IRVING — The Cowboys are a team on the rise with a 3-1 record and a chance to win four consecutive games for the first time since 2011. Is it time to buy stock in Dallas? Perhaps. But let’s see what players have helped and hurt their value at this point.
Stock Rising
DeMarco Murray; RB; Murray has been the engine of the Cowboys’ offense, producing at an impressive rate. Behind a strong offensive line, he has gained an NFL-best 534 yards and scored five touchdowns. If Murray continues to shred opponents, he stands to make a lot of money next year, when he is set to become a free agent.
Sterling Moore; CB; The SMU-ex has performed well in a reserve role that will be expanded after Morris Claiborne ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee last Sunday. Moore is actually rated the third-best cornerback in the NFL by ProFootballFocus.com. He has already contributed four pass deflections — a total that exceeds any total he’s produced in each of his previous three seasons.
Stock Falling
Gavin Esobar, TE: The lanky Escobar is the Cowboys’ version of Sasquatch with his infrequent sightings. The 2013 second-round pick has made only three catches for 18 yards this season. And he has yet to collect more than one reception in a game. With the Cowboys’ offensive transforming into a run-based attack and Escobar’s limitations as a blocker still evident, his value is diminishing right before everyone’s eyes. He is close to becoming a sunk cost, if he’s not already one.
Kyle Wilber; LB; He looked like he was going to be a regular contributor at strongside linebacker after authoring some good performances towards the end of last season. But he hasn’t taken the next step and has been marginalized as a result. Wilber, who has produced 11 tackles and a half-sack, has played only 63 snaps. Sixteen Cowboys defenders have been used more. His workload should increase now that Bruce Carter anticipates missing Sunday’s game against Houston with a quadriceps strain. But don’t expect Wilber to hold onto an expanded role once Carter returns.
Stock Rising
DeMarco Murray; RB; Murray has been the engine of the Cowboys’ offense, producing at an impressive rate. Behind a strong offensive line, he has gained an NFL-best 534 yards and scored five touchdowns. If Murray continues to shred opponents, he stands to make a lot of money next year, when he is set to become a free agent.
Sterling Moore; CB; The SMU-ex has performed well in a reserve role that will be expanded after Morris Claiborne ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee last Sunday. Moore is actually rated the third-best cornerback in the NFL by ProFootballFocus.com. He has already contributed four pass deflections — a total that exceeds any total he’s produced in each of his previous three seasons.
Stock Falling
Gavin Esobar, TE: The lanky Escobar is the Cowboys’ version of Sasquatch with his infrequent sightings. The 2013 second-round pick has made only three catches for 18 yards this season. And he has yet to collect more than one reception in a game. With the Cowboys’ offensive transforming into a run-based attack and Escobar’s limitations as a blocker still evident, his value is diminishing right before everyone’s eyes. He is close to becoming a sunk cost, if he’s not already one.
Kyle Wilber; LB; He looked like he was going to be a regular contributor at strongside linebacker after authoring some good performances towards the end of last season. But he hasn’t taken the next step and has been marginalized as a result. Wilber, who has produced 11 tackles and a half-sack, has played only 63 snaps. Sixteen Cowboys defenders have been used more. His workload should increase now that Bruce Carter anticipates missing Sunday’s game against Houston with a quadriceps strain. But don’t expect Wilber to hold onto an expanded role once Carter returns.
