There’s plenty of buzz around the Dallas Cowboys heading into the 2026 NFL season. After a promising first year under Brian Schottenheimer, there’s widespread belief that the team can take another step forward in Year 2 and potentially become a fearsome contender in the NFC.
A major reason for that is the quality on the roster, with Dallas possessing some of the best talent at various positions on both offense and defense. Dallas has legitimate award candidates at multiple positions, and that is reflected by the current state of prediction markets.
With users trading yes-or-no contracts, the price indicates the implied probability of a specific outcome as each share pays $1 if successful and nothing if not. More people are using these over typical sportsbooks thanks to offers such as a Kalshi promo code and greater accessibility throughout the United States, but who are considered the Cowboys’ best hopes as things stand?
MVP: Dak Prescott
With Adrian Peterson remaining the last non-quarterback to win the MVP award in 2012, it’s no surprise that Dak Prescott is Dallas’ best hope of a first winner since Emmitt Smith in 1993.
The 33-year-old threw for 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns in a year when the Cowboys went 7-9-1, so if America’s Team emerges with a winning record in 2026, you would imagine that Prescott stands a good chance of earning individual honors.
Smith himself has praised Prescott’s performances in recent seasons, and currently, prediction markets give him a 7% chance of being named the best player in the league, which puts him level with the likes of Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, and reigning MVP Matthew Stafford.
Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert lead the way in the race right now, but lots can change in the regular season.
Defensive Player of the Year: Quinnen Williams
Defensive rosters are stacked in 2026, and that means that Cowboys tackle Quinnen Williams needs to shake off a whole host of rivals to be crowned Defensive Player of the Year.
He’s the franchise’s best hope for the prize, after recording 10 tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hits in 2025.
Unfortunately for Williams, tackles rarely get recognition over the likes of edge rushers and linebackers, positions where players can rack up more impressive stat lines.
That’s helped to make Myles Garrett the frontrunner for the award, especially after his move to the LA Rams, while Will Anderson Jr. and Aidan Hutchinson are expected to be his closest challengers.
Offensive Player of the Year: CeeDee Lamb
On the other side of the ball, Dallas has two of the most potent receivers in the league who are both potentially in the running for Offensive Player of the Year.
CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are both excellent at their craft, combining for 2,506 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. And that was a down year for Lamb, who is predicted to be back to his best in 2026.
This one-two punch dynamic, though, is arguably why Lamb has just a 4% chance of winning the prize.
Favorites like Jahmyr Gibbs and Ja’Marr Chase are the number one options for the Lions and Bengals, while Dallas’ receivers both share the spotlight, which ultimately might impact both players’ hopes come award season.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Caleb Downs
Dallas’ defense-heavy draft means that the team doesn’t really have a prospect chasing the Offensive Rookie of the Year prize, but there’s lots of excitement surrounding Caleb Downs.
Selected with the 11th overall pick, the former Ohio State safety won multiple awards in his college football career and is looking to build on that in the NFL.
Downs faces a similar issue to Williams, in that safeties don’t typically win DROY—you have to go all the way back to 1990, when Chicago’s Mark Carrier took home the prize in the same year Emmitt Smith won OROY.
But the 21-year-old is considered a contender to end that drought, as his 18% chance across prediction markets makes him a joint-favorite alongside Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey.
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