It’s a big night in Arlington as the Cowboys try to keep 2025 afloat when they host the Arizona Cardinals. Which Dallas players have a strong chance to shine in Week 9, and who could struggle in this matchup?
As always, this week’s Buy/Sell article gets into our projections for statistical booms and busts.
BUY
TE Jake Ferguson
The Cardinals have given up big games lately to opposing tight ends. Tucker Kraft was Green Bay’s second-leading receiver in Week 7 with five catches, 58 yards, and a touchdown. The week before, Tyler Warren led all Colts receivers with six catches, 63 yards, and a score. In Week 5, the Titans’ Chig Okonkwo and Gunnar Helm combined for eight catches and 82 yards.
Jake Ferguson has already been one of the NFL’s top tight ends this season, so this table looks set for him to eat. With Dallas’ “pick your poison” passing attack, Arizona can’t afford to worry about Ferguson with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens out there. We may even see Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford get in on the action, but Ferguson’s well-established connection with Dak Prescott should be on full display tonight.
RB Javonte Williams
Projecting Williams to have a good game is never a reach given the season he’s having, but Arizona’s middling defense makes it all the more likely. They’ve consistently given up solid production to teams’ top running backs over the last four games, with Indy’s Jonathan Taylor recently going off for 123 yards on just 21 carries. Williams is in that upper crust of RBs in 2025 with Taylor, so it’d make sense for him to have similar success.
It also helps that Cooper Beebe is expected back at center this week. While his return will do far more to help pass protection, Beebe should still give a lift to the run game over Brock Hoffman. It will be a rare opportunity to see Dallas’ full starting offensive line together this year, and hopefully it yields results.
QB Dak Prescott
It’s hard to imagine anyone having a worse pass rush than the Cowboys this year, but Arizona just might. Their per-game sack rate of 1.71 is just below the 1.88 that Dallas has posted. And with the Cowboys giving up the third-fewest sacks so far in 2025, just 10 total, Dak Prescott should enjoy a lot of clean pockets and time to find his favorite targets. Cooper Beebe’s return is also a plus here.
SELL
Defensive Backs
The Cowboys already have issues in the secondary, and Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett just threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers despite taking six sacks. He had 320 yards and two touchdowns the week before against the Colts. Suffice to say, he could light up the beleaguered defensive backs.
On top of producing through the air, Brissett has been safe with the ball. He threw no picks against Green Bay, despite tremendous pressure, and only one against Indianapolis. And on review, that play looked like a mistake by the receiver, not the passer. So for a defense that really needs the occasional turnover to make up for its general weakness, the Cardinals may not offer many opportunities.
WR KaVonte Turpin
Those anxious to see Turpin back in a more consistent offensive groove may have to wait longer. Because of Arizona’s chronic vulnerability to primary passing targets, secondary options have seen little production against them. So while Turpin is healthy again and Dallas wants to find him more work, they have bigger mouths to feed and shouldn’t have much trouble getting them involved.
