Fantasy Footnotes: Takeaways from Sunday's action

Every game day during the regular season, theScore's fantasy editors recap the important takeaways from around the league.​

Dak and Dez build chemistry

If it were possible for the 9-1 Dallas Cowboys to look any more dangerous, they did it Sunday.

On a day where the NFL's No. 1 rush defense held rookie sensation Ezekiel Elliott out of the end zone and under 100 yards rushing (just barely), the team's other rising star took the opportunity to build chemistry with Dallas' lead receiver.

Unfazed by Tony Romo backing him up for the first time this season, Dak Prescott ripped apart the Baltimore Ravens' secondary for 301 yards and three touchdowns.

Two of those touchdowns went to Dez Bryant, giving him his first multi-touchdown game of the season - presumably the first of many with Prescott under center.

Prescott has now passed for 300 yards in consecutive games after failing to hit the mark in his first eight starts as a pro.

Cardinals' passing attack is broken

Has anyone seen John Brown? How about Michael Floyd or J.J. Nelson?

Even Larry Fitzgerald has been quiet, failing to score a touchdown in five straight games.

The NFL's highest-scoring passing attack in 2015 is rapidly hemorrhaging fantasy value. It starts with Carson Palmer, who looks positively washed up.

Palmer targeted Brown, Floyd, and Nelson 14 times Sunday. The result was three catches for 21 yards. Fitzgerald was a little better, managing six catches for 63 yards.

Palmer salvaged some fantasy value by throwing touchdowns to running back David Johnson and tight end Jermaine Gresham, but it's impossible to ignore the red flags here.

It starts with the Cardinals' banged-up offensive line, which has become a major weakness. Palmer was hit 23 times and sacked four times Sunday. His play deteriorated with each passing hit - the Cardinals produced just 66 yards of offense in the second half after.

What's the solution? For fantasy owners, it might be to stay away from any part of this passing attack - with the possible exception of Fitzgerald - until we see some positive momentum.

Instant Impressions

• In Thomas Rawls' first action since a Week 2 leg injury, the Seahawks tailback was thrust into a major role following starter C.J. Prosise's scapula injury. Rawls took his 14 carries for 57 yards and added three catches for 31 yards. He looked a little rusty, but there were hints of the aggressive runner who burst onto the fantasy scene last season. As a result of Prosise's injury, Rawls will almost certainly take over as the Seahawks' feature back.
• Another running back seeing his first action in a long time was Dion Lewis. Finally activated from the PUP list, Lewis was used cautiously by the Patriots. On his 22 snaps, Lewis handled eight touches and produced 23 yards rushing and 26 more through the air. He should remain behind LeGarrette Blount and James White in the pecking order, but could eventually seize a bigger role.
• The Lions beat the Jaguars despite rushing for 14 yards as a team. That shouldn't be possible. Ameer Abdullah is reportedly seeing a specialist and could resume practicing this week and perhaps could be activated off IR in the coming weeks. He's worth stashing in deep fantasy leagues, but it's unlikely the Lions' rushing attack will have any fantasy relevance this season.

Notable Performances

Le'Veon Bell, RB, Steelers
28 carries, 146 yards, 8 receptions, 55 yards, TD
Bell produced 79 yards on the Steelers' opening drive, so his day could have been much bigger. But fantasy owners don't get to complain about 201 total yards and a score.

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
25 carries, 97 yards, 4 receptions, 30 yards
How did the NFL's rushing leader fare against the No. 1 rush defense? Nearly 130 total yards ain't bad.

Rashad Jennings, RB, Giants
21 carries, 85 yards, 5 receptions, 44 yards, TD
That makes two straight strong performances from Jennings, whose snaps don't seem to be under any threat from rookie Paul Perkins.

Rob Kelley, RB, Redskins
24 carries, 137 yards, 3 TDs
Fairly quiet through three quarters, "Fat Rob" came alive in the fourth, showcasing an impressive mix of hard running and big-play ability. The starting job is his for the foreseeable future.

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
24-of-40, 280 yards, 4 TDs
As we knew he would, Brady put on a show in his first career game in San Francisco against his favorite team growing up.

Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans
25-of-38, 290 yards, 2 TDs, 5 carries, 29 yards
It wasn't another four-touchdown explosion, but Mariota overcame a slow start to produce another very strong fantasy performance.

Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins
21-of-30, 375 yards, 3 TDs
Cousins clinically dissected the Packers' secondary, spraying passes to his receivers downfield with great efficiency.

Steve Smith, WR, Ravens
8 receptions, 99 yards, TD
Smith became the 14th player in NFL history with at least 1,000 catches. That's not worth any fantasy points, but it's still pretty special.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Redskins
6 receptions, 116 yards, TD
Garcon torched the Packers for a 70-yard touchdown, giving his opponent fits for the majority of the night.

Rishard Matthews, WR, Titans
9 receptions, 122 yards
Every week, Matthews looks more and more like a true No. 1 wideout.

Marvin Jones, WR, Lions
1 reception, 15 yards
Jones and Golden Tate combined for four catches and 42 yards. Surprisingly, the Jaguars held the Lions' passing attack in check.

Martellus Bennett, TE, Patriots
1 reception, 14 yards
Fantasy owners expecting a big performance from Bennett with Rob Gronkowski sidelined were disappointed. They are better together. If only one plays, he has to take on increased responsibilities as a blocker.

Ladarius Green, TE, Steelers
0 receptions
Green saw two targets and didn't make a catch in his second game since being activated from the PUP list.

Injury Ward

A.J. Green, WR, Bengals
Green injured his hamstring on the first pass sent his way and was carted off. An MRI is scheduled and the Bengals reportedly fear their superstar receiver's injury is so severe he will be lost for this season. Green is an irreplaceable asset in football, both real and fantasy.

LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills
McCoy exited Sunday's game with a dislocated thumb and didn't return for the second half. The Bills are reportedly optimistic he will be back to play next week, but fantasy owners will have to monitor this situation.

Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals
Bernard reportedly suffered a torn ACL late in Sunday's loss to the Bills. He and Green had made up 45 percent of the Bengals' targets this season. Jeremy Hill should see his touches go up significantly while Rex Burkhead becomes the No. 2 back.

C.J. Prosise, RB, Seahawks
Prosise hurt his shoulder in the first half and didn't return for the second. After the game, it was revealed that Prosise suffered a scapula injury and will miss a prolonged period of time. He looked electric before the injury, racing for a 72-yard touchdown on a first-quarter carry.

Ryan Mathews, RB, Eagles
Mathews reportedly suffered an MCL sprain early in the second quarter and did not return. The Eagles play on Monday night in Week 12, so Mathews will have an extra day to heal.

Darren Sproles, RB, Eagles
It was a bad day for Eagles running backs. Sproles exited Sunday's game not long after Mathews with a rib injury. His prognosis is unclear.

Zach Miller, TE, Bears
Miller will miss the rest of the season after breaking his foot. The Bears are rapidly running out of offensive weapons.

Waiver Wire Targets

Jared Goff, QB, Rams
LOL, just kidding.

Mike Gillislee, RB, Bills
LeSean McCoy is tentatively expected to play next week after hurting his thumb, but he's not a lock. If McCoy can't go, Gillislee is expected to start.

Wendell Smallwood, RB, Eagles
Both Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles picked up injuries Sunday. Smallwood would presumably start next week if Mathews and Sproles can't go.

Kenneth Dixon, RB, Ravens
Dixon and starter Terrance West are in roughly a 50-50 timeshare, with neither player looking particularly impressive. The Ravens may decide to give their rookie a bigger piece of the pie. He's the future.

Derrick Henry, RB, Titans
DeMarco Murray is showing some signs of wearing down. Henry could emerge as a difference-maker in the fantasy playoffs.

Tyler Boyd, WR, Bengals
With A.J. Green potentially out for the season, the rookie Boyd stands to be the biggest beneficiary.

Eli Rogers, WR, Steelers
Rodgers has claimed the Steelers' No. 2 receiver job as his own.

Cole Beasley, WR, Cowboys
Beasley has touchdowns in two of his last three games.

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Eagles
Slowly - very slowly - he's proving that he might be the Eagles' best wideout. That might make him worth adding in very deep fantasy leagues.

Eric Ebron, TE, Lions
Still available in 30 percent of fantasy leagues, Ebron has now stacked three straight impressive games since returning from injury.