The Dallas Cowboys hired former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as their next head coach. This is the 51-year-old Schottenheimer’s first head coaching job of his career. He takes over for Mike McCarthy, who controlled the emergence of CeeDee Lamb into an omega-level threat at the wide receiver position. Additionally, during his tenure Cowboys runners posted 3 straight 1000-yard rushing seasons with Tony Pollard (2022 and 2023) and Rico Dowdle(2024). The Cowboys’ offensive ecosystem has been one of the more fruitful for fantasy during McCarthy’s tenure as the mastermind of offensive design.
Brian Schottenheimer Coaching Overview
The Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer as the head coach after he served as the offensive coordinator in 2023 and 2024 but has been in the league for a long time. Schottenheimer is the son of hall-of-fame coach Marty Schottenheimer. Interestingly, Brian’s father became famous for his brand of “Martyball,” a style of football predicated on time of possession, field position, and turnover margin. However, Brian’s offensive approach differs slightly from his father’s. In contrast to his father, he led aggressive, high-scoring units. He highlighted those accomplishments with multiple 400-point scoring seasons. A 405-point scoring season as the coordinator for the New York Jets in 2008 and Seattle in 2019 (459), along with career highs in passer rating for Russell Wilson (110.9 in 2018) and completion percentage for Andrew Luck (63.5) in 2016.
Passing Attack
The Cowboys’ passing game thrived in 2023 under Schottenheimer’s play-calling. Furthermore, the addition of offensive coordinator and former Cardinals offensive line coach Klayton Adams alludes to offensive line development. Schottenheimer hired a specialist to accelerate the development of Dallas’ young offensive line.
Under Adams’ leadership, the Cardinals’ offensive line allowed just 30 sacks in 2024—a key factor in any successful offense. This is particularly important for the Cowboys, as they now have the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. Between Schottenheimer and Adams, they hope to figure that out,
Although Adams is not expected to call plays in Dallas, he will likely take a hands-on approach in mentoring young linemen like Cooper Beebe and Tyler Smith. Schottenheimer, meanwhile, has a strong track record of working with elite quarterbacks, having contributed to standout seasons for Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson. He also played a key role in Dak Prescott’s success in 2023.
Rushing Attack
Uncertainty surrounds the Cowboys’ rushing attack heading into 2025, as 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle is set to hit free agency. Regardless of who takes the lead, the position will remain highly valuable in fantasy football.
Despite Dowdle’s emergence, many analysts labeled the Cowboys as one of the most running back-needy teams entering 2024. The prevailing belief is that they still lack a true workhorse in the backfield. Fortunately, the 2025 draft is stacked with talent at the position, giving Dallas plenty of options to reinforce its ground game.
Adams’ addition strongly signals the type of offense the Cowboys want to run in 2025. Under Adams’s leadership, the Cardinals ran for 2,451 yards in 2024 and 5.3 yards per carry. The Cardinals ran for a league-high 23 plays of 20+ yards in 2024 and tied for the lead in 40+ yard carries with 7.
Reason for Hope
Schottenheimer wasted no time asserting his desire to incorporate motion—a strategy that has consistently boosted offensive production in fantasy football. His emphasis on motion aligns with the approach that helped unlock CeeDee Lamb’s WR1 finish in 2023.
Meanwhile, franchise quarterback Dak Prescott is eager to implement concepts similar to those used in the 49ers’ passing game. San Francisco excels at disguising plays by making the quarterback’s footwork look nearly identical on both runs and passes from under center. This forces defenders into split-second decisions, creating valuable space for playmakers to exploit.
In Schottenheimer’s first season as offensive coordinator, Dallas ranked 2nd in plays per game in 2023 (67.3), & first in scoring (30.1). Quarterback Dak Prescott posted a career-high passer rating (105.9) and 2nd-best career marks in yards (4,536) and touchdowns(36).
Reason for Doubt
Brian Schottenheimer’s offenses have often started strong but struggled to adapt as the season progressed. This pattern was evident in his time with the Cowboys, Jets, and Seahawks, all of which saw early success under his leadership before faltering in crucial moments. Notably, his offenses tend to perform poorly late in the season—when fantasy managers need them the most.
Another concern is the uncertainty surrounding the Cowboys’ offensive line and Dak Prescott’s health, as both will be closely connected. Prescott, now entering his age-32 season, is recovering from a major lower-body injury that required season-ending surgery. Consequently, his ability to regain top form remains a question mark.
Defensively, the Cowboys must address their struggles against the run. Star edge rusher Micah Parsons is due for a record-breaking contract, limiting the team’s financial flexibility. On offense, Dallas must find a reliable complement to CeeDee Lamb in the passing game.
Lastly, a leader must emerge in the running back room. The Cowboys must make significant financial commitments in free agency or spend early-round capital on a young back. Both choices come with obvious downsides that could limit the effectiveness of the ground game again. Furthermore, a miss on a running back with significant draft capital will decrease efficiency and force further future commitment to the position.
Dak Prescott’s potential could be unlocked
Looking for a lead back to be a workhorse
Cap space could hinder the depth of fantasy assets
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