Overview
- Sportsbooks on Sept. 8, 2026 list Dak Prescott among early MVP favorites with FanDuel at +1400 and DraftKings at +1200, signaling strong market confidence in his regular-season upside.
- Prescott arrives off a breakout 2025 campaign in which he threw for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and earned a Pro Bowl selection.
- Analytic preseason projections, including a Bleacher Report forecast, peg Dallas around a 10-7 finish and say modest defensive improvement is the key difference between a Wild Card team and a deeper postseason run.
- The Cowboys substantially retooled their defense this offseason by drafting safety Caleb Downs and adding pass rusher Rashan Gary plus new starters at linebacker and safety, and Downs is listed with competitive Defensive Rookie of the Year odds (FanDuel +650, DraftKings +600).
- Prescott’s limited playoff record (2-5) and the early Coach of the Year attention around Brian Schottenheimer mean the club’s short-term expectations center on translating offensive firepower into postseason wins if the rebuilt defense produces real improvement.