Theoretically, the Dallas Cowboys really don't have a whole heck of a lot of a shot of beating the New England Patriots. However, there is a great way to find a way to win by betting on Dallas in this game, and that is going to be on fantasy football bets. Rob Gronkowski will be matched up with Joseph Randle and will likely be a favorite by BookMaker's standards, but that certainly isn't justifiable from our standpoint.
Gronk is fantastic. He's the best red zone threat in the NFL, and he has a legitimate chance to lead the NFL in touchdowns. He has four touchdowns over the course of the first three games of the year to go with 16 receptions and 308 yards, but the fact of the matter is that that's an average of just 18.5 fantasy points per game. Of his total 55.4 fantasy points in 2015, 27.7 of them came in the first game of the year against Pittsburgh.
The Cowboys have actually had reasonable success against tight ends thus far in 2015. Of course, they haven't gone up against anywhere near Gronk's stature, but a total of 16 catches, 126 yards and a touchdown in four games to tight ends is virtually nothing.
There is most certainly an issue for Dallas in its linebacking corps with Sean Lee still suffering from a concussion. However, Rolando McClain is one of the top linebackers in the league in terms of the combination of speed and size. If there is anyone who can matchup with Gronkowski in the red zone, we trust that McClain is the man who could do it.
Opposing running backs have had no luck whatsoever against New England's defense this year. Two weeks ago against the Jags, their backs had a total of just 17 carries for 50 yards and three catches out of the backfield.
That said, Dallas is a totally different team as well. Its offensive line is still awfully good in spite of the fact that DeMarco Murray isn't here any longer, and Randle could see an even greater role in this backfield than he has played thus far this year while trying to replace the NFL's defending rushing champ.
Randall has averaged 15.0 fantasy points per game this year, a particularly healthy number considering the fact that the backfield in Dallas has been split three ways.
There's better news for Randle's backers, though. Lance Dunbar's season is over thanks to a torn ACL, and that means that Brandon Weeden is going to have to check down to other options in the passing game after he was the team's top target since Tony Romo went out. Considering the fact that Weeden's arm strength resembles that of a wet noodle, we know that balls aren't going to be further down the field.
So there's two perks here. Not only is Dunbar not catching the passes, but those reps where he is lined up in the shotgun next to Weeden will end up featuring Randle more often.
There's no way that Dallas can afford to stop running the ball, even if it falls behind in this game, and even if that does turn out to be the case, there will be more receptions to be had at one point a catch apiece.
So don't fall for the glitz and the glamor of taking Gronkowski relatively blindly on Sunday. Randle has a lot of merit, and for good measure, so too does Darren McFadden on a smaller scale against some of the other New England wide receivers.
The NFL odds for this Sunday contest were first released by BookMaker, and the New England Patriots were positioned as 7-point favorites with a total of 49. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The matchup between the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys will take place Sunday, October 11, 2015, at 4:25 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX.
