Best NFC East Futures Bet - 2018 Dallas Cowboys

by DS Williamson

Now that the Dallas Cowboys belong to QB Dak Presoctt and RB Ezekiel Elliott, can Dallas find a way to upset the Philadelphia Eagles and win the NFC East Division? The 2018 Dallas Cowboys are under new leadership. The third-year quarterback never got on the same page as great Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, who is no longer with the team. Neither is tight-end Jason Witten. It's a new era for America's Team, and they are a great choice to top the Philadelphia Eagles with a +425 value in the NFC East futures.

Who will catch passes in Big D? Losing Dez Bryant might have been a blessing in disguise. The Cowboys did sign former Jacksonville wide receiver Allen Hurns. When Hurns is healthy, he’s a very good possession receiver. But, Hurns isn’t a WR1.

In fact, the 2018 Dallas Cowboys don't seem to have a true go-to guy. Cole Beasley will play the slot. Terrance Williams will most likely play opposite Hurns. If TE Jason Witten had stayed, he might have been Prescott’s primary target on most passing plays. But Witten’s gone just like Dez. That means the tight-end position should be by committee with Geoff Swain leading the pack. With no real receiving targets, does that mean the Dallas Cowboys’ offense won’t be effective?

Maybe, not. Dallas is a team built to rush the football. Running back Ezekiel Elliott doesn't have a looming six-game suspension hanging over his head, nor the team's. That means from Day 1, Zeke will carry the football. The offensive line is deep and easily the best in football, despite showing some signs of age that nobody needs to worry about. The reason is because the Cowboys drafted Connor Williams in Round 2. A 3-year starter at left tackle for Texas, Williams will play one of the interior guard positions for the Cowboys.

Dallas can get away without Prescott throwing the football 40 times a game. In a way, the Boys are copying fellow NFC East rival Philadelphia. Philly’s got more talented wide receivers, but they don’t settle on a single one. Rather, the Eagles prefer to rush the football to set up their passing game.

That could be the perfect, classic attack for one of the most classic NFL teams.

Cowboys’ defense should surprise The Cowboys don’t have a ton of name players on their defense. They have a player who should be a name player, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, but he isn’t a household name by any stretch. The biggest name on the 2018 Dallas Cowboys defense is middle-linebacker Sean Lee.

Dallas decided to draft Boise State strong side linebacker Leighton Vander Esch in Round 1. Some believe they took Vander Esch too early. But, Vander Esch does what Jerry Jones craves - he never stops on a play.

If Vander Esch can work off of Lee, and Lee can work off of Vander Esch, the linebacking position will be a Dallas strength. That’s a good thing because it’s obvious that the goal of the 2018 Dallas Cowboys on defense this season will be to force plays back up and into the middle of the field.

The secondary has decent players. If the front seven does it’s job, it won’t matter that there isn’t a single star in the secondary.

Cowboys could upset Philadelphia for NFC East Division Mark my words - The Dallas Cowboys will upset the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East Division title. Dallas’ schedule, although not easy, is different enough than Philadelphia’s to give them an edge.

The Cowboys battle the Saints, the Jaguars, the Titans, and the Buccaneers at home. Philadelphia must battle all of those teams on the road. The Cowboys also get to play Seattle this season while Philadelphia must play the L.A. Rams.

Those little kinks in the schedule for the 2018 Dallas Cowboys gives them a major advantage over the defending champions, which is why their +425 mark in the futures is worth grabbing. They're unlikely to be deep enough for a plausible playoff run, but that all depends on if some real superstars emerge as Dallas embarks in to the unknown of a new era.