In analysis of the Cowboys’ roster needs this offseason, many have put running back near the bottom of their lists. There’s a prevailing sense of completion for the group and a push for Dallas to focus its attention elsewhere once Javonte Williams was re-signed. However, while there are plenty of bigger needs throughout the roster, it seems that many are missing one critical point in their evaluation of the Cowboys’ depth at running back.
We agree that the running back room, as currently constituted,
would work for most games in 2026. Williams is your all-purpose back and returning starter, while the trio of Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, and Phil Mafah can battle for depth spots. You also have Israel Abanikanda, a fifth-round pick in 2023 by the Jets, who was on Dallas’ practice squad for the final month of last season. Throw in some situational carries for fullback Hunter Luepke and there should be enough there to field a solid group with some versatile usage options.
However, this whole plan depends on one crucial factor: Javonte Williams’ availability. What if he gets injured? How do you feel about the group then?
It’s one thing to ask Davis or Blue to play in spots, or even for a whole game, but what about the long haul? What if Williams goes down in training camp, or early in the regular season? Neither is built to handle a bell cow workload. Davis has struggled to find a lasting role in Dallas because of poor pass blocking and a lack of overall game. While his primetime performances last year made for great, feelgood stories, there’s little reason to think he should be an injury away from RB1. You got away with it last year with Williams’ health, but having good luck doesn’t mean you had good planning.
Blue would likely have similar limitations, and as of a few months ago wasn’t even getting playing time from being in the coaches’ doghouse. While the 2025 draft class was loaded at the position, this is still a guy who fell to the fifth round and was the 13th running back taken. Lots of teams passed on him at numerous points, including the Cowboys, until the investment cost became more insignificant. That, plus the way his rookie year unfolded, has to make you nervous about counting him for a major role.
Mafah could handle more of the dirty work at the position, but has a grand total of seven NFL touches to his name. Assuming he could just take on the grunt work from Williams, aside from just being a short-yardage specialist, is a huge leap from essentially a redshirt rookie season. Mafah fell even further in that same draft than Blue, so that logic applies even more. That’s not to say either guy isn’t capable of being a Day 3 gem and proving their doubters wrong. But again, do you really want to rely on that?
Now, we’re not saying there’s some great answer left out there in free agency. The best back left is probably Brian Robinson Jr., but he may need some more time on the open market before he’d be willing to take backup money in Dallas. The huge health risks on veterans like Joe Mixon and Najee Harris may be somewhat mitigated by reserve roles, but still feel like shaky options. Pretty soon, you’re right back where you started last year with someone like Miles Sanders, who was pretty unimpressive before getting injured.
Is there an argument for Dallas using its third- or fourth-round pick on a running back? That might confound some with the team’s bigger defensive needs, but what if the best player available is a runner with strong backup value and future starter potential? What if it’s a guy who can be an inexpensive RB2 for the next two or three years of Williams’ starting run, and then take over when he departs? You can still let Blue, Davis, and Mafah duke it out for the third spot, and whoever doesn’t land there should make it to the practice squad.
Again, we’re not arguing that last year’s running back room didn’t work out. But it depended too much on Williams staying healthy and handling a heavy workload, which hasn’t exactly been his M.O. for most of his NFL career. We certainly hope that 2025 was the beginning of a long, successful trend for him, just like we hope that our younger backs will take major steps in their development this year. But by not hedging any of those bets this offseason, the Cowboys would be depending heavily on a lot of ideal outcomes. If they really are trying to do big things this year, is that a risk they can afford to take?
