'I Don't Play Fantasy!' Coach Mike McCarthy Defends Dallas Cowboys Offense

'I Don't Play Fantasy!' Coach Mike McCarthy Defends Dallas Cowboys Offense

The Dallas Cowboys have finally gotten the production they’ve been waiting for (and then some) from star receiver CeeDee Lamb. In the past two weeks, he’s generated 349 receiving yards, nearly lapping the rest of his production, and it’s clear the bye week was a catalyst for his involvement in the "Texas Coast Offense.''

Ultimately, it wasn’t enough on Sunday, as the Cowboys fell in excruciating fashion to the Philadelphia Eagles. The 28-23 loss saw Dallas increase Lamb’s target share but found tight end Jake Ferguson and receiver Jalen Tolbert targeted heavily, too. The three combined for targets on 31 of quarterback Dak Prescott’s 44 attempts.

Curiously, veteran receiver Brandin Cooks saw just two targets. It was another underwhelming performance in what will likely be the least productive season of his career.

Cooks hauls in a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Cooks has been practically invisible in the box score all season. Whether that’s a consequence of turning 30, a schematic breakdown on the part of head coach Mike McCarthy, or just an unfortunate stretch of variance is yet to be disentangled. But fans who were excited about the six-time 1,000-yard receiver wanted answers as to why he’s not seeing the football.

McCarthy offered up a prickly response.

“I don’t play fantasy football,” McCarthy said. “We have game plans … our system is built on making the quarterback successful. That’s the way this passing game is taught. It’s the way I’ve learned it. It’s the way it has always been the last 30 years.”

We'll argue that his response to perceived resource mismanagement was unnecessary. It was a page out of Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith’s playbook, citing fantasy football as some satanic entity meant to question his ability to call plays.

Smith has been dismissive of those wondering why the Falcons’ trio of top-10 selections on offense - including rookie Bijan Robinson - lack the opportunities other teams give their stars. While Cooks no longer demands star-level opportunities, posting just two targets (for one catch and seven yards) is concerning. Especially when Prescott’s 374 passing yards meant there were plenty of opportunities to look his way.

On a pivotal fourth-down late in the Week 9 loss, Cooks seemingly wasn’t a part of the progression. Prescott opted for receiver Jalen Tolbert (which may not have been the wrong read!) and ultimately turned the ball over on downs. Tolbert had been pushing Cooks and receiver Michael Gallup for snaps in recent weeks.

McCarthy went on to defend Cooks’ presence, even though it isn't showing up in the form of receptions and yards after the catch.

“He was a big part of the production,” he said. “We had a tremendous amount of production in the pass game and Brandin and all the guys are a part of that. I get it. ...''

So, what happened?

"Nothing 'happened,''' McCarthy responded, with more prickliness. "But when you throw for (374) yards and you got to come in here and answer questions about someone not getting the ball, I mean, come on, I don’t think that’s a real evaluation.”

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Cooks is yet to top 50 yards in a game this season and has just 17 catches for 165 yards and two scores through a half-season's worth of games. It hasn’t been pretty and is perhaps justified ground for Tolbert to soak up snaps. But when you come up short against a division rival, the players that are expected to make plays are going to draw the attention.

The veteran receiver will have a chance to have his first big game as a Cowboy in Week 10 against the lowly New York Giants. And McCarthy will have a chance to show off the difference between "real football'' and the "fantasy'' variety.