What You Need to Know:

• Prescott averaged 1.5 more fantasy points per game last season than #2 in that category, Patrick Mahomes -- even with his injury game included. Remove that contest, and Prescott beat everyone else at the position by 7+ fantasy points per game.
• Through 4 healthy outings last year, Prescott was on pace for 6,760 passing yards and 36 TDs. He reached 450 yards in 3 straight games before going down against the Giants.
• It’s worth noting that Prescott ranked just 9th in Pro Football Focus passing grade over those first 4 weeks, with Jared Goff and Joe Burrow among the players ahead of him. He did post his highest passing grade since his rookie season, though, and the best overall grade of his career to date.
• After going 58-42 with their pass-run split in 2019, Kellen Moore’s 1st season as OC, the Cowboys passed on 66.2% of their offensive plays through Prescott’s 5 starts in 2020. Dallas went 68.6% pass in Prescott’s 4 full outings, though going 1-3 in those contests contributed to that rate. Even the Week 2 win over Atlanta was a big comeback (down 19 at the half).
• According to PFF, Prescott’s passing grade improved the further downfield he targeted. That included the Dallas QB ranking 2nd among qualifiers in adjusted completion rate on deep balls (20+ yards downfield).
• That falls right in line with his previous results. Prescott graded out 4th-best among deep passers in 2019, with his next-best grade in the 10-19 yard range. His first 3 seasons also found Prescott delivering his strongest passing grades in the deeper 2 ranges.
• That matches up nicely with 1 of the league’s top set of pass-catchers. Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb all excel at getting downfield.
• Despite playing only 4 full games, Prescott still reached 3 rushing TDs for the 5th straight season. He’s the only QB to do so each of the past 5 years. Just 5 others have reached 3 rushing TDs 3 times in that span.
• His 19.0 rushing yards per game since 2016 ranks 12th over that span among QBs with at least 100 total carries.
• Dallas let Prescott play on the franchise tag last season, after the 2 sides couldn’t agree on an extension. He then got a 4-year, $160 million extension this March, including a record $126 million guaranteed -- in spite of the compound fracture and dislocated ankle in his right leg that ended Prescott’s season. That says they not only believe in the player, but also believe he’ll rebound from the injury.

Draft Sharks Bottom Line:

Prescott’s return from last year’s gruesome ankle injury will bear watching through the summer -- both for any setbacks and any sign of impact on his play. But the Cowboys’ actions indicate they believe he’ll be ready. On top of the big new contract, Dallas let Andy Dalton walk in free agency and look prepared to roll with Garrett Gilbert as the backup. More important than that, of course: Prescott heads into another season with maybe the league’s best set of wideouts. And the Cowboys have leaned more toward the pass recently.

A healthy Prescott sports as high a fantasy ceiling as anyone at the position. The depth at QB makes it even easier to gamble on his ankle.