘s fantasy value, but he still should be useful as a bye week fill-in or flex player.

The Cowboys Running Back injuries continue as Felix Jones suffered a knee injury in last night’s win over Carolina.  He is expected to miss a couple of games.  Marion Barber III will likely reclaim his starting role, but look for Tashard Choice to get plenty of action.  If MB3 is active, feel free to use him.  Choice isn’t a bad flex play against Denver this week.

The Times-Picayune is reporting that New Orleans Saints RB Mike Bell could miss 3-4 weeks with his sprained knee.  Mike Bell, the Saints, and team doctors have not commented on Bell’s status for this weekend’s game, let alone his status a month from now.

The timetable is roughly that of Pierre Thomas.  The problem, though, is you’re not comparing apples to apples.  First of all, everyone recovers at a different pace.  Second, the extent of the injuries likely isn’t the same.

It’s all speculation at this point.  Take the Cowboys for example.  Marion Barber was slated to miss a week or two and he participates in practice the next two days.  What’s worse is you can’t even count on the injury report because team’s can list someone on the report every week (ahem Tom Brady) or they can choose not to list them (ahem Brett Favre).

The odds of Bell playing this weekend are slim.  Looking any further gets hazy.  We’ll have to see if he can practice.  Unless you are a game-changer like Brian Westbrook, practice is required to play.  Mike Bell is solid, but Westy he is not.  The Saints have an explosive passing game and Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush have proven capable of getting the job done out of the backfield.  The Saints are so confident in their system that Lynell Hamilton could be called upon this weekend.

I urge you not to overreact and drop Mike Bell until further information is revealed.  You can pick up Hamilton if have someone expendable, but check on Thomas’ status before you decide to plug him in on Sunday.  The same goes for the Cowboys situation.  You can plug in Felix Jones since he should produce whether MB3 plays or not, but do not use Tashard Choice, even in a flex spot, if Barber is going to play.  They don’t go until Monday so you’ll have to make that decision on Sunday.  When in doubt, I would lean towards using another option.

Going forward you’re likely to hear more injury timetables without the proper verification.  I’m not saying they are wrong, but I just caution you to make any rash decisions until all of the facts are revealed.

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NBC’s Dallas Affiliate is reporting that Marion Barber III will miss this week’s game against Carolina and possibly next week’s game against Denver with a quad injury.  Dallas has as much depth as anyone in the league at Running Back with Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, which softens the blow of MB3′s loss.  Felix Jones looked great in the Cowboys’ loss to the Giants on Sunday Night, and makes a nice RB2/Flex option against 27th ranked run defense.  Jason Witten also gets a bump in value as he could be looked to if the Cowboys struggle in the red zone without their goal line Back.

Mike Bell (sprained knee) is not serious.  There is a chance that he plays this week against Buffalo.  Look for Pierre Thomas to get more work.  It seems like the trio will get theirs every week.  It’s just a matter of who can stay healthy.  With their passing attack, they could probably drag Deuce McAllister off his couch and he’d be productive.

Troy Williamson (shoulder) is done for the year.  He’ll always have his preseason.

It appears that DeSean Jackson’s groin pull was a mild one and he should be good to go against Kansas City this weekend.  His role could be limited, and with the risk of aggravating his injury, it may be best to look for a replacement.

Marion Barber also looks to be fine after straining his quad.  With Felix Jones and Tashard Choice as options, Barber could have a limited workload against Carolina.

It appears that Matt Hasselbeck has a fractured rib and will miss their tilt with Chicago this week.  Seneca Wallace is an option in two QB leagues, but I wouldn’t consider in standard leagues.  When Wallace replaced Hasselbeck last year, he looked to Deion Branch.  T.J. Houshmandzadeh could see more targets.  I’d downgrade Nate Burleson and John Carlson if Hasslebeck can’t go.

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

Marion the Barbarian.  MB3.  Mr. Barber.  Whatever you want to call him, the guy is one of the toughest running RBs in the league.  His stiff arm is a thing of beauty.  His running style can work against him though as he was limited in the second half last year.  He will share the workload this year with Felix Jones and Tashard Choice.  Jones brings the speed element and Choice is another good change of pace back that excelled a the end of last season.  Barber will be used early to establish the run, in short yardage situations, and to close out games.  That’s when he’s at his best. Having a stable of good, young RBs is great for an NFL team, but it does hinder their fantasy value.  He is great at catching the ball out of the backfield, which helps though.  Barber is still a good RB1 and a great RB2.  He just won’t go in the top ten like he has in the past couple of years.

Playing in the NFC East makes Barber’s schedule difficult.  However, he does face Denver and Kansas City in Weeks 4 & 5, as well as Oakland in Week 12.  His fantasy playoffs schedule is San Diego, New Orleans, and Washington.  He is fortunate to play the Eagles in Week 17. 

I expect a big year from Barber with 1200 total yards, 40 receptions, and 12 TDs.