Commanders vs. Cowboys Predictions, Picks & Odds: NFL Week 18, Sunday 1/5
As is the theme of NFL Week 18 this weekend, its divisional rivalries across the board, which includes the NFC East classic between the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys. It’s also one with playoff implications, so of course, we’ve provided our top Commanders vs. Cowboys predictions below.
As you’d expect, that means a best bet from our Commanders vs. Cowboys picks which we’ll make as valuable as possible with a $250 FanDuel Sportsbook welcome promotion.
Commanders vs. Cowboys Predictions for NFL Week 18, Sunday 1/5
Ok, this matchup may have playoff implications, but we’ll admit that they aren’t the most significant. We already know that Dallas has been eliminated, and that Washington will be one of the NFC Wild Card teams. However, the road team still has motivation to win this game, which should be taken into consideration for any Commanders vs. Cowboys predictions.
It’s also important to keep in mind that Washington wasn’t exactly expected to be in this position, especially after determining that they would be starting a rookie QB Jayden Daniels this season. As we’ve seen, he has taken the league by storm, and Dallas’ team is far from elite.
So, like the motivation aspect, also be sure to keep that in mind as we continue into the best bet from our Commanders vs. Cowboys predictions.
Washington Commanders: Securing The Sixth Seed
Let’s dive a little deeper into the exact playoff implications for this Commanders vs. Cowboys rivalry. As mentioned, the Commanders know that they will be a Wild Card, as the Philadelphia Eagles have locked up the NFC East. That also continues the streak of 21 years without a back-to-back division champ.
Washington also knows that the best they can do is the #6 seed, as the NFC North is so stacked that one of their teams is guaranteed the #5 seed. All that said, it means that the Commanders are simply going to be the #6 seed with a win and the #7 seed with loss. While perhaps not a massive difference, it gives the slight potential for a home playoff game.
Dallas Cowboys: Time To Rebuild?
While Washington will be focused on their games moving forward, Dallas will be thinking about their offseason changes, or perhaps lack thereof. Will they fire head coach Mike McCarthy? Will they release or trade some key pieces? Owner Jerry Jones has a lot to answer in the coming months.
We recently saw the team cut RB Ezekiel Elliott for the second time in three years, and we also know that superstar WR CeeDee Lamb has been shut down for the remainder of the season with his shoulder injury. So, it’s no surprise to see the Commanders vs. Cowboys odds having Dallas as a clear home underdog on Sunday.
Commanders vs. Cowboys Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
Speaking of those Commanders vs. Cowboys odds, you can see the latest lines at FanDuel Sportsbook below:
- Point Spread: Washington Commanders -4.5 (-110) vs. Dallas Cowboys +4.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Washington Commanders (-220) vs. Dallas Cowboys (+180)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 44 (-105) vs. Under 44 (-115)
Commanders vs. Cowboys Predictions: Washington Team Total Over 24.5 Points (-115 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
With so much going on in Dallas, we’re going to completely avoid the drama and eliminate their side of the matchup from our Commanders vs. Cowboys predictions entirely. Instead, we see value in isolating Washington’s team total.
They’re coming off a 30-point game to give themselves a chance at a better seed this Sunday, and Daniels has been leading this explosive offense all season. Along with his incredible dual-threat ability, WR Terry McLaurin has absolutely been solidifying himself as one of the best at the position in the entire NFL.
Even with RB injuries having plagued the team throughout the year, the Commanders offense has still been elite. So much so that their 28.9 points per game are the fourth-most in the league. Similarly, the Cowboys defense has been nothing short of abysmal, allowing 27.8 points per game.
That’s the second-most in the NFL, better than only the 4-12 Carolina Panthers, which is far from good company to keep. Given those two factors alone, we’re not exactly going outside the box for our Commanders vs. Cowboys predictions. Even still, Washington can easily exceed this number, as they’ve also averaged 32 points per game the last four contests.
With all that in mind, we’re taking the Dallas side out of our Commanders vs. Cowboys predictions and making the best bet on Washington’s team total over 24.5 points (-115 at FanDuel Sportsbook).
Commanders vs. Cowboys Injury Report & Latest News
As noted, we know that Lamb will be out for the Cowboys, and QB Dak Prescott has been sidelined for quite some time.
For this Sunday, we’d recommend instead keeping the focus on Washington’s CB Marshon Lattimore, and we may even see RB Brian Robinson limited at practice to ensure that he’s fresh. You can use the Fantasy Alarm NFL injury report to keep track of all the latest injury news!
How To Bet On Commanders vs. Cowboys at FanDuel Sportsbook & Claim Your $250 Bonus
Take full advantage of our Commanders vs. Cowboys predictions, or any betting market for that matter, with the latest FanDuel welcome offer for a chance at a 50x boost:
- Click here to create a new FanDuel account
- No FanDuel promo code required
- Make a first-time deposit of $10 or more
- Place a wager of $5 or more on anything
- Receive $250 in bonus bets if it wins
That’s on top of your normal payout, and that’s even if your qualifying wager is on a -5000 favorite! Your options are virtually endless, and it all starts by setting up your new FD account today!
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Beat reporter John Hendrix reports that free agent WR Donovan Peoples-Jones is among the 16 players that the Saints will host for their rookie minicamp.
Peoples-Jones last played regular season snaps with the Lions back in 2023, when he caught 13-of-24 targets for 155 yards. He is highly unlikely to return to fantasy relevance at this point but could perhaps sign on as a special teams contributor.
Titans signed fourth-round pick WR Elic Ayomanor to a four-year contract.
Ayomanor will now begin learning behind Calvin Ridley. Although Ayomanor is unlikely to find a meaningful role in year one, dynasty managers should note his status as training camp gets underway this summer. The former Stanford receiver flashed big-play ability in his two college seasons.
Buccaneers signed seventh-round pick WR Tez Johnson to a four-year contract.
Johnson will serve as a rotational deep-threat option for Baker Mayfield. His thin frame (5'10/154) simply does not lend itself to the repeated hits one incurs in a full-time role. Johnson did earn 100-plus targets in his two seasons at Oregon, though. His big-play style make him a better fit in best ball for now, pending any major on-field breakthroughs.
Giants waived DT Casey Rogers.
Rogers was a 2024 undrafted free agent and logged 33 defensive snaps for the Giants in his rookie season. He is credited with zero tackles and/or sacks. He may find his way onto another roster as a practice squad option.
Vikings signed third-round pick WR Tai Felton to a four-year contract.
Felton is quietly in play to challenge Vikings No. 3 WR Jalen Nailor in training camp. Nailor (5'11/190) caught 28-of-42 targets for 414 yards and six touchdowns in his first season as a starter last year, with the latter category buoying his fantasy productivity. Felton (6'1/183), meanwhile, caught 96-of-143 targets for 1,119 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 2.32 yards per route run in his final college season. Fantasy managers should monitor Felton’s training camp reports this summer, as he could have a matchup-based WR5 role if everything falls into place.