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Shepard was in and out of the game with a hamstring issue. He functioned as the team’s main slot wideout when healthy and in the game but was the fourth or fifth option in the passing attack. Shepard should be viewed as a WR4 play in deeper formats with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans out of the Tampa lineup.

Although the rookie gunshot survivor was not targeted in the second half, he added a 39-yard carry on an end around in the fourth quarter that led to a field goal, going down as the only points scored by the 49ers in the final frame. Pearsall should continue to have a consistent role in the offense with Brandon Aiyuk done for the season.

Kittle did his heavy lifting through the first three quarters, scoring from two yards out in a third quarter dominated by the 49ers after the team failed to find the end zone in the first half. He would not be targeted the rest of the way with the 49ers nursing a lead eventually threatened by the Cowboys during a feverish comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, ultimately escaping with a win to send them into their bye at 4-4 in the most crowded division in football. All four teams in the NFC West are separated by just 0.5 games as we enter the back stretch.

Jordan Mason departed the game with just over two minutes remaining in the first half, paving the way for the electric rookie running back to amass more than 100 yards from scrimmage and find the end zone for the first time in his young career. That now marks two consecutive games that Mason was unable to finish, each time departing with a shoulder injury. Even so, the 49ers head to their bye week in Week 9 and could get either, or both of, Mason and Christian McCaffrey back following the break.

Seven of Purdy’s eight carries came on scrambles as he consistently kept drives alive with his legs, a much needed offensive spark considering both Jordan Mason and Deebo Samuel failed to finish the game with injuries. Purdy’s lone touchdown pass went to tight end George Kittle in a third quarter dominated by the 49ers. After entering the break down 10-6, San Francisco rattled off three consecutive touchdowns in the third quarter to take a commanding 27-10 lead into the final frame, ultimately enough to hold off a ferocious comeback attempt from the Cowboys. The 49ers improve to 4-4 and find themselves tied with the Cardinals atop the surprisingly tight NFC West, a division with all four teams within 0.5 games of each other. San Francisco heads to their bye week in Week 9 before traveling to Tampa to face the Buccaneers.

Ferguson largely served as an outlet for quarterback Dak Prescott in the face of relentless pressure from the aggressive San Francisco defensive front. While the eight targets look nice on paper, Ferguson finished well behind alpha wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in targets and production, a situation that is likely to carry forward as the Cowboys enter desperation mode now sitting at a 3-4 record.

Tolbert and the rest of the secondary pass-catchers on the Cowboys fell well behind the production of alpha receiver CeeDee Lamb, the latter of whom amassed 146 yards and two touchdowns on 13 receptions. There will likely be better days ahead for the emerging youngster, at least as long as Brandin Cooks remains on injured reserve.

Lamb racked up nine receptions through three quarters but was confined to short area work, erupting for 90 additional yards and both touchdowns on four receptions in the fourth quarter alone. Garbage time production has become all too familiar for the Cowboys as they fall to 3-4, but fantasy managers are fine with any production whenever it comes for the newly re-signed veteran pass-catcher. The yardage marked Lamb’s first game of the season over the century mark while the multiple-score game also was the first time this season he has scored more than once. Up next for Lamb and the Cowboys is a Falcons team that attempts to force opponents to short area throws, meaning Lamb will likely require another huge volume game to return to fantasy stardom.

Cook was elevated to the active roster Saturday to make his debut in Dallas, which coincided with the absence of lead back Rico Dowdle due to illness. Cook played well behind Ezekiel Elliott but still saw seven opportunities to the 11 of Zeke. Neither back did much to unseat Dowdle for the lead back role.

Zeke got the spot start with lead back Rico Dowdle held out with an illness, accounting for 11 of the 18 backfield opportunities split with recent acquisition Dalvin Cook. Even with the increase in role, Zeke rushed to only 3.4 yards per carry and owns a career-low 3.1 yards per carry mark on the season. Any fantasy value remaining has quickly gone with the wind on the veteran back.

The Cowboys took a 10-6 lead into the break after a rather uninspiring first half before being outscored 21-0 in the third quarter. Facing a 17-point deficit in the final frame, Prescott led two touchdown drives in the final eight minutes to bring the team within six points. The Cowboys forced a three-and-out with just over two minutes remaining to play but turned the ball over on downs without gaining an additional yard, allowing the 49ers to ice the game on the ground with rookie running back Isaac Guerendo. The loss drops the Cowboys to 3-4 before traveling to Atlanta to face the Falcons in Week 9.