Welcome to the eighteenth part of a thirty-two-part series: Reading the NFL Offseason Tea Leaves. Fantasy football tasseography is deeply rooted in predicting future fantasy fortunes. Some of the team tea cups we'll be looking into may be larger than others. The smallest of cups may have the most alluring blends of offensive weaponry, or be set to bloom after a long steep. This series will aid in your approach to Redraft and Dynasty leagues by bringing you up to date on:

• Free Agency
  • Re-signings, additions, who signed elsewhere, and what it means for fantasy.
• NFL Draft
  • What can we decipher about the direction a team is headed in based on their draft selections?
• Coaching Changes
  • Who's in, who's out, and how do the coaching philosophies translate to fantasy production?
• Fantasy Fortunes
  • What does this all mean for your fantasy football drafts?

Like tasseography, the arrangement of these four sections will vary as we digest each team's offseasons and see how the offensive pieces settle. Each article will interpret what this NFL team has told us about their future plans based on what they've done since their 2025 season ended.

Reading the Dallas Cowboys' 2026 Offseason

Free Agency Retentions & Losses

The Cowboys are running it back in all of the positions we care about in fantasy. Gone in free agency is WR Jalen Tolbert, which means WR Ryan Flournoy has locked down the WR3 role in this offense.

Javonte Williams signed a 3-year $24M contract to remain in Dallas as their starting RB. Behind him are Malik Davis and sophomore Jayden Blue. Williams will once again be a strong fantasy contributor as the bell cow in a high-powered Cowboys offense.

George Pickens was franchise tagged for the 2026 season. He'll make $27.2M this year and become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. His pairing with QB Dak Prescott fueled him to a WR1 finish in 2025. Expect Dallas to find the money to keep Pickens around before he becomes a free agent in 2027. 

Post-Draft Day Addition

TE Michael Trigg fell out of the draft and was signed to Dallas as a priority Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA). Teams were concerned about his off-putting personality, which tumbled his draft stock.

It's clear he has talent and athleticism when you watch his 2025 Baylor film. He checked in with the widest wingspan in NFL Combine history for TEs at 84 3/8". If wingspans don't get you going when you're evaluating pass-catching potential, see a doctor. Look for Jake Ferguson to continue his dominance on the TE snap share in 2026. Ferguson's contract isn't up until the start of 2030. 

Fantasy Fortunes 

The Cowboys will be a team contenders target in 2026. Buy into the Cowboys offense, which will drive a QB1, RB1-2, WR1 and WR2, and a TE1 in 2026.

In fact, Prescott might have the best offensive weapons of his career - which he'll need because the Cowboys' defense stinks.

Williams will have plenty of red zone opportunities to finish as an RB1 as long as he stays healthy. Expect the veteran to see upwards of 70 percent of the RB snaps routinely. Lamb and Pickens are a complementary pairing. In addition, Pickens thrives on downfield routes, allowing Lamb to work in the short to intermediate areas of the field.

Ferguson should keep the TE1 role for the foreseeable future. Stash Trigg on your taxi in dynasty formats, and prioritize adding Dallas players on waivers if injuries occur.

This is a high-octane offense you'll want pieces of.