Luke

Schoonmaker

Schoonmaker got more run in his second season after a low-volume rookie year. He got the bulk of his opportunities when starter Jake Ferguson missed time due to injury, with Schoonmaker’s best game coming in Week 11. He caught 6-of-10 passes for 56 yards that week, and scored his sole touchdown of the season in Week 12. Schoonmaker is a serviceable top-15 tight end when starting, but looks to be stuck behind Ferguson again next season.

All five targets — and receptions, of course — came in the first half. The tight end was a safety valve for Cooper Rush and then became an afterthought when Dallas realized that they could just run Rico Dowdle. Schoonmaker will be a low-end TE2 against the Bengals in Week 14.

Executive Vice President Stephen Jones stated earlier Monday that Ferguson would be a long shot to play on Thanksgiving in Week 13, which makes sense considering the veteran tight end suffered his second concussion of the season in Week 11. Luke Schoonmaker’s snap rate jumped to 65% in the absence of Ferguson against the Commanders, which should serve as a solid baseline expectation against the Giants on Thursday. Fantasy managers in a bind can continue to deploy Schoonmaker for as long as Ferguson remains sidelined.

Filling in for Jake Ferguson (concussion), Schoonmaker turned in another solid outing despite seeing six fewer targets. On his first target, Schoonmaker took a short pass from Cooper Rush upfield for a 24-yard gain and then found himself on the receiving end of a 22-yard strike in the end zone late in the fourth quarter. In his last two games, Schoonmaker has caught nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. The Cowboys now find themselves on a short week to prepare for Thursday night’s game against the Giants. If Ferguson can’t go, Schoonmaker will make for a solid streaming option against the Giants.

The hits keep on coming for the Cowboys, who revealed on Saturday that they would be without both Martin (ankle) and Diggs (groin/knee). Ferguson will miss Sunday’s game after suffering a concussion in last week’s loss to the Texans, leaving the them without several key starters in what has the makings of a disastrous game on the road against the Commanders. Tight end Luke Schoonmaker, who caught 6-of-10 targets for 56 yards in last week’s game makes for a viable streaming option in place of Ferguson.

Ferguson logged his third straight DNP on Friday and will be forced to try again next week. Backup tight ends Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford split repetitions in Week 11, with Schoonmaker astonishingly finishing second on the team in targets (10) and Spann-Ford respectably tying for third with five of his own. Schoonmaker can be streamed as a low-end TE1 if need be but be warned: The Commanders’ linebacker corps is one of the league’s best. This will not be an easy matchup.

Desperate PPR-scam desirers at tight end can start with Luke Schoonmaker, who caught 6-of-10 targets for 56 yards on Monday night. Dallas’ offensive ceiling is probably 20 points right now, but Schoonmaker has made the most of his opportunities when Ferguson has missed time this year, with 12 catches in two games against the Saints and Texans.

Schoonmaker filled in admirably for Jake Ferguson after the starter left following his only catch of the game with a concussion, only to be ruled out immediately after leaving the field. The Cowboys are on a short week following a Monday Night Football game, making it more difficult for Ferguson to clear protocol, particularly considering he was ruled out so quickly on Monday. That could leave Schoonmaker in a good spot to see heavy volume once again when the Cowboys face the Commanders in Week 12.

With Jake Ferguson out, Schoonmaker was the team’s primary tight end. He saw a pair of targets on the Cowboys’ first offensive drive, including hauling in a one-handed catch on the run. Schoonmaker was a serviceable fantasy play and will continue to be a TE2 with Ferguson out. If Ferguson cannot go next week, Schoonmaker should be scooped up off waivers for Week 3 against the Ravens.

Ferguson was listed as doubtful for Week 2 after missing all three practices this week. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed optimism that Ferguson would be able to play this week, so it’s possible he was close to giving it a go and will return to action in Week 3 against the Ravens. Luke Schoonmaker should make his first career start in place of Ferguson. Schoonmaker is an emergency TE2 option for Week 2.