BATTLE LINES: Dallas Cowboys Running Back - 07.22.25
The dynasty community watched the NFL Draft with bated breath as the Dallas Cowboys passed on early-round RBs for a second straight season. Instead, they took Jaydon Blue in the 5th round and Phil Mafah in the 7th, two prospects with very different styles. Add in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders on one-year prove-it deals, and you have a massive mess to unravel in the Lone Star State.
Dallas boasts a top 16 scoring offense heading into 2025, meaning this backfield holds value. But can any single back stand out and seize a role that matters for fantasy? Let’s break down the contenders.
While Hunter Luepke (FB) and Deuce Vaughn remain on the roster, neither profiles as a realistic threat to the backfield hierarchy. Luepke saw just 12 carries and 12 receptions last year and feels locked into a niche role. Vaughn has totaled only 110 rushing yards on 40 carries over two seasons, and at this point, feels more like an afterthought.
That narrows the field to four players vying for fantasy relevance:
Javonte Williams should get the first crack as the lead back and offers the highest upside if he’s finally healthy.
Jaydon Blue brings positional versatility and burst that can be deployed creatively, and earn a valuable passing-game role.
Miles Sanders looks like a camp body with minimal juice left in the tank.
Phil Mafah is the wildcard, and the most likely to crack the box score with touchdowns.
The Contenders
Javonte Williams | The Former highlight Reel
Sleeper: RB41 | Dynasty Nerds: RB41 | KTC: RB46 | Dynasty Daddy: RB47 | FantasyPros: RB42
Contract: 1 year / $3 million
2024 Stats: 191 touches, 859 total yards, 4 TDs
Fantasy Angle: He’s the only one with a true 20-touch ceiling
Javonte enters camp as the leader of the Cowboys backfield, but he’s not walking in with hype; he’s dragging in questions. Once a dynamic tackle breaker, a brutal knee injury has left dynasty managers wondering if the highlight reel’s over or just paused. Last year, he looked like a shadow of the runner we once believed in.
But Dallas is the land of opportunity. No established starter. No major draft capital behind him. And now, at just 25, with a full offseason of recovery and motivation, there’s a window for rebirth, and I’m betting on it.
I’ve got Javonte projected for over 50%+ of the backfield touches, with just over 1,000 rushing yards and 9 total TDs. The tape may have glitched, but there’s still time for a sequel.
Miles Sanders | Value Rack Veteran
Sleeper: RB84 | Dynasty Nerds: NR | KTC: RB84 | Dynasty Daddy: RB81 | FantasyPros: RB74
Contract: 1-year deal, $1.34 million
2024 Stats: 79 touches, 353 yards, 3 TDs
Fantasy Angle: Dark horse appeal; a low-cost preseason stash
Just two years ago, Miles Sanders secured a solid payday. Fast forward, and now he’s clinging to a roster spot on a vet-minimum deal in Dallas. The fall from grace has been steep. He enters camp clearly behind Javonte Williams, hoping to carve out a role in a chaotic backfield.
The tape hasn’t been kind recently. He’s looked slow and uninspiring with the ball in his hands. The one-year contract screams "depth piece," and there’s little reason to believe he’ll be anything more than a rotational spell back. There’s not much tread left on the tires. Maybe not any. Dynasty managers are clinging to hope.
Jaydon Blue | One-Speed Wonder
Sleeper: RB39 | Dynasty Nerds: RB46 | KTC: RB41 | Dynasty Daddy: RB38 | FantasyPros: RB50
Draft Capital: 5th round (2025)
College Stats: 1161 rush yards, 56 rec, 503 rec yards, 18 TDs
Fantasy Angle: Receiving chops give him sneaky PPR upside
The Cowboys spent a 5th-round pick on Jaydon Blue, a big-play threat out of Texas with jets in his cleats and soft hands to match. It’s easy to see how he could carve out a fantasy-relevant role as a passing-down weapon in this unclaimed backfield.
Early whispers from camp have labeled him “lazy,” but that’s just July noise. What matters is this: Blue has the kind of explosive skill set no one else in this RB room can replicate. If he seizes those Turpin touches and tacks on a few snaps from Javonte, he could become a sneaky PPR weapon and chunk-play artist.
For now, he looks like a best ball flyer with upside. But if he earns that passing-down role, dynasty managers may want to pay attention before the wheels take off.
Phil Mafah | Blunt Force Trauma
Sleeper: RB83 | Dynasty Nerds: NR | KTC: RB87 | Dynasty Daddy: RB81 | FantasyPros: RB115
Draft Capital: 7th round (2025)
College Stats: 2887 rush yards, 58 rec, 309 rec yards, 28 TDs
Fantasy Angle: Goal-line/short-yardage role; touchdown-dependent best ball stash
Phil Mafah isn’t flashy, but he’s got believers. And with nearly 3,000 rushing yards and 28 TDs in his college career, he’s earned them. A 7th-round pick, he enters camp buried on the depth chart, but not out of the picture. Mafah’s short-yardage skill set is tailor-made for goal-line work, and in a projected top-half scoring offense, those touches matter.
While most write him off as a pure grinder, Mafah has reliable enough hands to surprise in the passing game if given the chance. He’s not just a hammer, he’s a bruiser with enough finesse to hold down more than just the dirty work.
If he can rise above the noise and carve out a niche, Mafah could be this year’s late-round wrecking ball. In deep leagues or best ball formats, he’s worth the stash.
