Michael Gallup

Week 2 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Michael Gallup was the third man on the totem pole for targets among Cowboys wideouts in Week 1, only getting five looks compared to six for CeeDee Lamb and 14 for Amari Cooper. Gallup still managed to turn those three catches into 50 yards and had a long reception called back on a questionable offensive pass interference call late in the game. There should be ample opportunity for all of the Dallas pass catchers in Week 2. The Cowboys get a burnable Falcons secondary this week, and TE Blake Jarwin's injury should open up some additional targets for Gallup and Lamb. Gallup is startable as a flex play this week and has upside for much more.

Fantasy Upside
Michael Gallup showed flashes of his talent as a rookie, but his sophomore season is where he really took off. Working as Amari Cooper’s sidekick on the outside, Gallup racked up 112 targets, 66 receptions and six touchdowns while missing two games due to meniscus surgery. Gallup’s efficiency metrics suggest he still has room to grow. Gallup finished 2019 10th in yards per reception, 12th in yards per target, and 15th in yards per route run. The Cowboys are returning the vast majority of their offense that finished as one of the most efficient in the entire league last season. Gallup’s continued development coincides with Prescott’s ascendance to one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, meaning he should have a solid floor working alongside Cooper and new teammate Ceedee Lamb. If Cooper were to go down injured, Gallup would immediately become a WR1 and his upside would be massive.

Fantasy Downside
Gallup is already slated to be Prescott’s second option behind Cooper, and he now has to welcome a talented new teammate into the fold in Lamb. Gallup’s 21.7% target share from 2019 is in danger in the crowded Dallas offense. A reduction in volume does not remove Gallup from the WR2 conversation, but it would mean he will need to maintain his efficiency to produce similar fantasy numbers as last year. While the Cowboys’ offense shows few signs of slowing down, the players will have to adapt to new Head Coach Mike McCarthy and there is no guarantee they will repeat their output from last season.

2020 Bottom Line
Gallup is an exciting young player who showed flashes of talent as a rookie, blossomed into a solid outside receiving option in his second season and now enters his third year primed to play a key role in one of the league’s best offenses. Gallup is currently being drafted as a WR3 and he is likely to beat that draft spot if he stays healthy all year.

Week 16 at Philadelphia
It was a quiet day for the Cowboys receivers as the running backs and tight ends got most of the attention. Michael Gallup had one reception for six yards in the blowout win and was targeted only three times.

Gallup plays against the Eagles who are 27th in aFPA to wide receivers. Gallup didn't have much of an impact on the first meeting with Philly with only three receptions.

But with the favorable matchup, Gallup does carry value into Week 16. Start him as a WR3 on Sunday.