Cowboys at Eagles Preview: Tanner McKee Draws a Bottom-Tier Dallas Defense as Philadelphia Tries to Stop a Four-Game Skid

The Dallas Cowboys are road favorites in Philadelphia, which says everything about where the Eagles are without Jalen Hurts. Dallas (2-4) visits Philadelphia (2-4) on Monday Night Football at 8:15 p.m. ET on Oct. 26, and sportsbooks have the Cowboys at -4.5 with a total of 44.5 (some books list 44), with Dallas around -225 on the moneyline. Tanner McKee makes his second straight start for an Eagles team that has lost four in a row.

Both teams are coming off losses in Week 6. Philadelphia fell 25-14 at home to Carolina in McKee's first start, and Dallas lost 23-13 at Green Bay on Sunday night after a scoreless first half. The Monday game is the first of three straight primetime games for the Cowboys, and it is a chance for one of these NFC East teams to get back within reach of .500.

How the Teams Got Here

McKee finished 26 of 45 for 215 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions against Carolina while taking three sacks. The Eagles were willing to put the game in his hands, but 4.8 yards per attempt and a run game that produced 35 yards (all of them from Dameon Pierce) showed how little the offense is generating. Philadelphia is averaging the fewest yards per play in the NFL this season, per one Week 7 preview.

Dallas has its own problems. Dak Prescott went 34 of 54 for 258 yards with two interceptions at Lambeau Field, and his late touchdown to Ryan Flournoy was followed by a failed two-point try to CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys committed 11 penalties in that game. Still, the passing game has volume: Prescott threw 54 times, and George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb give Dallas a receiver pairing Philadelphia's secondary has struggled to contain. Footballguys noted the Eagles have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.

The Dallas defense is the counterweight. One preview ranked it among the league's bottom three units, and the Over is 4-2 in Cowboys games this season. That is why this total sits in the mid-40s despite the Eagles' offensive struggles.

The Injury Report

Official Week 7 designations come later in the week, and sources differ on several Eagles statuses. The table reflects the latest reported information.

Barkley is the swing piece. ESPN insiders reportedly see a realistic chance he plays, and his return would almost certainly tighten the spread. Philadelphia's offensive line is also still patched together after Lane Johnson's retirement and the trade of Cam Jurgens, so a Dickerson activation would matter.

For Dallas, Overshown told DallasCowboys.com he will play Monday after missing five games with a hamstring injury. His return comes at the right time with Winters sidelined, and it gives the Cowboys a fast linebacker to chase Philadelphia's short passing game.

Fantasy Start/Sit Angles

CeeDee Lamb is an automatic WR1, and George Pickens is a strong WR2 with upside against a secondary giving up points to receivers. Pickens caught nine of 13 targets for 130 yards and a touchdown in a game earlier this season when Lamb was hurt, so the ceiling is real. Jake Ferguson is a TE1 in a pass-heavy offense.

Javonte Williams is an RB2. He is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, down from 4.8 in 2025, but ESPN projects more carries because Dallas is unlikely to fall into a deep hole. Volume, not efficiency, is the case for starting him. Dak Prescott is a high-end QB2 or low-end QB1 this week; the matchup is favorable, but two interceptions at Green Bay showed the floor.

On the Philadelphia side, DeVonta Smith is the one Eagle to start with confidence. He drew 14 targets against Carolina and caught seven for 75 yards and a touchdown, which is WR1-level volume with McKee under center. Dallas Goedert saw eight targets (6-61) and is a usable TE1 as McKee's safety valve.

Tanner McKee is a superflex and two-quarterback option only. The volume is there, but the efficiency is not. Saquon Barkley is a risky start if active: the Cowboys have reportedly allowed around 150 rushing yards per game, which is a great matchup on paper, but a back returning from a hamstring injury on a short-handed line could be eased in. If he sits, Pierce is a deep-league flex at best.

Verdexed Angle

Dallas laying points on the road against a division rival tells you how much the market has marked down this Eagles offense. Our read: the number is fair as long as Barkley is out, and the line will move if he is cleared. That makes Barkley's Friday status the key piece of information for anyone thinking about this game, in fantasy or betting.

The matchup favors the Cowboys' passing game more than their rushing attack. Philadelphia's defense has been weakened by injuries, and Prescott's high-volume role means Lamb and Pickens should each get double-digit looks. On the other side, the Eagles have to generate explosive plays with a backup quarterback, and the Dallas defense has given up plenty of them. That tension is why the total has held in the mid-40s.

For fantasy, prioritize the Cowboys' receivers and DeVonta Smith, and treat both backfields with caution. Verdexed's game-by-game call lives at /nfl/predictions, and the full Week 7 board is at /blog/nfl-week-7-picks-2026.

What's Next

Wednesday through Friday practice reports will decide Barkley, Dickerson and Calcaterra, and the final Saturday report will confirm Overshown. With a Monday kickoff, fantasy managers get an extra day of information, but anyone starting Barkley needs a pivot plan in case he is inactive.

The loser of this game falls to 2-5 and faces a tough climb back in the NFC East. A separate Verdexed piece covers the season-long fallout from Hurts' injury; this one is about whether Philadelphia can steal a primetime win with McKee before the deficit becomes too large.