2025 NFL Draft: The Dallas Cowboys should look for their next workhorse — and it should be Damien Martinez
Every NFL Draft season, fantasy managers hope to spot the perfect rookie/team matchup — the landing spot that unlocks not only a prospect's talent but also explosive fantasy potential. On the latest Yahoo Fantasy Forecast's special wishcasting episode, Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens brought up one match that should make the fantasy world perk up: Miami's Damien Martinez to the Dallas Cowboys.
Advertisement
Let's break down why this partnership is such a compelling fit, drawing directly from the sharp analysis of their conversation.
Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
Matt Harmon was the first to call it, sending Martinez to the Cowboys and emphasizing that he's exactly the type of back Dallas needs: 'He is a really interesting running back prospect … big dude, can bang it between the tackles, but also I think has some big-play ability.'
Now more than ever, Dallas is desperate for competence — if not excellence — at running back. Their current depth chart, as Matt remarked, is clouded with uncertainty and uninspiring committee bets. Martinez's ability to step in as a bell-cow right away could fill a void left since Tony Pollard's departure.
Advertisement
Andy Behrens echoed the sentiment, lauding Martinez's profile: 'He has been successful and efficient in multiple systems in college. He can just detonate tacklers at the end of a run … has so many plays on tape where he just disappears from view for a little while … because he's dragging a cloud of defenders for the final like seven or eight yards of a play.'
The beauty of the fit, both Andy and Matt argue, goes beyond just landing on a team with running back touches available. Dallas is built to pound the rock: its offensive line remains one of the NFL's better units, especially if young pieces like Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe develop, and Tyler Smith is already a force inside.
Martinez offers the ability to not only run effectively behind this line but also flex between power and splash plays. Put simply: Martinez wouldn't just be a Band-Aid. He could emerge as the engine for Dallas' ground game — an immediate volume play with double-digit touchdown upside.
Advertisement
Harmon and Behrens both agreed Martinez would be a hot commodity in fantasy football drafts if this pairing comes true. And for three good reasons:
Volume: Dallas loves a true lead running back. With limited backfield competition and a good O-line, Martinez could easily see 15-20 touches a week.
Goal-line Upside: His finishing ability at the end of runs and Dallas' willingness to feed one back at the stripe means TDs are on the table.
Role Security: Neither expert is impressed with the current Cowboys RBs — Martinez could take the ball and run from Week 1.
If Jerry Jones and co. decide Martinez is 'their guy,' he'd fly up rookie fantasy draft boards. The Cowboys have a national spotlight, a history of feeding their RB1 and an offense that reliably produces RB1 finishes for fantasy.
Martinez in Big D would be an immediate **RB2 with RB1 upside** in redraft, and a top 5-7 rookie in dynasty formats.
In a draft short on consensus workhorse RBs, Andy and Matt see Damien Martinez as the hammer Dallas needs to keep its offense moving. It's a high-floor, high-ceiling union. If the Cowboys call his name, get ready to bump him way up your fantasy football cheat sheets — he'd be poised to deliver from Day 1.
Dallas fans, fantasy managers, keep your eyes on draft night. This is the sleeper landing spot that could change your championship plans.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Eagles get receiver John Metchie III from Texans for tight end Harrison Bryant, AP source says
The Philadelphia Eagles have acquired wide receiver John Metchie III from the Houston Texans for veteran tight end Harrison Bryant, a person with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams haven't announced the deal. Metchie had 24 receptions for 254 yards and one touchdown last season. A second-round pick in 2022, Metchie missed his rookie season while being treated for leukemia. Bryant had nine catches for 86 yards last season in Las Vegas. He spent his first four seasons in Cleveland. He averaged 22 receptions and 198 yards receiving per season with the Browns. Metchie joins a deep receiving group on the reigning Super Bowl champions led by A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Browns to name starting QB ahead of preseason finale amid battle in Cleveland
The quarterback battle in Cleveland is almost over. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski plans to name a starting quarterback for Week 1 ahead of the team's final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams next Saturday, the team announced on Sunday. It's unclear when that will be announced specifically, but Stefanski said the team is using this week as a dress rehearsal for the regular season. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] "We will do more competitive periods than we would say in the regular season," Stefanski said, via the Browns. "So, we'll do plenty of Browns versus Browns in practice, as well as introducing carded periods where we'll be simulating the Rams' offense and defense. So big week for the football team." The Browns, who are fresh off a 22-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in their second preseason game, will officially open the season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Who will the Browns name their starting QB? Though the room has been hit with several injuries that have altered the competition, the quarterback battle in Cleveland has been among the most interesting across the league so far this preseason. It started out as a four-man race, though veteran Joe Flacco has taken the majority of first team reps in recent practices and has appeared to have separated himself from the pack. Flacco returned to the Browns this season after spending last year with the Indianapolis Colts. Kenny Pickett, who seemed to have the early advantage in the race, has been battling a hamstring injury for several weeks now and has still been limited in practices. He hasn't taken 11-on-11 reps since going down on July 26. The Browns also picked up two rookie quarterbacks in the NFL Draft earlier this year. They selected former Oregon star Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Colorado standout Shedeur Sanders in the fifth. Sanders started the team's preseason opener, but he went down with an oblique strain last week. He did not play in the Eagles' preseason game on Saturday. Gabriel, who missed the first game with a hamstring injury, started on Saturday. He went 13-of-18 for 143 yards with two turnovers in the win. Tyler Huntley came in to replace him to finish the game. Stefanski said he was hopeful that both Sanders and Pickett would be able to increase their productivity in practice this week amid their respective injuries, but it's unclear when either of them will be back to full strength. Gabriel is healthy again, but he wasn't outstanding on Saturday. That leaves Flacco, who has undoubtedly proven himself time and again throughout in his career. He's due to turn 41 in January, however, and is not a long-term solution in Cleveland by any means. Whether Stefanski opts to go with Flacco or one of the younger quarterbacks still remains to be seen. At least an answer there is imminent.
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler have ups and downs in latest chapter of Saints QB competition
Tyler Shough got his first preseason start of his NFL career. On his first possession, the New Orleans Saints faced a third-and-30. That's mostly how the first half went for Shough. Shough had a chance to make a big statement as the Saints continue their search for their Week 1 starting quarterback, but his performance could have gone better. The offense rarely moved and the Saints as a whole looked overwhelmed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars were up 17-3 at halftime and it would have been worse had Jacksonville not had a fumbled handoff in the red zone. Shough, the team's second-round pick, didn't do too much in his half. Spencer Rattler was a better off the bench, and he does have a year of NFL experience. Rattler played pretty well on Sunday other than a bad interception in the red zone late in the fourth quarter. Perhaps a late touchdown pass by Rattler in the two-minute drill will be enough to get Rattler the QB1 job. Shough had four possessions in the first half. Three of them ended in punts and one produced a field goal. Shough was 9 of 12 for 66 yards in the first half and wasn't terrible, but it also wasn't the type of outing that should cause Saints coach Kellen Moore to immediately name him the Week 1 starter. Shough got the chance to start after he outplayed Rattler off the bench in the preseason opener. His start began well, with a completion over the middle for 8 yards. Then he lost his footing on his dropback and was sacked, then held the ball and under pressure he threw it away, taking an intentional grounding penalty. That's how the Saints ended up with a third-and-30. Shough completed his first pass on his second possession too, but the Saints still went three-and-out when Shough threw too long to Chris Olave downfield on third down. Shough got some help to start his third drive. He threw a pass into coverage, and it probably wasn't a good decision but tight end Treyton Welch made a nice catch while being tightly covered for 28 yards. That got the drive going. Shough started getting in some rhythm, and on third down he found an open Olave for what would have been a first down. Olave had a bad drop, which is rare for him. The Saints settled for a field goal, but it was much better for Shough than the first two drives. The Saints had a chance to get more points before halftime, but after two short completions Shough was sacked on third down, and New Orleans punted again. That was Shough's last action of the day. Rattler did get a big gain right away, when a deep pass turned into a defensive pass interference for 45 yards. But with the Saints inside the 10-yard line, Rattler threw short on first down under pressure for an incompletion, and after a second-down run his timing was off on a back-shoulder throw on third down. The Saints kicked a field goal. Rattler had a really nice pass later in the third quarter. He threw deep down the right sideline to Mason Tipton, and it was a perfectly placed pass for 45 yards. It was a better pass than Shough had in the first half. Rattler's day was going fairly well until he made a big mistake. Rattler drove the Saints to the 13-yard line but telegraphed a pass that was easily picked off by Keni-H Lovely. That isn't a good look as he chases the starting job. Rattler rallied though. He had one more chance in the two-minute offense, with the Saints trailing 17-9. He had a really nice pass to Tipton near the sideline for 26 yards. On third down Rattler hit Dante Pettis for a touchdown with 21 seconds left, then tied the game on a run on the two-point conversion. The game ended in a 17-17 tie when the Saints defense got an interception on the final play. Rattler finished 18 of 24 for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Perhaps that's enough for him to win the job. Other than the interception Rattler looked more comfortable than Shough, though he was also playing against defensive players further down the Jaguars' depth chart. Though that was the case for Shough against the Chargers last week. And Shough also threw a bad interception last week, one that was returned for a touchdown. There have been a few good reps from each quarterback, but also some mistakes too. Moore will have to weigh the ups and downs of each quarterback in the preseason as he makes his decision. New Orleans needs to pick a quarterback with its opener three weeks away.
