Team news: Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys ruled out Jake Ferguson for the Thanksgiving game vs. the New York Giants due to his concussion. His replacement, once again, will be Luke Schoonmaker.

This was expected, but it could have been a nice matchup for the No. 2 pass-catcher. Schoonmaker is a little less exciting but is worth a TE stream for desperate managers.

Long list here, but this is what I’ve gathered:

Guys I expect to play: Brandin Cooks, CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Smith, Cooper Rush

Guys I don’t expect to play: Jake Ferguson, Caelen Carson (possible IR), Zack Martin, Asim Richards

Gonna be close: Trevon Diggs, Eric Kendricks, Marshawn Kneeland

Related players: Luke Schoonmaker

Ferguson didn't practice Tuesday and remains in protocol, while Rush and Lamb both logged limited sessions. Cooks was also limited. Harris expects Rush, Lamb and Cooks to all play on Thanksgiving against the Giants. If Ferguson is out, Schoonmaker makes for a nice option as a replacement TE in fantasy lineups.

Jones said there’s a good chance Brandin Cooks and Tyler Smith will be able to play Thursday. Trevon Diggs also has a chance. It’s “a little more of a long shot” for Zack Martin and Jake Ferguson.

Related players: CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin, Luke Schoonmaker

Cooks practiced last week but ended up not playing in Week 12. Ferguson is in protocol and it seems like the early week game will keep him out once again. Lamb collected 12 targets to lead the team by far against the Commander and Schoonmaker and Tolbert each had four. It's no lock that Cooks steps right into a big role, even in a good matchup against the Giants on Thanksgiving. Schoonmaker would be worth a start for those needing TE help.

Cowboys list TE Jake Ferguson as out for Sunday’s game vs. Washington due to his concussion.

Related Players: Luke Schoonmaker

This puts Schoonmaker more or less in TE streaming consideration, but there are far better options this week, which puts him low on the totem pole.

CeeDee Lamb practiced today, per Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. That’s a good sign.

Lamb (back/foot) was limited in a walkthrough on Wednesday and missed practice on Thursday.

Related Players: Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy

Obviously good news for the Cowboys' potential in rolling out an NFL offense in Week 12. The floor is capped for Lamb but we should expect a ton of action funneling his way against the Commanders, which puts him on the WR1/2 fringe.

DE DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) worked out on a side field, marking his first on-field action since late September.

LG Tyler Smith (ankle/knee) also worked with rehab group.

No sign of TE Jake Ferguson (concussion).

Related Players: Luke Schoonmaker

It's not looking great for Ferguson's Week 12 availability, which puts Schoonmaker on TE streaming radars (sort of). Schoonmaker should be favored behind far better options, as the Cowboys offense looks disheveled for the rest of the season.

Mike McCarthy said he's hoping Cowboys will get WR Brandin Cooks (knee) back this week.

Cooper Rush will get the start at QB again against the Commanders in Week 12. CeeDee Lamb led the way with 12 targets vs. the Texans, but it was Luke Schoonmaker, who took over after Jake Ferguson left with a concussion, who had 10 targets which was most behind Lamb. The addition of Cooks should help the Cowboys offense in what is a good matchup against the Commanders defense. For the fantasy world, Rush did end up throwing for 354 yards.

Mike McCarthy said Cooper Rush "will be the starter" this week against Washington and a package of plays will be formed for Trey Lance.

McCarthy came out and said he regrets not giving Lance a chance to run the offense in the loss to the Texans on Monday Night, but even after that the team is going forward with Rush in Week 12 against the Commanders. One would have to assume Rush gets the start the following week as well, which is a short week and a game on Thanksgiving Day game against the Giants.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged after Monday night’s 34-10 loss to the Texans that he should have given backup quarterback Trey Lance an opportunity to run the offense.

McCarthy said he should have taken quarterback Cooper Rush out so that Lance could show what he’s capable of doing.

“I think the one thing I should have done at the end, and I just didn’t do, was put Trey in there. I could’ve gotten him a series. That’s one thing that I would second-guess myself on,” McCarthy said. “I didn’t want to get into putting him in for a play or two, because he’s more than a gadget player in my opinion. We had him prepared to take a series, and frankly there at the end I should’ve gave him that series, and I regret not doing that.”

The Cowboys put up just 10 points under Rush in the game. The fact McCarthy is saying this, one can conclude Lance will eventually get his chance. One can also conclude that the team has started Rush over the last two games because Lance hasn't shown much in practice to this point. Still, the Cowboys don't appear to be going anywhere this year and it would make at least some sense to give Lance a chance to run the offense at some point. Lance is worth owning in deeper, two-QB or superflex leagues just in case he can provide any kind of spark. The Cowboys travel to Washington for a Week 12 game in the early, Sunday window. They then host the Giants on Thanksgiving Day in Week 13.

The Cowboys didn’t have many weapons before the game started. They have one fewer now.

The Cowboys have ruled out tight end Jake Ferguson with a concussion.

Related players: Luke Schoonmaker

Ferguson had one catch for 11 yards before departing in the first half. He is their third-leading receiver, behind CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert, with 43 receptions for 369 yards this season. His status for Week 12 at the Commanders is now in doubt, as a lot of players trend toward missing a week of action after a concussion. Schoonmaker filled in nicely catching six pass for 56 yards on 10 targets. He would make for a potential great replacement if he's still on your wire.