Rookie Randle takes over for Cowboys' Murray

DRAFTING running back DeMarco Murray was like booking a flight with a small airline company. Yeah, the price was good, but the plane had mechanical problems, they charged 50 bucks to check a bag and required a credit card to purchase a cup of water. You get what you pay for.

Murray's kind of the same way. He was generally available in the third round and put up 175 yards for Dallas in Week 3. But now he's back in the hangar with an MCL sprain and will be out for at least this week's game against the Eagles. Murray missed six games last year and three as a rookie in 2011.

Joseph Randle, a rookie who got his first real action when Murray went down last week, is expected to make his first start.

"I feel pretty comfortable," Randle told the Dallas Morning News. "Playing running back is something I've been doing for a long time. Football is football. Once I got here, I was like, 'Dang, this is still football.' It's really no different. It's still football. I'm comfortable playing football."

Didn't know kids still said "dang."

Randle played at Oklahoma State and was the Big 12's leading rusher last season. He ran for 24 touchdowns in 2011, second most in school history to the 37 Barry Sanders posted when he won the Heisman in 1988.

Randle had just 17 yards on 11 carries last week against Washington, but he did score a touchdown.

The Eagles haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher all year and have given up three touchdowns on the ground to RBs. Not '85 Bears, but not bad either.

Randle should be picked up in all fantasy leagues, but he's only a flex option this week. Let's get a full game under his belt.

"We've all seen a progression in him, over the course of training camp and into the season," said Cowboys coach Jason Garrett. "He's taken advantage of opportunities [and] he has a lot to learn . . . but he goes about it the right way."

How many receiving yards will DeSean Jackson get this week?

Aside from a monster 210-yard game in 2010, the Cowboys have mostly kept the Eagles receiver bottled up during his first 5 seasons. Over the last two years, he's averaged 61 yards per game against the 'Pokes. Through six games of 2013, Jackson is averaging 98.2.

The reader who comes closest to guessing Jackson's total receiving yards will get a Daily News Fantasy Football shirt and be the envy of dozens of people in the Philadelphia area. In the event of a tie, one winner will be selected randomly.

To enter, simply send an email to FantasyFootball@phillynews.com by noon on Sunday. Include your hometown.

Quarterbacks: According to most standard scoring systems, nobody gives up more points to opposing quarterbacks than the Cowboys, so play Nick Foles. Dallas' numbers aren't simply skewed by the 414 yards and four touchdowns Peyton Manning lit them up for in Week 5. The Cowboys also have surrendered 400-yard days to Eli Manning (four touchdowns) and Philip Rivers (three scores).

Running backs: Carolina's DeAngelo Williams' 91 carries are the most for any running back that has not scored a touchdown this year. The Panthers host the Rams, who are tied for the league high of allowing six rushing TDs to opposing running backs . . . Arian Foster did not practice because of a sore hamstring, but he is expected to play Sunday against the Chiefs. With Case Keenum making his first career start at quarterback - at raucous Arrowhead Stadium, no less - the Texans should run the ball so much that backup RB Ben Tate warrants flex consideration in leagues of 12 or more.

Wide receivers: Dallas' Miles Austin sat out yesterday's practice with what's being termed as a rest day. If he plays, Austin and his cranky hamstring are no more than a low WR3. If he sits, Terrance Williams jumps up to a mid-WR3 and an excellent flex option . . . The extra work with quarterback Matt Ryan during the bye can only be good for Atlanta's Harry Douglas, who essentially is the Falcons' only experienced receiver. Julio Jones (foot) is out and Roddy White (ankle, hamstring) is looking doubtful, which makes Douglas an interesting flex and Tony Gonzalez arguably this week's top tight end . . . Justin Blackmon is a must-start, which means there are more Jaguars with fantasy appeal than Giants.

Green Bay wide receiver Jarrett Boykin will step into the lineup as the replacement for Randall Cobb, who is out until at least December with a broken right fibula. Boykin (6-2, 218), in his second season out of Virginia Tech, had one catch and two drops on six targets last week. He is worth a stash in leagues of 12 or more.

There is a note in an NFL release that points out a remarkable run (sort of) by Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson. In his last eight games against AFC teams - the equivalent of half a season - Johnson has 60 catches for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns. It does not, however, point out that Johnson had three catches for 25 yards last week at Cleveland. The Lions host Cincinnati on Sunday.

Ed Barkowitz, who needed just two more blessed points out of either DeMarco Murray or Dan Bailey on Sunday night, has been writing about fantasy football in the Daily News since 2001.