We’re officially about two hours away from the Dallas Cowboys (3-1) taking on the Los Angeles Rams (2-2) in FOX’s America’s Game of the Week. While I could ramble on and on about my excitement, I wanted to condense my emotions into words and drop three hot takes for you all.
I had begun the season with these hot takes (which I saw some of you all liked), but I missed last week’s schedule. However, now I’m back. Following their Week 3 game, I went 0/3 in my statements, so to keep everyone up-to-date, I’m 3/12 on the season.
Tough.
But to get back on track, I’m dropping three fresh hot takes for their matchup with the Rams. Expect to hear something about one of the best young wideouts in the league, a running back who gets a lot of flack from the fans, and someone whose arguably the best defender in the league.
Check them out below.
WR CeeDee Lamb leads all wideouts on Sunday from both sides.
Any NFL fan knows that if you look at this game and get asked who’s the best wideout on the field, your answer will likely be Rams WR Cooper Kupp. And to clarify, that’s no knock on CeeDee Lamb or any other wideout you think is the best.
However, although Kupp may be the best in people’s eyes, I’m rocking with Lamb to leave this game with the best stat line. With all of the injuries across the Rams’ offensive line, life is going to be tough for Kupp to get the ball.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford will see pressure all game, and of course, he will find Kupp eventually, but the Cowboys’ defense won’t make it easy for the duo.
Factor in that CB Trevon Diggs will likely draw the Kupp assignment — he’s only allowed 157 yards and one touchdown to opposing WRs this season — I’m taking the odds of Kupp having a not-so-flashy game.
(Also, if you want, read more about Diggs’ elite coverage this season.)
I understand that some fans will rebut my take with Lamb seeing All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey for most of the game, but with their injuries in the secondary and the emergence of the Cowboys wideouts, he’s going to have a lot of running around to do.
Plus, expect OC Kellen Moore to scheme for Lamb to get his touches.
LB Micah Parsons outshines DT Aaron Donald.
These two guys will be forever linked as they’re both writing their NFL HOF resumes as we speak (yes, another hot take from me that Parsons makes the HOF, boom), and many people have compared them to each other.
While Donald has many more years and accolades than Parsons right now, I’m super excited to see the “mini-battle” between the two, but I’m taking Parsons to be the best defender on the field in SoFi.
As mentioned above, the Rams’ offensive line is going to have to say a prayer when they see the Cowboys’ tenacious defensive line Sunday afternoon. But Parsons, who has a 33% pass-rush win rate, according to ESPN analytics, will be a headache for the Rams, and he’s going to have a statement game.
Give me three sacks for Parsons.
RB Ezekiel Elliott has a multi-touchdown game.
According to Statmuse, RB Ezekiel Elliott has averaged 99.3 rushing yards and 1.3 touchdowns in the three games he has faced the Rams in his career. While that doesn’t scream the “prettiest” of stats to some, I’m expecting Moore to gameplan a solid dosage of a running attack to keep the defense honest.
Although they will face a team that ranks Top-10 in run defense, Elliott and RB Tony Pollard will still get their touches, as that has been the offense’s bread and butter this year.
With the offense rolling on all cylinders lately, there is no doubt they will see the red zone plenty of times, and that is when Elliott will step in. Arguably one of the toughest goal-line runners, he will help put some points on the board and in your fantasy lineups if you drafted him this year.
