The Dallas Cowboys face a precarious preseason conundrum at quarterback as Joe Milton struggles to gain traction behind a sputtering offense. Milton’s rough showings have the coaching staff weighing a hard choice: keep him in the plan for live reps to accelerate growth or pivot to Will Grier to better evaluate the receiver room before roster cuts. Rumors of a backend option like Jameis Winston add another layer to the calculus, creating a tension between developmental reps and immediate roster implications. If Milton remains the plan, the Cowboys risk hindering receivers in the short term; if they pivot, the WRs could finally receive a fair chance to show their chemistry. A final dress rehearsal against Atlanta looms as the ultimate live test, with the clock ticking on Milton’s chance to prove the project is viable or justify a trade flirtation. The outcome will ripple through the fantasy outlook for Cowboys pass-catchers and the broader risk profile of the offense in 2025.

Fantasy-angle take: Milton’s ability to generate clean, efficient reps matters more than the box score. If Grier or Winston takes the reins, target distribution could shift toward the Cowboys’ wideouts and tight ends, making early-season targets murkier but potentially more volatile in the short term. The key names to watch remain Milton, Prescott’s health contingency, and how the receiving group uses routes, with John Stephens Jr. as a potential breakout if Milton can net confidence on timing. The Ravens’ defense and a Falcons tune-up will test this evolving plan in Week 3 of the preseason, potentially reshaping bold fantasy projections for DAL weapons as cuts approach.

Dallas faces a pivotal contract showdown as Micah Parsons sits in a hold-in, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter forecasting a divorce-like split between the star and the Cowboys. Dallas returned to Texas for a public practice after a 31-13 preseason loss to Baltimore, mirroring a pattern where top players have pushed for new deals before the season. Lamb struck a peak-like deal when practice started last year; Parsons’ path has been more combative, with talks stalled since spring. The Cowboys publicly deny trade talk, but the question remains where Parsons’ next move will land and whether Dallas would entertain a deal mid- or post-season. Fantasy managers should watch how the stalemate could affect defensive workload, usage in pass rush, and overall team health as the season unfolds.

Parsons’ situation sits between the Lamb and Prescott archetypes, creating a volatility zipper for DAL’s fantasy outlook. The hold-in keeps him engaged in meetings but away from practice, potentially dampening early-season reps or conditioning, while preserving ceiling for sacks and tackles when on the field. For fantasy, Parsons remains elite but risk-adjusted; Lamb’s secure situation offers stability in the receiving corps, while Prescott’s off-season path provides a template for expected production in an offense that could still lean on the run game. The Ravens game marks nothing conclusive, but timing and talks will shape DAL’s star-driven value as the season nears.

In short, Parsons’ contract saga adds a fresh layer of uncertainty to a Cowboys defense that has built around top-tier talent. Fantasy rosters should factor in potential trade scenarios, hold-in dynamics, and the likelihood that Dallas could leverage a deal to reset cap space. With public stances mixed and talks paused, the path to a resolution remains fluid, and the fantasy payoff hinges on the timing of any renewed negotiations and Parsons’ on-field role when the season begins.

Fantasy drafts hinge on late‑round launches from players who can flip a season. This piece maps one sleeper from every NFL team for 2025, focusing on no‑name backs and No.3 receivers who could become league‑winners in a crunch. From Trey Benson in Arizona to Jacory Croskey‑Merritt in Washington, each pick is rooted in depth‑chart opportunity, scheme usage, and staying power down the stretch. The aim is straightforward: identify players who can punch above their ADP and swing playoff races in Weeks 14+.

Key clusters emerge: Arizona’s Benson offers breakaway speed behind Conner; Baltimore’s Bateman has route discipline and red‑zone savvy; Los Angeles Rams’ Atwell could seize a bigger third option role if injuries strike. Across the league, sleepers come from every pocket of depth: slot burners, speed threats, and backs who can vulture goal‑line touches. The strategy here is clear—target these value bets in later rounds, monitor camp buzz, and chase players with clear paths to meaningful snaps as the season unfolds.

In practice, the list nudges fantasy managers toward ballots of upside: backs who can handle 3–4 week workloads, receivers who can unlock big plays with even modest targets, and offenses that can sustain multiple contributors. If you’re sitting in rounds 10–14, these sleepers become your runway to top‑tier value. It’s not about drafting a star, but about harvesting leverage from the depth chart and turning it into points when it matters most.