KaVontae

Turpin

This will be a third-straight missed game for Turpin as he battles his rib issue. The 30-year-old has just seven targets on the season, but will again be missed by Dallas in the return game. Malachi Lawrence has also been ruled out by the Cowboys due to his ankle injury.

Week 8 will mark the second consecutive absence for the veteran kick returner, with little-to-no impact on the offensive pieces around him considering he has played more than 12 offensive snaps only once all season. Fantasy managers are more interested in the potential status of George Pickens, who is listed as questionable. If Pickens can’t go, Ryan Flournoy could see a slight uptick in opportunities on the perimeter.

Pickens played through a minor shoulder injury last week, but the hamstring designation is new. He was still a limited practice participant, indicating neither injury should be an issue for his Week 8 status. Meanwhile, WR/KR KaVontae Turpin (ribs) was an estimated DNP in practice after not playing last week. The Cowboys may be missing Turpin again as a kick returner and gadget player on offense, but Pickens should still be the WR2 for Sunday against the Cardinals.

Turpin’s absence will be felt most on special teams, with the team now forced to find a replacement on punt and kick returns. Otherwise, there is almost zero fantasy impact as the team’s WR4.

Turpin departed before the first offensive play run from scrimmage after sustaining a ribs injury on the opening kickoff. He was taken to the locker room for x-rays and is listed as questionable to return by the team.

Turpin ends the season with 26 catches on 38 targets for 396 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 16 carries for 82 rushing yards, but his primary value was as a kick returner. On the season, he had 69 kick returns for 1,814 yards, which leads the league as of the end of this game. That will be his primary role in 2026 as well.

It took all of one target for Turpin to make his mark felt in the win as he broke free of primary coverage and split the safeties deep down the middle for an 86-yard, catch-and-run score. Turpin continues to play behind Jalen Tolbert but his flashy touchdown demonstrates his big play ability.

Turpin played through the same shoulder injury in Week 13’s win over the Chiefs. The Cowboys’ special teams ace has posted a meager 19-260-1 receiving line this season and isn’t on the fantasy radar for Week 14 against the Lions.

KaVontae Turpin was also cleared to play. Pickens was held out of practice on Monday but returned for a limited session on Tuesday. He was full-go today before being removed from the injury report entirely. Pickens has worked himself into a weekly WR1 ranking and is even threatening to overtake CeeDee Lamb. Both he and Lamb are elite fantasy options for Week 13.

Turpin was a DNP on Monday. The shifty slot receiver/returner looks to be trending towards playing on a short week after taking three touches for a combined 52 yards on Sunday afternoon.