The Dallas Cowboys got back on the winning track Sunday afternoon, beating the Carolina Panthers 30-16. This marked the team's third win in four games. Despite the Panthers playing better over the past few weeks, they proved to be no match in the end for Dallas.
It was a team win with the offense having one of their best outings all season led by Cooper Rush. He had a bounce-back game with three touchdown passes, but three more of his teammates are seeing their stock rise even more after this week. These three players are seeing their stock rise after the blowout win on the road.
3 Cowboys players whose stock is rising after Week 15 win
3. OG/C Brock Hoffman
With Zack Martin done for the season, and most likely his career, the Cowboys need to be looking at offensive line talent already on their roster who can compete for jobs in 2025. One of the backups who has been standing out is Brock Hoffman.
He started his first game against Washington at right guard and filled in well as Rush was never sacked in the game. The trend continued against the Giants with Hoffman being a major key in Rico' Dowdle's first 100-yard game. He moved to center against the Bengals last week when Cooper Beebe left with a concussion and once again paved the way for a 100-yard rushing day for this offense.
On Sunday Hoffman again started at center and helped the offense pile up 410 total yards. Rush was sacked only one time by Jaycee Horn early, but after that he was untouched for the rest of the day. For a guy who went undrafted a few years ago, Hoffman already looks like a versatile lineman Dallas might want to keep on their roster.
Linemen who can fill in at multiple spots on the line can play for a long time and Hoffman has looked solid at both guard and center when called upon. The offensive line has had it struggles this season, but this group full of backups is coming together as a unit the back half of the season. Hoffman's stock is continuing to rise after another good outing.
2. LB Marist Liufau
Losing DeMarvion Overshown last week was devastating for this defense. The guys tabbed as his replacement the rest of the season is rookie Marist Liufau. The Cowboys drafted him in the third round this year hoping to see signs he can fit into Mike Zimmer's new scheme. While he looked lost early in the season, he looked far from that against Carolina.
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Liufau finished third on the team in tackles for the day with five, but the highlight of his day came in the first quarter. After punting on their first posession, Dallas was dragged down the field in a methodical 13-play drive by Carolina. Inside the redzone, the Panthers had a prime opportunity to score first.
Once again the defense got the spark they needed early by causing another turnover. Bryce Young took off looking to run but was stripped of the ball by Liufau and fellow rookie Marshawn Kneeland recovered it. For the player who is replacing on of the best defenders on the team this year to make a play like that on the first drive is big.
Liufau even took time after the game to acknowledge his new role as a starter and give respect to his injured teammate. Earlier in the week during practice Liufau looked like he was staying late and putting in extra work to be ready to play. His effort certainly paid off. If he has more performances like he had against Carolina, he will be a contributor for this defense going into next year. His stock is rising after the win.
1. RB Rico Dowdle
The stock market is at an all-time high for Dowdle. On Sunday he accomplished a feat even bigger than another 100-yard rushing game. He became the first undrafted player to rush for 100 yards in three consecutive games since 2014.For a player who was not seen as the clear-cut starter at running back when the year began, the sky looks like the limit for him right now.
Mike McCarthy has been criticized heavily at times this season for not running the football more to take the pressure off of Rush. Against the Bengals last week, Dowdle averaged 7.3 yards per carry, but hardly touched the ball in the fourth quarter with the game in the balance. On Sunday, McCarthy let him feast.
Dowdle had 25 carries in the game, the most he has had all season. With the running game going, the offense had its most balanced game all season. With the backup quarterback, that is what an offensive play-caller has to stick with in order to have a good chance to win.
Dowdle's stock has been trending up arguably the most of any player on this team since the Commanders' game. His carries are going up and the Cowboys look like they have fully committed to him as one of the main players in this offense.
The former Gamecock came back to Dallas this season on a one-year deal but Jerry Jones better be preparing to give him another contract if he keeps this up. Dallas should still look at running back as a need this offseason, but with Dowdle's stock going up they certainly have a contributor now.