Week 5 start/sit: Buccaneers at Cowboys

Tampa Bay is 0-4 and plays on a short week: Thursday, October 8, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, kickoff 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time (2:15 a.m. CEST on Friday), on Prime Video. DraftKings has Dallas favored by 8.5 points with a total of 47.5, per VSiN, after the line opened at Cowboys -9.5 at Covers. Lines move, so treat this as a snapshot. The stadium has a retractable roof that is commonly closed, so weather is not a factor.

Key facts

• Tampa Bay is 0-4 after a 17-14 home loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 4.
• Baker Mayfield (right thumb), Antoine Winfield Jr., Benjamin Morrison and SirVocea Dennis are ruled out, so rookie Jalon Daniels starts again.
• DraftKings has Dallas favored by 8.5 points with a total of 47.5.
• The Cowboys defense ranks 31st against the run at 150.3 yards allowed per game.
• Kickoff is Thursday, October 8, at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video at AT&T Stadium.

The matchup

Baker Mayfield (right thumb) did not practice all week and is out, so undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels makes his second NFL start. In Week 4 he completed 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and ran 8 times for 55 yards in the 17-14 loss to Green Bay. He was sacked three times, and Tampa Bay has now allowed 16 sacks through four games. The Buccaneers rank 24th in scoring (19.0 points per game) and 28th in total offense.

The defense is the opposite story, ranking fourth in total yards allowed and third against the run, but it loses safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (rib, two to four weeks), cornerback Benjamin Morrison (quad) and linebacker SirVocea Dennis (ankle/foot). Dallas has the second-ranked scoring offense at 30.5 points per game, led by Dak Prescott's 1,065 passing yards.

The good news for Tampa Bay's skill players is that Dallas' defense is bad. It ranks 29th in scoring defense, 30th in total yards, 31st against the run (150.3 yards per game) and 24th against the pass. Cornerback Cobie Durant, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and tackle Drew Shelton are out.

Buccaneers start/sit/flex

Bucky Irving, RB, start. Irving leads the team with 241 rushing yards, ran for 61 yards against Green Bay and led the running backs with 37 snaps, ten more than Kenny Gainwell. Dallas allows 150.3 rushing yards per game, the second-worst mark in the league. The risk is game script: an 8.5-point underdog may abandon the run.

Chris Godwin Jr., WR, start (WR3). Godwin caught 6 passes for 31 yards in Week 4 and has 16 receptions on the season. He is not on the injury report this week. The volume is steady, the ceiling is modest, and a trailing script favors short targets, which suit a rookie quarterback.

Emeka Egbuka, WR, flex. Egbuka played 94% of snaps but was targeted four times and caught two passes for 13 yards, none longer than 8 yards. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson took responsibility for not using him enough, per the Tampa Bay Times. That promises more volume, but the quarterback is the same, so he is a flex and not a safe start.

Kenny Gainwell, RB, flex (PPR). Gainwell caught a 10-yard touchdown from Daniels in Week 4 and handles most of the passing-down work. If Tampa Bay trails, his floor in PPR holds up. He is a flex only.

Sean Tucker, RB, sit. Tucker scored from 2 yards out but played just 3 snaps. RotoBaller flags his goal-line role as the concern for Irving, but three snaps are too few to trust.

Ted Hurst III, WR, sit. His snap share fell from 74% in Week 3 to 40% in Week 4, per Pewter Report. Even with Jalen McMillan on injured reserve, the role is too thin.

Cade Otton, TE, flex (streaming). Otton leads the team with 157 receiving yards and caught 4 passes for 37 yards on Sunday. Dallas' pass defense ranks 24th, which makes him a fine streaming tight end.

Jalon Daniels, QB, sit. Two interceptions in his first start and a short week on the road. Only deep superflex leagues should consider him.

Baker Mayfield, QB, sit (out). He is ruled out.

Chase McLaughlin, K, start. McLaughlin was added to the injury report with a groin/hip issue after missing Tuesday's practice, but returned to full participation and is set to kick, per the Tampa Bay Times. He did not attempt a field goal in Week 4, because the staff passed on a long try. A 47.5 total against a defense that gives up 28.0 points per game is a better setting for kicker points.

Buccaneers D/ST, sit. Dallas scores 30.5 points per game, and Tampa Bay is missing its starting safety, one starting cornerback and a linebacker. The defense ranks high by yards, but the matchup and the injuries make it a bench option this week.

Cowboys players to start against the Bucs

Dak Prescott, QB, start. He went 32 of 45 for 335 yards and a touchdown against Houston and is not on the injury report. Tampa Bay's secondary is thin without Winfield and Morrison.

CeeDee Lamb, WR, start. Lamb had 17 catches on 21 targets for 189 yards and a touchdown last week and leads Dallas with 37 catches for 498 yards. He practiced fully with a thigh injury.

Javonte Williams, RB, start. Williams ran for three touchdowns against the Texans and has six rushing scores this season. The Bucs' run defense is strong, but his goal-line role carries him.

George Pickens, WR, start. RotoBaller lists him as a WR1 or WR2 who can produce in any game. The risk is a big lead that cuts second-half passing.

Jake Ferguson, TE, flex. He caught 3 passes for 11 yards against Houston, and his production is inconsistent with Lamb and Pickens taking the targets.

Waiver and streaming notes

Mayfield owners are stuck, because Daniels is the only Tampa Bay option and not a good one. Otton is the tight end to stream if you need one, and Gainwell is worth holding in PPR leagues. Hurst can be dropped in shallow leagues given the snap drop.

Stack against Tampa Bay if you can: the Cowboys' offense is the one to own on a Thursday slate.