3 players Cowboys need production from in Week 5 against the Steelers

The Dallas Cowboys head to the Week 5 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers at a pretty significant disadvantage. Not only are they hitting the road once again for the second consecutive week to play in a hostile environment, but they will also be without several key starters on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball this week.

Injuries leave the Cowboys a little short-handed this week, meaning the entire team as well as a few individuals will need to step up their game this week if they want any chance of walking away with the "W" against the Steelers. Today, we are going to identify a few of these individual players for the Cowboys who we believe need a big game this week.

WR Jalen Tolbert With Brandin Cooks out in this Week 5 matchup with the Steelers, Jalen Tolbert will slide into the WR2 role this week with the Cowboys. He has shown a few flashes this year of his potential to be a legitimate threat in the passing game, but so far the consistency hasn't been there for him. That needs to change and quickly for him this week. He should be targeted more this week against the Steelers, giving them the opportunity to prove he really has taken the Year 3 jump many were expecting from him heading into the 2024 season.

RB Rico Dowdle Due to injuries to key starters on both offense and defense, the Cowboys really need to control the time of possession this week to give them the best chance of winning. That means they need what has been one of the worst rushing attacks in the league this year to suddenly show signs of life in this Week 5 matchup. To date, Rico Dowdle has been the most impressive of the bunch, but even he needs to step up his game this week. That will be tough against a Steelers defense allowing only 93 yards a game, 3.7 yards per carry.

DE Marshawn Kneeland/Carl Lawson Someone needs to step up at defensive end for the Cowboys with both Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence out this week. Marshawn Kneeland and Carl Lawson look to be the "next man up". Neither player has recorded a sack this year, but that's not surprising considering Dallas' entire pass rush has struggled pressuring the QB through the first four weeks of the season. Considering Justin Fields has been sacked 10 times so far this season, the opportunity is there for both Kneeland and Lawson to get their hands on him.