Eagles vs. Cowboys: Fantasy start, sit options for Week 9 of the NFL season

Start: Brandin Cooks, WR (Dallas Cowboys)

There's no way around, shutting down wide receivers has been a struggle for the Eagles. Shifty pros are getting open all over the place and it has resulted in Philly allowing the most Fantasy points to the position overall. Brandin Cooks is someone to target as a high-upside FLEX candidate as a result.

Cooks has been building his connection with quarterback Dak Prescott, tallying at least 50 total yards and a touchdown in each of the last two games. It wouldn't be too shocking to see him get in the end zone again as the Eagles have given up a whopping 12 touchdowns to opposing wide receivers so far.

Look for Cooks to serve as Prescott's security blanket on short routes in a game that is expected to stay close. After all, he has gathered 166 yards on 11 receptions (one touchdown) in two career contests against Philly. Cooks' fantasy ceiling climbs higher and higher with every target he earns.

Sit: Philadelphia Eagles D/ST

Streaming a defense with an advantageous matchup is never a bad idea. That is especially true when a heavily rostered unit like the Eagles (85.8% in ESPN) does not fit into that category. Facing Dallas is going to be a tough task as it averages the second-most points per game through eight weeks (28.1).

The Cowboys give up the fifth-fewest Fantasy points to opposing defenses and have racked up the fifth-fewest turnovers in 2023. Keeping hold of the football while sustaining long drives has been the foundation of Dallas' offensive success. It's something that can frustrate even the top defenses.

Philadelphia is coming off an outing in which it gave up a season-high 472 yards to Washington and a repeat of that performance could cost Fantasy managers a win. It's best to stash the Eagles on the bench for now with a hope that they can get back to being the standout unit they were just a year ago.