RELATED: See all of our 2026 Player Spotlights here
What a difference a year makes
A year ago, none of us knew what to do with the Cowboys' backfield. Coming off a dismal 2024 that saw the team finish 27th in rushing yards and dead last in rushing scores, most expected the front office to prioritize acquiring a top-end tailback for 2025 under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. But when the dust settled following free agency and the NFL draft, Dallas was looking at a motley committee consisting of:
- Javonte Williams: Signed a one-year, $3 million prove-it deal coming off an injury-riddled four seasons in Denver.
- Miles Sanders: Signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract following his cap-related release from Carolina.
- Jaydon Blue: Drafted in the fifth round of the April 2025 draft.
- Phil Mafah: Drafted in the seventh round of the April 2025 draft.
- Malik Davis: On and off the practice squad throughout the summer.
Williams was far and away the most compelling piece of the puzzle given his draft pedigree and the baseline expectations he established before a multiple-ligament knee injury robbed him of his explosiveness in Denver. Yet, because Williams hadn't cracked the top 30 at the position since his rookie season, fantasy expectations were understandably muted. As training camp got underway and a healthy Williams was talked up as the definitive starter, his ADP still only crept into the low-end RB3 range.
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Anyone who took the leap ended up securing one of the absolute best values in fantasy at any position.
2025 Production:
- 252 rushes
- 1,201 rushing yards
- 4.8 YPC
- 11 rushing TDs
- 51 targets
- 35 receptions
- 137 receiving yards
- 2 receiving TDs
- 229.3 fantasy points (0.5 PPR)
- RB11 overall finish
Despite finishing as a top-12 back last year, fantasy managers are still not fully buying in. He is currently being drafted as the RB17 at the tail end of the third round in 12-team leagues. There is absolutely no reason Williams shouldn't be a primary target for you in the third round; he is all but certain to be one of the best options on the board at his current cost.
Room for Improvement: Rushing Volume
When Brian Schottenheimer took over as head coach, many (myself included) expected Dallas to deploy a run-first, conservative offense. That proved dead wrong. Driven by the stunning trio of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens, the Cowboys finished second in passing yards and fifth in passing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the rushing offense sharply improved in efficiency, even if the coaches didn't call running plays as often as expected.
Cowboys Team Rushing Ranks (2020–2025):
| Year | Rushes | Yards | YPAtt | TDs | Year | Rushes | Yards | YPAtt | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 15th | 17th | 23rd | 21st | 2023 | 14th | 14th | 20th | 15th |
| 2021 | 12th | 9th | 8th | 17th | 2024 | 24th | 27th | 30th | 32nd |
| 2022 | 6th | 9th | 18th | 2nd | 2025 | 16th | 9th | 9th | 11th |
The 2025 unit was highly efficient (9th in yards per attempt), but volume lagged behind at 16th overall. Entering Year Two, there is no doubt Schottenheimer wants to run more when the game script allows. More attempts mean more opportunities for Williams, both in terms of raw volume and crucial red-zone touches.
An Improved Defense is the Key
It is important to understand that Dallas' pass-first approach last year was as much a function of a porous defense as it was coaching intent. The defense was a top-five unit in 2023 under Dan Quinn but collapsed over the subsequent two seasons:
- 2023: 5th in points allowed | 5th in yards allowed
- 2024: 31st in points allowed | 28th in yards allowed
- 2025: 32nd in points allowed | 30th in yards allowed
Veteran coordinators Mike Zimmer (2024) and Matt Eberflus (2025) were both one-and-done as a result. Now, the front office has opted for a younger, less proven coordinator in Christian Parker. Anytime you hire someone who has never called plays before, uncertainty follows, but Parker's pedigree is highly encouraging. He coached under Vic Fangio in Denver and Philadelphia and was credited with molding young defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean into first-team All-Pro selections.
Beyond Parker, the Cowboys dramatically revamped the defensive roster. Dallas projects to feature between five and seven new starters this year, blending veteran acquisitions with early-round draft picks.
New Defensive Faces:
- Defensive Line: Quinnen Williams (acquired at last year's trade deadline), Otito Ogbonnia, Jonathan Bullard, LT Overton
- Edge: Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence
- Linebacker: Dee Winters, Jaishawn Barham
- Defensive Back: Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, Cobie Durant, P.J. Locke
This overhauled unit doesn't need to be elite; it just needs to approach league average. If that happens, Schottenheimer can safely throw less and run more; matching his historic coaching preferences.
How Good Is the Offensive Line?
With the offseason focus locked on fixing the defense, the Cowboys largely stood pat on offense, including the line. Outside of rookie fourth-rounder Drew Shelton, the personnel projects identically to last year. If things go according to plan, the starting five features:
- LT: Tyler Guyton
- LG: Tyler Smith
- C: Cooper Beebe
- RG: Tyler Booker
- RT: Terence Steele
Footballguys offensive line analyst Matt Bitonti grades the unit 13th overall and assigns identical 13th-place rankings to both run-blocking and pass-blocking. Bitonti values continuity more than most, and his ranking specifically cites the group's "perfect cohesion."
Other industry analysts are less enthusiastic, largely driven by Tyler Guyton's shaky play last season. Guyton must take a step forward, or Dallas could opt to give third-year tackle Nate Thomas a shot. However, Thomas was a seventh-round pick; if he sees the field, it is more a condemnation of Guyton than an endorsement of Thomas' upside.