The Dallas Cowboys took a huge step in providing Quarterback Dak Prescott with the necessary weapons he needs to be successful when they acquired Amari Cooper last season. In just nine games, they connected on 53 passes for 725 yards and six touchdowns. What also started to develop during that time, was Prescott’s connection with rookie Michael Gallup. He finished the season with 33 receptions for 507 yards and two touchdowns. In the playoffs, he had a breakout performance vs the Los Angeles Rams when he caught six passes for 119 yards. So far in 2019, he’s showing just how legit of a number two option he is.
Gallup kicked the season off with a huge performance vs the New York Giants. In a game that saw Prescott set an opening game franchise record with 405 passing yards Gallup led the receiving core with 158 yards receiving, a career-high for the second-year pro. After another solid performance in Week 2 vs the Washington Redskins Gallup would have to have surgery to repair a slightly torn meniscus in his knee and would miss the next two games.
When he made his return in Week 5 vs the Green Bay Packers he didn’t waste any time regaining his momentum from the first two weeks. Even though the Cowboys suffered a 34-24 loss Gallup was one of the few bright spots with 113 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.
His 42 receptions for 678 yards and three touchdowns so far this season have already surpassed his totals from 2018. Currently, he is on pace to rack up 1,187 yards as the team’s number two option which doesn’t happen often in the NFL. This will give the Cowboys multiple 1,000-yard receivers this year as Cooper is all but assured to reach that mark himself with 886 yards so far.
One thing that has been obvious this year is the improvement in the chemistry between Gallup and Prescott. Last season, the timing between the two seemed to be a little off as they missed several big plays downfield. Prescott only completed 48.5% of the passes he threw the Gallup. However, that number has increased to 60.9% during the eight games they’ve played in together this season.
Gallup has also shown that he can perform at a high level simultaneously with Cooper. Two of his three 100-yard games this season have come when Cooper himself has gone over the century mark. What this shows is Prescott has two receivers with the skillset to be the main option at any given time.
Through the first 10 games of the season, the Cowboys have the league’s top-ranked offense due in large part to the continued development of Gallup. Now, teams can’t roll coverage to Cooper as easily which allows him to have more one on one opportunities. Also, the more effective Gallup is will cause teams to play more coverage which makes running the ball with All-Pro Ezekiel Elliott that much easier. The Cowboys got a steal in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft when they picked Gallup and he’s only scratched the surface of how good he can be.
