10. Michael Gallup – This entire list is filled with players who have been less than perfect, which is one reason why the team is barely over .500 at 4-3. Gallup is one of them as he got off to a fast start with two big games before a knee injury sidelined him for three more. In his return, Gallup has been hit or miss, including a struggling effort against the Jets. He dropped three passes in the loss when the Cowboys desperately needed him to step up with other receivers out. Still, if he can stay healthy for the last nine games, he's on pace to record nearly 75 catches for over 1,200 yards. There's not a team in the NFL that wouldn't take that from their No. 2 receiver, especially in a run-oriented offense.

9. Jaylon Smith – Whether or not he has met the lofty expectations that are set when a player signs a $64 million contract extension like Smith did before the season, you can't argue that he's still had his moments of great play. He is the team's leading tackler with 69 tackles and has had some clutch takeaways, including two forced fumbles that either prevented an opponent's touchdown or led to points for the Cowboys.

8. Zack Martin – Last week, the five-time All-Pro said he is playing the worst football of his career. And that's probably why he's just eighth on the list. But talk about high standards. Name another player who could be having his worst season and still find himself among the team's best players. Martin might be struggling with a nagging back injury, but he's still finding a way to get the job done. His penalties have decreased here lately and he's starting to get back to his old self.

7. Tyron Smith – Like Martin, the All-Pro tackle has been slowed by injuries, even missing two games because of a high-ankle sprain. But when he's out there, Smith is a difference-maker. The Cowboys are 4-1 in the games he starts, with the only loss occurring against the Saints in a game Smith didn't finish because of the injury.

6. Byron Jones – When you consider the fact Jones missed all of the offseason and nearly the entire practices of training camp with a hip injury, his play over the first seven games is close to remarkable. Yes, he's a Pro Bowl corner who made an All-Pro selection last year, but his injury hasn't slowed him down much this year. He doesn't have an interception, but he was able to get those accolades last year without one as well.

5. La'el Collins – Last week, Jerry Jones called his gutty performance against the Eagles the best game of Collins' career. And it doesn't stop there as his first half of the season has likely been the best stretch of his career, too. Collins did miss one full game with a knee injury, but in the ones he has played and finished, Collins looks every bit worthy of the contract he signed before the season.

4. Amari Cooper – Cooper has had a big hand in both the wins and losses this year. But his stats rank among the NFL's best and some of the highlights he has made justifies him at this No. 4 spot. But you can't deny that he had two big penalties in the loss to the Saints, a key drop that led to an interception against the Packers and then only played a handful of snaps against the Jets and was sorely missed. Still, he had a huge numbers game later in the day against Green Bay and the injury wasn't his fault, of course. The season has already had ups and downs but Cooper is the team leader in catches, yards and touchdown receptions.

3. Robert Quinn – The Cowboys knew he would help the pass rush, but Quinn has been a pleasant surprise, leading the team with six sacks. And that's including missing two games due to a suspension. DeMarcus Lawrence gets his share of double-team blocks and Quinn has benefitted from that. But he's starting to get a few doubles as well and still provides a steady rush. He is also tied for the team lead with 17 quarterback pressures.

2. Ezekiel Elliott – He's a close second to the top spot. Maybe his fumble against the Saints that cost the team likely a six-point swing is the only real blemish on his season so far. Zeke leads the team in overall touchdowns with six, and his 602 rushing yards ranks seventh in the NFL. This past week against the Eagles, Zeke had one of his best overall games, not only rushing and catching the ball, scoring TDs, but his blocking in pass protection showed why he's one of the more all-around players in football. Don't forget, Zeke did all of this without a training camp as he missed the entire month in a contract holdout.

1. Dak Prescott – If a contract negotiation was supposed to distract the Cowboys' starting quarterback, it certainly hasn't. in fact, maybe it has motivated Dak through the first seven games. Sure, you'd like the Cowboys to be stronger than 4-3 after seven games, but his stats are off the charts. Even in the losses, Dak hasn't been terrible. He nearly brought back a short-handed offense to a win over the Jets and although he struggled against the Packers early, he did throw for over 450 yards. His 2,123 yards passing ranks first among all players who have played just seven games.