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NFL - The Athletic fantasy football takes on Dak Prescott
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from NFL - The Athletic about Dak Prescott.
6
Insights
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Positive
2
Negative
Insight ledger
All NFL - The Athletic insights about Dak Prescott
NegativeProjectionAug 19, 2026
Mike Sando revisits Dak Prescott's 2026 QB Tier ranking in the context of quarterback evaluation and tier placement.PositiveProjectionAug 4, 2026
Most voters see Prescott as a high-end Tier 2. An offensive coordinator said: "He runs the show, he operates really well. There is just something that doesn't lump you in with Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, but he's right there. He is fun to watch play quarterback if you appreciate the scheme, how he masters the cadence." Another coach called Prescott "the cockroach of the NFL" for his ability to keep playing at a high level no matter what. A former Cowboys assistant added: "He's really good, he's a good leader, everybody loves him. He's going to make most throws. Could you win the whole thing with Dak Prescott? Yes. But would he be the reason? He's going to help."NegativeProjectionAug 4, 2026
An offensive coach placing Prescott in Tier 3 argued: "Dak is at his best when he can pick and stick, and throw outside the numbers to guys that are elite. While that is impressive to me, I don't think that ever allows you to be a 2, because 2s anticipate, can throw guys open, can sit in there when the pocket is dirty and just make unbelievable plays. Dak hasn't done that consistently. He can't raise the level of the people around him." Another defensive coordinator noted: "He's a 2 until he can do it when it matters. If he was out there (on the market), everybody would want him, but can he get you over the hump? He will have a great season, they will be really good offensively, then they will get to the playoffs, and he will s--- the bed. It's been consistent over his career."PositiveProjectionAug 4, 2026
Prescott got nearly as many Tier 1 votes this year (12) as he'd gotten across nine previous QB Tiers appearances (14), making the fifth-largest year-over-year jump in average tier vote despite already ranking solidly in Tier 2. Across 2023 and 2025, he ranks No. 1 in EPA per pass play among a dozen QBs with at least 30 starts in those seasons. Five of 10 defensive coordinators placed him in the top tier, with his average tier vote from defensive coaches (1.54) much better than from offensive coaches (2.0)—the second-largest gap in that direction behind only Tua Tagovailoa.PositiveProjectionAug 4, 2026
Prescott got nearly as many Tier 1 votes this year (12) as he had gotten across nine previous QB Tiers appearances (14), and he made the fifth-largest year-over-year jump in average tier vote, despite already ranking solidly in Tier 2.NegativeProjectionNo date
Prescott held the top QB contract spot at $60 million AAV after signing a four-year, $240 million extension with the Dallas Cowboys in September 2024, making him the first NFL player to reach that threshold. However, the source argues Prescott was paid above market rate due to unusual leverage—he was entering the final year of his previous contract with no franchise tag option, forcing the Cowboys to either extend him or trade him. Prescott ranked ninth in Sando's QB Tiers even after his best NFL season in 2023 when he finished second in MVP voting, yet was making 9 percent more than the next highest-paid quarterback, indicating the deal was not reflective of his on-field performance relative to peers.