Cowboys D/ST or Dolphins D/ST: Who Should You Start?
Preliminary board2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.
Cowboys D/ST wins a weak field on Baltimore’s turnover outlook
Cowboys D/ST gets the nod, but this is a narrow edge between two defenses the board says to sit. Baltimore’s offense offers the more useful giveaway profile, while Dallas also has the stronger lineup-share signal; that combination outweighs the Ravens’ higher implied total. Miami’s case is the lower opponent total, but Kansas City’s better ball security limits the unit’s path to a usable score. The risk with Dallas is obvious: Baltimore can still produce enough points to erase the turnover advantage.
What flips it: A meaningful drop in Baltimore’s implied total.
AI editor
Cowboys D/ST
3.13.13.1 Projected Points
Dolphins D/ST
2.62.62.6 Projected Points
Why Cowboys D/ST
SitSit — a bottom-tier defensive matchup this week (No. 29): Vegas has BAL at 27 points, and 3.1 pts projected vs BAL.
- Baltimore’s turnover profile gives Dallas the clearer route to splash plays.
- The crowd’s preference supports Dallas, though the Ravens’ 27-point total keeps the floor fragile.
Why Dolphins D/ST
SitSit — a bottom-tier defensive matchup this week (No. 32): Vegas has KC at 26 points, and 2.6 pts projected vs KC.
- Kansas City’s lower implied total offers some protection if the game stays defensive.
- The Dolphins’ better sack environment is offset by an opponent less prone to turnovers.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Cowboys D/ST | Dolphins D/ST |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 3.13.13.1 | 2.62.62.6 |
| Projection rank | Proj.DST29 | Proj.DST32 |
| Started in | 5% of leagues | 0% of leagues |
| Opponent sacks allowed / game | 2.6(2025) | 2.9(2025) |
| Opponent turnovers / game | 1.4(2025) | 0.9(2025) |
| Opponent implied total | 27.0 | 26.0 |
| Home / away | Home | Home |
| Start/Sit record | 2–0 | 0–0+1 toss-up |
Recent form
Cowboys D/ST — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs WSH | 1.01.01.0 |
| Week 1 | vs NYG | 2.02.02.0 |
Dolphins D/ST — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs SF | -4.0-4.0-4.0 |
| Week 1 | vs LV | 6.06.06.0 |
Signal breakdown
- 3.1 vs 2.6 projected PPR pointsCowboys D/ST +
- Started rank 20 vs 32 (5% vs 0% of leagues)Cowboys D/ST +
- 2.6 sacks / 1.4 TO vs 2.9 sacks / 0.9 TO per game allowedCowboys D/ST +
- Opponent implied 27.0 vs 26.0 pointsDolphins D/ST +
- Home vs Homeeven
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