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With two historically good rookies (QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott) and arguably the NFL’s top offensive line, the Cowboys easily took the NFC East last year. The line is still elite and Prescott (23 TD, 4 INT) is a year wiser, but Dallas could be without Elliott for a while if his six-game suspension is upheld. The Giants remain their top competition, led by a fearsome defense that is worth its huge price tag (second fewest points allowed per game in 2016). Washington lost Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, but added Terrelle Pryor to Kirk Cousins’ high-upside stable of pass-catchers. They also added Alabama standout Jonathan Allen to a defense that could use the beef. Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz showed upside but hit the rookie wall…hard. The Eagles upgraded the weapons around him (Alshon Jeffrey, Torrey Smith), though they need to find a go-to running back.
QUARTERBACKS
2016 Offensive Rookie of the Year Dak Prescott (DAL) didn’t make the reckless decisions that often plague first-year QBs. Prescott committed just 2 turnovers on 286 plays (0.7% turnover percentage) at home last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 31 Qualified QBs; League Avg: 2.7%)
Dak Prescott (DAL) completed 81.8% of passes (54 completions/66 attempts) to the left side last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 28 Qualified QBs; League Avg: 68.1%)
Dak Prescott (DAL) had a passer rating of 117.8 when not pressured (371 Pass Attempts) last season (NFL Rank: 3rd of 31 Qualified QBs; League Avg: 96.8)
The Giants did a good job of keeping Eli Manning (NYG) upright in 2016, as the QB’s sacks rate (3.4%) was his lowest since 2012. Manning was sacked 3 times on 166 pass attempts (one sack every 55.3 pass attempts) in the 4th quarter last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 29 Qualified QBs; League Avg: 15.2%)
Eli Manning (NYG) averaged 14.9 Yards per Completion (612 yards/41 completions) on slant routes last season (NFL Rank: 2nd of 27 Qualified QBs; League Avg: 11.1)
Kirk Cousins (WAS) threw 69 catchable balls on 83 pass attempts (83.1%) on passes to the middle last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 34 Qualified QBs; League Avg: 74.2%)
Kirk Cousins (WAS) completed passes for 20+ yards on 24 of his 142 total passing attempts (16.9%) against the blitz last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 29 Qualified QBs; League Avg: 10.6%)
Carson Wentz (PHI) threw 54 catchable balls on 61 pass attempts (88.5%) on slant routes last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 27 Qualified QBs; League Avg: 76.7%)
Carson Wentz (PHI) threw just one TD on 185 pass attempts in the 4th quarter last season (NFL Rank: worst among QBs)
RUNNING BACKS
If Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) is suspended to begin the 2017 season, the Cowboys lose one of the NFL’s premier home run threats. He rushed for 20+ yards on 14 of his 322 carries (4.3%) last season (NFL Rank: 2nd of 36 Qualified RBs; League Avg: 2.2%)
Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) averaged 6.1 carries per game (73 carries / 12 games) in close and late situations last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 31 Qualified RBs; League Avg: 2.4)
Paul Perkins (NYG) averaged 6.3 Yards from Scrimmage Per Touch (233 yards / 37 touches) in the 4th quarter last season (NFL Rank: 5th of 42 Qualified RBs; League Avg: 4.8)
Paul Perkins (NYG) gained 95 yards after the catch in close and late situations last season (NFL Rank: 5th among RBs)
LeGarrette Blount (PHI) picked up 89 yards after contact on plays in the red zone last season (NFL Rank: 2nd among RBs)
LeGarrette Blount (PHI) had 71 rushing attempts on plays in the red zone last season (NFL Rank: 1st among RBs)
Robert Kelley (WAS) committed no fumbles (168 carries) last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 36 Qualified RBs; League Avg: 1 fumble per 104.9 carries)
Chris Thompson (WAS) averaged 8.9 All Purpose Yards per Touch (266 APY / 30 Touches) in close and late situations last season (NFL Rank: 2nd of 41 Qualified RBs; League Avg: 5.0)
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Odell Beckham (NYG) gained 205 yards after the catch in close and late situations last season (NFL Rank: 1st among WRs)
Odell Beckham (NYG) had 18 first down receptions in close and late situations last season (NFL Rank: 1st among WRs)
Sterling Shepard (NYG) had 15 first down receptions on slant routes last season (NFL Rank: 1st among WRs)
When Dak Prescott got pressured, he looked to Dez Bryant (DAL)–and quite successfully at that. Bryant averaged 19.7 Yards per Reception (295 yards/15 catches) on 33 targets against the blitz last season (NFL Rank: 2nd of 39 Qualified WRs; League Avg: 13.9)
Dez Bryant (DAL) averaged a touchdown every 6.3 receptions (50 Rec/8 TDs) last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 51 Qualified WRs; League Avg: 13.0)
Undrafted Cole Beasley (DAL) stands just 5 foot 8 eight, but he might have the NFL’s best hands. He caught 75 of 98 passes when targeted (76.5% Reception Pct) last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 51 Qualified WRs; League Avg: 59.9%)
Former Cleveland Browns wideout Terrelle Pryor (WAS) had 13 first down receptions when his QB was under pressure last season (NFL Rank: 3rd among WRs)
Jamison Crowder (WAS) averaged 25.1 Receiving Yards per game (351/14) on 3rd down last season (NFL Rank: 3rd of 38 Qualified WRs; League Avg: 14.7)
Alshon Jeffery (PHI), picked up from the Bears during the offseason, averaged 19.5 Yards per Reception (487 yards/25 catches) on 38 targets on 1st down last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 46 Qualified WRs; League Avg: 13.0)
Will Tye (NYG) had 11 receptions on plays starting from inside his own 20 yard line last season (NFL Rank: 4th among TEs)
Jason Witten (DAL) caught 63 of 77 passes when targeted (81.8% Reception Pct) when his QB was not under pressure last season (NFL Rank: 3rd of 43 Qualified TEs; League Avg: 70.6%)
Jason Witten (DAL) had 12 receptions on plays in the red zone last season (NFL Rank: 2nd among TEs)
Jordan Reed (WAS) averaged 3.5 first down receptions per game (14/4) on the road last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 30 Qualified TEs; League Avg: 1.2)
Jordan Reed (WAS) had 22 receptions on 3rd down last season (NFL Rank: 4th among TEs)
Zach Ertz (PHI) had 443 receiving yards over the last four weeks of the season (NFL Rank: 2nd among TEs)
Zach Ertz (PHI) was targeted 7.6 times per game (106/14) last season (NFL Rank: 3rd of 35 Qualified TEs; League Avg: 3.5)
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
Janoris Jenkins (NYG) allowed receptions to receivers he was covering on just 40 of 86 targets (46.5%) last season (NFL Rank: best of 73 Qualified DBs; League Avg: 61.2%)
The Giants defense allowed a passer rating of just 59.4 in close and late situations (172 Pass Attempts) last season (NFL Rank: 2nd best of 32; League Avg: 88.0
The Giants allowed just one touchdown on 61 completions on 3rd and long last season (NFL Rank: best of 32; League Avg: 1 TD per 19.6 attempts)
The Cowboys defense forced 4 fumbles on 3rd and short last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 32; League Avg: 1)
The Cowboys defense allowed passes of 20+ yards on just 2 of 88 attempts (2.3%) when opponents had over 10 yards to go last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 32; League Avg: 8.8%)
The Redskins defense allowed rushes of 10 or more yards on just 2 of 36 carries (5.6%) on 3rd down last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 32; League Avg: 15.8%)
The Redskins defense blitzed 51 times in close and late situations last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 32; League Avg: 28).
The Eagles defense allowed a Completion Pct of just 49.5% (54 completions/109 attempts) in close and late situations last season (NFL Rank: 1st of 32; League Avg: 61.3%)
The Eagles defense hurried opposing QBs on 13% of dropbacks in the 2nd half last season (NFL Rank: 2nd of 32; League Avg: 9%)
New York Giants Punter Brad Wing placed just 30.1% of punts inside the 20 (28/93) last season (NFL Rank: 28th of 32; League Avg: 36.9%)
Dan Bailey (DAL) averaged 64.0 yards per kickoff (5,827 yards/91 kickoffs) last season (NFL Rank: 4th of 34 Qualified Ks; League Avg: 62.6)
Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins (WAS) had 65 touchbacks last season (NFL Rank: 2nd among Ks)
Philadelphia Eagles Kickers averaged touchbacks on just 25.0% of kickoffs (4 touchbacks/16 kickoffs) in close and late situations last season (NFL Rank: 31st of 32; League Avg: 58.5%)
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