Sophia
Get ready for a primetime showdown! Jordan Love leads the Green Bay Packers into AT&T Stadium to face Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys in a highly anticipated Week 4 Sunday Night Football clash. This matchup has significant implications for both teams as they navigate the early part of the NFL season.
The Green Bay Packers (2-1) are looking to rebound from a disappointing loss to the Cleveland Browns. They’ll travel to Dallas (1-2) to take on a scuffling Cowboys defense, while their former star defender, Micah Parsons, aims to terrorize Dak Prescott in the pass rush. A major blow to the Cowboys’ offense is the absence of superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who is sidelined with a sprained ankle.
Game Details:
- TV: NBC
- Time: 8:20 PM EST
- Spread (DraftKings): Green Bay -7.0 points
- Over/Under: 47.5
For fantasy managers and bettors alike, here’s a deep dive into the game preview and player projections for both the Packers and Cowboys in Week 4.
Green Bay Packers: Offensive Outlook and Key Projections
The Packers have largely played with a lead in their first three games, resulting in a conservative passing attack averaging just 26 attempts per game. Their run game (86 carries for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns) has been a weak point, averaging a modest 3.5 yards per rush.
Jordan Love’s Passing Prowess
Despite the low volume, Jordan Love has graded well, boasting 8.5 yards per pass attempt and a 67.9% completion rate. DraftKings has set Love’s over/under at 231.5 passing yards (-113u) with 28.5 pass attempts (-113o). However, my projections paint a much more favorable picture for Love, forecasting 282 passing yards. This higher projection is largely due to Dallas’s struggles defending the pass in their last two matchups, where they allowed 450 yards and 3 touchdowns to the Giants and 298 yards and 4 touchdowns to the Bears. Prop investors are also leaning towards Love exceeding 1.5 passing touchdowns (-138o).
Josh Jacobs: Running Back Performance
Josh Jacobs has been heavily involved with 64 touches over the first three games, but he has yet to break a run for over 20 yards. His over/under for rushing yards is set at 70.5 (-112), a total he’s only surpassed once this season (Week 2: 23 carries for 84 yards and 1 touchdown). Jacobs is currently at -210 to score an anytime touchdown.
Matthew Golden: A Potential Breakout Receiver?
Rookie Matthew Golden has accumulated 92 yards on six catches from eight targets through three games. Interestingly, the Packers have also given him five rushes for 24 yards over the last two weeks. Coming off a career-high 71% of snaps, Golden, a Houston native, could be poised for a breakout performance. DraftKings has his receiving yards over/under at 44.5 (-112), with enticing odds of +374 if he eclipses 80 yards. He’s also +230 to score an anytime touchdown, which seems low given the Cowboys’ struggles against wide receivers.
Opposing wide receivers have torched the Cowboys for 39 catches, 661 yards, and six touchdowns on 52 targets this season, with three players exceeding 100 yards (Malik Nabers – 9/167/2, Wan’Dale Robinson – 8/142/1, and Luther Burden – 3/101/1). My projection for Golden this week is a team-high 66 receiving yards.
Dallas Cowboys: Navigating Lamb’s Absence
The absence of CeeDee Lamb presents a significant challenge for the Cowboys’ passing game, especially against an emerging Packers defense. Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turbin are expected to see increased snaps, while George Pickens will now draw WR1 coverage.
Dak Prescott’s Passing Projections
DraftKings has set Dak Prescott’s over/under at 235.5 passing yards (-112), slightly below my projections. He’s also at -138 to score under 1.5 passing touchdowns. The Packers’ defense has been stingy against the pass, allowing only 4.8 yards per attempt, three passing touchdowns, and recording 10 sacks and two interceptions through their first three games while facing 39 passes per contest.
Javonte Williams: Workhorse Back
Javonte Williams has exceeded expectations this season, delivering surprising value across all three downs. He has accumulated 286 combined yards with three touchdowns and 13 catches on 56 touches, playing 69.2% of the Cowboys’ snaps. His rushing yards over/under is 49.5 (-113u), and he’s a slight underdog to beat that line. My outlook for Williams is 53 rushing yards, and he’s +140 to score an anytime touchdown.
Who Steps Up for Dallas?
With CeeDee Lamb sidelined, the Cowboys’ receiving corps will need to elevate their game. The combined over/under totals (172) for Dallas’s top four receiving options suggest there’s room for one or more players to outperform expectations.
George Pickens and Jake Ferguson: Key Targets
Jake Ferguson has been active this year and should draw significant attention, potentially needing to help block the Packers’ top pass rushers. KaVontae Turbin brings big-play ability, averaging 16.1 yards per catch this year, with impressive receiving yardage in his last two matchups (4 catches for 47 yards and 1 touchdown, and 2 catches for 64 yards). Turbin saw 66% of the action after Lamb’s injury, indicating an increased role.
Jalen Tolbert has seen a higher snap percentage in his last two games (65% and 88%), suggesting he is the Cowboys’ de facto WR2 for this matchup. Last season, he surpassed 40 receiving yards in seven of his 17 games, though he only received more than five targets in four contests.
The Packers’ defense has limited opposing wide receivers to 34 catches for 285 yards and two touchdowns on 56 targets, with no wideout gaining over 50 yards. The crucial question for Dallas is whether George Pickens can command targets in the short areas of the field. If he does, he is poised to crush his receiving yards over/under of 61.5 (-113o).
Conclusion
This Sunday Night Football clash promises to be a compelling battle of contrasting strengths and significant adjustments. The Packers, with an efficient Jordan Love and a potential breakout from Matthew Golden, will look to exploit the Cowboys’ struggling pass defense. Meanwhile, Dallas will need Dak Prescott to distribute the ball effectively and rely on increased production from George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, and their complementary receivers to overcome the loss of CeeDee Lamb. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the player props, as there are several intriguing opportunities for value in this high-stakes Week 4 matchup.
