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Blogging The Boys fantasy football takes on Joe Milton
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Blogging The Boys about Joe Milton.
34
Insights
19
Positive
2
Negative
Insight ledger
All Blogging The Boys insights about Joe Milton
PositiveProjectionAug 23, 2026
Milton had the offense humming in the first half when Dallas built a 24-6 lead by the break, throwing a 53-yard touchdown to Jonathan Mingo and executing a QB draw touchdown, demonstrating effective command of the offense in preseason action.PositiveRoleAug 23, 2026
The source identifies Milton as a Stock Up player and declares 'The jury is back. They have conferred and determined that Joe Milton is in fact QB2 for the Dallas Cowboys.' The source emphasizes Milton's second-season development: 'He has come so far in his second season with the team and is now marrying his rocket arm with proper anticipation and overall reading of defenses. He has a different feel for the game.' The source notes Milton's contract status — 'he is under contract through next season gives the team some serious stability behind Dak Prescott' — and highlights his passing performance was so strong that 'the other highlights are scattered around to the players who he helped perform. He had that many moments to pick and choose from.'PositiveValueAug 23, 2026
The Cowboys acquired Milton from the Patriots for a minimal cost: a Day 3 pick swap of 46 spots (trading pick 171 for pick 217), essentially nothing compared to the failed Trey Lance trade that cost a fourth-round pick. Milton is now on a cheap rookie deal with $1 million per year for the next two seasons, giving Dallas full player control. JJ Zachariason emphasizes this represents exceptional value given Milton's demonstrated improvement and his role as a quality backup capable of stepping in if the starter goes down.PositiveBreakoutAug 23, 2026
Milton has made massive developmental strides in his second year with Dallas, transforming from a high-variance backup into a composed, accurate passer. In preseason action across two games, he completed 21 of 28 passes (75% completion rate) for 286 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions with a 142.8 passer rating, plus 1 rushing touchdown. His improvement centers on pocket poise, steady footwork, clean decision-making, and notably his ability to stay calm and re-calculate when the pocket collapses rather than panicking. JJ Zachariason notes the contrast is "night and day different" from his 2025 performance, when he showed erratic accuracy and poor decision-making in garbage time. Milton's confidence and playbook familiarity are now on full display, positioning him as a legitimate quality backup option if Dak Prescott misses time.PositiveProjectionAug 23, 2026
Milton showed dramatic year-over-year improvement in his third season. After looking raw in his first preseason, he now calmly hangs in the pocket, runs only when necessary, makes smart decisions, and displays near-perfect touch whether settled or on the run. In this preseason game, he completed 9 of 13 passes for 179 yards with two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown on a quarterback draw, demonstrating sharp decision-making and accuracy.PositiveRoleAug 23, 2026
Milton won the QB2 battle with a spectacular preseason performance against Arizona, leading the Cowboys to a 24-6 halftime lead and accounting for all three touchdowns in the opening 30 minutes. The third-year pro out of Tennessee made the most of his opportunity with the starting nod from head coach Brian Schottenheimer.PositiveProjectionAug 23, 2026
Milton shined in serious fashion in the Cowboys' 34-13 preseason win over Arizona, throwing multiple touchdown passes to Jonathan Mingo and Camden Brown (near-TD), adding a QB sneak touchdown, and demonstrating strong command of the offense in his starting role. His performance was notably impressive compared to Sam Howell's subsequent interception in the fourth quarter, making the QB2 conversation obvious.PositiveProjectionAug 22, 2026
Joe Milton's arm strength and athleticism have always been impressive, but his improved accuracy and touch look significantly better than last year. The source favors him as QB2 ahead of Sam Howell, indicating elevated expectations for the backup quarterback role.PositiveProjectionAug 22, 2026
Milton responded with a good performance in the second half of the first preseason game, showing much improved accuracy compared to previous exhibition performances; his performance over the next two contests could decide how the team's backup QB room looks in September.PositiveProjectionAug 21, 2026
Milton completed 12 of 15 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in his preseason debut against Seattle. The source identifies Milton as the higher-ceiling backup quarterback option compared to Sam Howell, noting that while Milton may have more bust potential, he is capable of doing things athletically and arm-wise that Howell is not. If Milton can build upon this performance against Arizona, he could take a firm lead in the backup quarterback competition, especially given Dak Prescott's advanced age and the Cowboys' need for a contingency plan.NegativeDepth ChartAug 19, 2026
Joe Milton is competing with Sam Howell for a roster placement on the Cowboys' second unofficial preseason depth chart; this pair is competing for roster spots rather than a single critical position.PositiveProjectionAug 17, 2026
QB3 receiving positive feedback on system command from head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who told Milton he thought he 'was maybe in the best command of our system that he's been in,' indicating improved understanding and execution of the offensive system.PositiveRoleAug 17, 2026
Milton held the backup QB role last season but entered the preseason game competing for the QB2 position against Sam Howell. Despite his premier arm strength, he needed to improve his touch and accuracy. In the game, Milton demonstrated significant strides in ball placement and touch, posting a 118.6 QB rating with 1 TD and 0 INTs. He was perfect on third downs, going 6 for 6 facing an average of six yards to gain per conversion attempt, throwing for 54 yards. His throws were characterized as excellent, including a laser to rookie Anthony Smith for a 23-yard pickup on third down that showcased the improved touch and ball placement the team wanted to see more consistently from him.NegativeProjectionAug 17, 2026
Backup quarterback rarely looked comfortable in the pocket during preseason Week 1, as pressure came up the middle at times and off the edge far too often. The second-string offensive line's poor performance limited his ability to operate effectively, though his athleticism allowed him to escape defenders and make plays on the move.PositiveProjectionAug 16, 2026
Backup quarterback showed marked improvement in accuracy and decision-making in preseason game. The source notes Milton offers more big-play ability thanks to his legs and arm, but accuracy had been a problem; in this game, he stayed in the pocket, made good decisions, and threw strikes. The source indicates the coaching staff faced a difficult choice between Milton and starter Sam Howell that hasn't gotten easier after the game.PositiveRoleAug 16, 2026
Cowboys backup quarterback who took over in second half and impressed with athleticism and passing ability; threw 2-yard touchdown pass to Camden Brown and showed mobility, with the source noting 'His passes were a thing of beauty' and describing him as 'really put-together' as an athlete.NegativeRoleAug 15, 2026
Backup quarterback in direct competition with Sam Howell for backup role behind Dak Prescott; preseason performance will be critical as smart, quick decisions and accurate ball delivery are paramount in determining who earns the backup spot with final roster cuts looming.NegativeRoleAug 15, 2026
Competing for the QB2 position in preseason action against Seattle; the source notes a battle between Milton and Sam Howell for the backup quarterback role.NegativeRoleAug 15, 2026
Backup quarterback in an unsettled competition with Sam Howell; listed ahead of Howell on the depth chart but the official designation reads 'Joe Milton OR Sam Howell,' indicating no clear leader; Milton has a slight upper hand from afar, but both QBs have struggled to protect the football in camp; the preseason opener should provide clarity.PositiveRoleAug 13, 2026
Milton is winning the backup quarterback competition against Sam Howell. While he has had trouble with accuracy since joining the Cowboys, he has made some good throws thus far. His athleticism has allowed him to extend plays and make big-time throws outside of the framework of the offense, giving him an edge over Howell in the battle for the backup job.PositiveDepth ChartAug 12, 2026
Joe Milton III has shown enough improvement to be a smidge ahead of new free agent addition Sam Howell for the backup QB job; however, the team used the word 'or' on the depth chart, signaling this battle is far from over.PositiveRoleAug 10, 2026
Milton has shown noticeable improvement on his touch passes and has the most upside of the two QBs competing for the QB2 spot; his encouraging development would allow the Cowboys to use that extra roster spot elsewhere, giving him a slight edge over Sam Howell in the QB2 battle.PositiveRoleAug 8, 2026
In his second season with Dallas, Milton is showing marked improvement in training camp. He has demonstrated better touch on passes and improved pocket presence; while he still escapes early at times, he is looking to throw more than he did in his first season. The source notes the Cowboys were hoping he could take another step after an up-and-down first year, and it appears he has done so.NegativeProjectionAug 2, 2026
Through three practices, Milton went 14-22 for a 64% completion rate. The source notes this statistic probably says more about the quality of the backup QBs than the quality of the defense, given the scripted nature of camp practices.NegativeRoleAug 2, 2026
Joe Milton III trails significantly in the Cowboys QB2 backup competition for 2026, losing a fan poll 20% to 80% against Sam Howell. The source indicates that Howell's prior starting experience is a decisive factor in the battle, suggesting Milton's lack of game experience puts him at a disadvantage in competing for the backup role despite the importance of the position given Dak Prescott's injury history.NegativeRoleJul 30, 2026
Quarterback Joe Milton was noted during Cowboys training camp warmups, with the source highlighting that he maintains his own distinct warmup routine separate from team activities.PositiveRoleJul 29, 2026
Competing in the backup quarterback battle with Sam Howell; has the most upside of the two candidates. With Dak Prescott's every-other-year injury history, the winner of this competition may be forced to play meaningful snaps during the regular season, making the backup QB job a critical position to monitor.NegativeRoleJul 29, 2026
Milton is competing for the Cowboys QB2 backup role. He is a hyper-athletic, mobile QB with a strong arm—traits that can be leveraged as a backup—but accuracy and touch on passes have been a persistent flaw. If he can improve his accuracy and touch, he has significant upside potential.NegativeDepth ChartJul 27, 2026
Competing with Sam Howell for a backup quarterback roster spot on the Cowboys; Milton is characterized as having athletic upside compared to Howell's experience; preseason games could determine the outcome of this roster battle.NegativeRoleJul 24, 2026
Shares a roster spot with Sam Howell; one of them will end up being the backup behind Dak Prescott, with the other likely cut or moved.NegativeRoleJul 23, 2026
The developmental quarterback enters camp looking to showcase his arm strength while also improving his accuracy to solidify his standing as a potential backup option.NegativeRoleJul 23, 2026
Milton is competing with Sam Howell for the backup quarterback role; he is described as raw but talented and is on the roster as the Cowboys' backup option.NegativeRoleJul 22, 2026
Joe Milton III is the incumbent backup QB for Dallas but faces uncertainty in the QB2 competition; while he has an intriguing athletic profile and can throw the ball a long distance, he lacks significant NFL experience compared to Sam Howell, having only served as the Cowboys' primary backup in 2025, which is why the team brought in Howell to compete for the role.NegativeRoleJul 22, 2026
Backup quarterback facing competition from newly acquired Sam Howell; the source wants to see more of Milton to build confidence that he can keep the season afloat if Dak Prescott gets injured, given Prescott's pattern of missing five or more games every other season since 2020.