ESPN's Todd Archer writes that there will be a battle for the No. 2 running back role in training camp this summer behind starter Javonte Williams that will consist of Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Malik Davis. Davis won the job a year ago and had a 100-yard game, but he "seems to be something of a forgotten man entering camp." The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of the University of Florida had 52 carries for 250 yards and two touchdowns in his third NFL season in 2025, adding two receptions for 16 yards for the Cowboys. It sounds as though Davis is going to need to step up in camp to hold off both Blue and Mafah. Blue didn't live up to expectations in his rookie campaign, but he has impressed the coaching staff this offseason and can be a difference-maker with his speed. Mafah, a seventh-rounder last year, could also be a dependable depth back. Davis averaged a healthy 4.8 yards in 2025, but he doesn't have any standout traits in the backfield and isn't much of a pass-catcher. Don't automatically assume that he's the handcuff to roster in 2026 if you take Williams
The Dallas Cowboys pretty much wiped the slate clean on the defensive side of the ball after the completion of the 2025 season, bringing in an entirely new coaching staff as well as many new faces, but are running it back with the same offensive unit in 2026. This was an offense that was one of the best last season and has a chance to be even better this year. Returning all of their starters from a season ago means Dallas’ offense should pick up where they left off last year. But, they shouldn’t be complacent with the past success they had. They should want to improve upon the production they had last season and to do that they will need several players to step up their game. Below are the ones that need to improve the most. Guyton, the 29 th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has struggled with both consistency and injuries in his first two seasons with the Cowboys. Because of that, the starting left tackle job is currently up for grabs heading into training camp. Guyton and Nate Thomas are reportedly in a head-to-head battle to earn the starting LT job, with No. 60 being the favored option. One of the two needs to step up, otherwise All-Pro LG Tyler Smith would have to kick back outside, further weakening the interior of Dallas’ OL. Other than re-signing Javonte Williams to return as their RB1, the Cowboys surprisingly didn’t do much of anything to upgrade the running back position. As things stand right now, Jaydon Blue is the favored option to back up Williams this year. He’s a perfect complementary back to do his home run ability as a runner or receiver out of the backfield. But, he only appeared in five games last season, falling well below expectations. He needs to make a significant second-year jump to earn the RB2 job though, otherwise Dallas may need to look elsewhere. For someone who’s never played the center position in his entire life, Cooper Beebe has done an admirable job starting in the middle of the Cowboys OL the past two seasons. He’s continued to improve each year, but entering Year 3 more is needed from him. Beebe has the talent/skill set to potentially be a first-time Pro Bowl player this year, but only if he continues to develop his game. There’s still room for him to improve as a run blocker and even more so in pass protection. The interior of the OL could be dangerous if he ups his game. Despite playing less offensive snaps then former second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker last year, Brevyn Spann-Ford outplayed him and moved up to the TE2 spot behind starter Jake Ferguson last year. A former undrafted free agent, Spann-Ford has continued to get better in each of his first two seasons with the Cowboys and could be more heavily involved in 2026 if Dallas does indeed use more two TE sets as rumored. Where Spann-Ford really needs to up his game the most is to become a more reliable/consistent in the receiving game. Milton was Dak Prescott ’s primary backup a season ago, appearing in only four total games. The Cowboys brought in veteran Sam Howell to compete with him this year and they are both supposedly in a head-to-head battle to earn the QB2 job. Of the two, Milton possesses the most talent/upside due to his God-given arm strength and athleticism. Despite his immense upside though, he has thus far lacked the consistency needed to lockdown the QB2 job. With better accuracy/touch throwing the ball, he could become the backup behind Prescott
Not every position battle is created equal. Some determine depth, while others could shape the Cowboys’ ceiling in 2026. Let’s analyze some of the position battles that could determine the Cowboys’ fate this season. We know Brian Schottenheimer has declared left tackle an open competition, but it’s hard to believe he isn’t using a motivational technique on Tyler Guyton , so we’re skipping it here. This is the only offensive group on this list, and it’s on here because of the question marks behind Javonte Williams . Williams accounted for 52% of the Cowboys’ rushing attempts last season, 56% of rushing yards and 61% of the Cowboys’ rushing TDs. The term bell-cow is used a lot, but there is no denying how important Williams is not only to the run game, but to the entire offense. The next rusher in 2025 after Williams was Malik Davis , and although he has proven to be a serviceable back, the dropoff in stats is immense. Davis gained 250 yards on 52 carries and scored two touchdowns last season, a 951-yard difference in yards gained and a difference of over 200 attempts. Williams is not going to get 300 carries. Another one of these backs needs to emerge like Davis, Jaydon Blue or Phil Mafah , to not just spell Williams, but bring a different dimension to the run game that complements him. Both the floor and the ceiling for this offense, that was already an exceptional unit in 2025, will be taken to new heights if they get an explosive RB2. It is no secret how bad Dallas’ defense was last year. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus paid for it with his job. Linebacker was one of those positions that was constantly getting exposed. Perpetual missed gap assignments and a lack of speed and athleticism exposed this corps. They were among the reasons Cowboys fans were despondent of the defensive performance in 2025. Now the energy has shifted. Christian Parker’s move to a base 3-4 has insulated the interior linebacker position and afforded the would-be starters, DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters , the opportunity to shine. Outside of those two, the position will be defined by depth. Solid depth will allow Overshown and Winters to stay fresh when they need a spell, without having a huge drop-off. There is also the specter of Overshown’s injuries which means someone needs to be ready to step in. This will all depend on whether the second and third unit can develop. As it stands, Jaishawn Barham , Justin Barron , Shemar James , Curtis Robinson and Langston Patterson are penciled in as the backups behind Winters and Overshown. It’s a safe assumption Barham will be playing all over the line of scrimmage and the second level; his ceiling is high, but he still might be a project. Can Barham and James make enough noise to solidify their standing on the roster? If that happens, the second level that saw so much turbulence last year could finally gel and get the Cowboys the stops they couldn’t last season. Another maligned position group in what was a terrible defense, the cornerback battle will be a contest where multiple positions are up for grabs. The projected starters are DaRon Bland and Cobie Durant. Durant will be trying to establish himself in Dallas as a first-year Cowboy; Bland is trying to bounce back from another injury-riddled season. The Cowboys’ secondary allowed the second-worst defensive passer rating last season, as opposing QBs averaged 109.6; only the Jets were worse, averaging 110. The Cowboys will look to make something out of a healthy mix of veterans like Bland and Durant, along with youngsters like Shavon Revel Jr., Caelen Carson , and Devin Moore. The key here for the cornerbacks is simply improving on what was bottom-of-the-barrel defense from a year ago. With reinforcements along the front seven and help on the back end with Caleb Downs , who will be seeing a ton of action at the nickelback position, this proposition isn’t far-fetched. The corners will be pushed by facing a great Cowboys receiving corps in pr
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Running back Jaydon Blue had a hard time getting on the field during his rookie season with the Cowboys. Blue did not make his regular season debut until Week 5 and only appeared in five games over the course of the season. He finished the year with 38 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown after being drafted in the fifth round out of Texas. Blue’s work habits were questioned last summer and he suggested that he’s learned from that experience while discussing his preparation for Year 2 earlier this month. “I didn’t start off like I should have,” Blue said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “Maybe if it was not practicing the right way or just on a maturity level, I think I wasn’t really there. But just learning from all the vets, having the offseason that I’ve had, I think I’m ready to go. Just looking back on the things I didn’t do too well and some of the reasons I wasn’t on the field last year, taking the stuff my coaches were saying and making sure I apply them, whether that’s this offseason or when I’m by myself.” Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he was “very honest” with Blue about why he was inactive so often last season and that the running back “came back with a different look” this spring. That should help his bid to earn more time behind Javonte Williams, but there will be more work to do on that front when the Cowboys kick off camp this summer
Jaydon Blue is looking to bounce back in his second NFL season with the Cowboys, acknowledging he wasn't prepared for his rookie year. He aims to earn the No. 2 running back role behind Rico Dowdle (implied)
The Cowboys are looking to add depth to their roster after minicamp, with a focus on edge rusher and running back positions. Potential additions include veterans like Jadeveon Clowney, and they are also evaluating free agents like Austin Ekeler
Jaydon Blue's maturity and awareness have improved significantly heading into Year 2, and he's poised to make a strong impact as the Cowboys' primary backup
It’s been a few years since the Dallas Cowboys went into training camp with a sure thing at running back, but they finally enjoy that luxury again with Javonte Williams in 2026. Fresh off a career-saving season and with a new contract to show for it, Williams looks ready to be RB1 in Dallas for more than just next season. Years in NFL: 5 Acquired by: Free agency (2025) Williams was a high second-round pick, 35th overall, by the Broncos in 2021. While he was the backup to Melvin Gordon for most of that first year, starting only one game, it was a true timeshare arrangement as each got exactly 203 carries. Williams’ solid rookie production totaled 903 rushing yards and four touchdowns, plus another 316 yards and three touchdowns on 43 receptions. In his second year, Williams started the first four games but suffered a major knee injury. Though he returned in 2023 and missed just one game over his next two years in Denver , Williams’ struggled on the field and averaged below 4.0 yards per carry both seasons. He didn’t look like the same player anymore, and it was little surprise that the Broncos did not re-sign him after his rookie contract ended. 2025 was an interesting time to be a free agent running back. The year before, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry had done their best to put some prestige and negotiating power back into the position. But Williams wasn’t in position to benefit from their efforts. He was a classic bargain-bin option, coming off low-performing seasons and with concern that he’d never bounce back from a major injury. The Cowboys, still stinging from the fall of Ezekiel Elliott and a disappointing franchise-tag year from Tony Pollard , weren’t looking to spend big money at RB that offseason. They grabbed Williams quickly in free agency on just a one-year, $3.5 million deal to compete for their open starting job. They also brought in an older veteran, Miles Sanders , and two rookies in Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah for what felt like a very open competition after the draft. Quickly into training camp, it was clear that Williams was running away with the starting job. He was getting the first-team reps in practice and then sat out the preseason. We soon found out why as Williams scored two touchdowns in the opener, setting a pace that would give him eight touchdowns in as many games over the first half of the season. Williams’ big year totals were 252 carries for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns, plus 35 catches for 137 yards a two more scores. He was RB1 through and through, and Dallas locked him into that role going forward with a new contract this offseason. Years Left: 3 2026 Cap Hit: $3.89 million Williams’ deal averages $8 million per year total, but the Cowboys structured the first year to lower his salary and increased the bonus money for some cap relief. With Williams now a 26-year-old back, Dallas probably won’t mess around with his contract too much more to preserve their options in the future. For 2026 at least, if he resumes last year’s level of play, Williams should be a very cap-friendly contributor on offense. Role: Starting RB Roster Chance: 100% Dallas’ open situation for the backup spots at running back is no secret. From Malik Davis to Blue, Mafah, and even Israel Abanikanda , there are multiple viable candidates to fill the depth chart. But the top spot is clearly Williams’ this year. He has the style of a workhorse back, with versatile enough skills as a receiver and blocker to never come off the field unless he needs a breather. The Cowboys will likely find ways to use the backups, especially if Blue emerges as a trustworthy change-of-pace option. They don’t to ride Williams into the dirt, either for a hopeful playoff run now or to keep him viable during the remaining years of his contract. But we fully expect him to still get the lion’s share of the touches, and that should be a positive thing for Dallas’ offense. Check out our previous player profiles from this series: RB Israel [... truncated ...]
Every Cowboys fan knows there’s going to be battle for the backup RB position in this year’s camp, but how many see Israel Abanikanda as one of the contenders? A late addition to last year’s practice squad, Abanikanda may be a more meaningful presence this summer than you think. Years in NFL: 3 Acquired by: Free agency (2025) After a strong college career at Pitt, Abanikanda entered the NFL draft process with the label of an athletically gifted runner, mixing power and speed, but lacking in technique. Considered a mid-round prospect in the 2023 draft class, Abanikanda was taken in the fifth round by the Jets. He survived final cuts but was stuck behind Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook on the depth chart. He only dressed for six games near the end of the season and received just 22 total carries in those limited appearances. It would get worse in 2024. The Jets drafted two more RBs that year, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis , and pushed Abanikanda further down the depth chart. They still kept him on the 53 for three months, though, before finally releasing him in early December. The 49ers claimed Abanikanda off waivers for the final few games of the regular season, but he never got any playing time. San Francisco waived Abanikanda just before the start of its 2025 training camp, but he was claimed by Green Bay . He made it onto the Packers’ practice squad briefly, but was released in early September. He didn’t get a new home until the Cowboys signed him to their practice in late November. He remained there through the season and signed a new deal to stay with Dallas this offseason. Years Left: 2 2026 Cap Hit: 1.08 million While he has zero guaranteed money on the deal, Abanikanda doesn’t have to worry too much about finances working against him in the RB competition. None of Malik Davis , Jaydon Blue , or Phil Mafah have financial entanglements in their contracts, so Dallas can make their decision purely based on performance. Role: Backup RB Roster Chance: 20% Many see the RB2 competition as a two-horse race between Blue and Davis, though some would add Mafah to the list. And there is still a thought that Javonte Williams ’ backup isn’t even on the roster yet, with several veterans still hanging around in free agency. As we’ve seen in recent years with guys like Miles Sanders , Royce Freeman , and Ronald Jones , Dallas has valued experience on the RB depth chart. But Freeman and Jones never played a game for the Cowboys, and Sanders was struggling mightily before he got injured last year. Let’s say Dallas keeps the competition as is. While Davis or Blue gives you a change-of-pace option, neither is built to handle a full workload if Williams were to miss significant time. Mafah may be, but he barely played last year and may need more development. There’s room for someone to break into this group and give the Cowboys something to think about, and there are reasons to think Abanikanda could do it. While he’s been around the NFL for over three years now, Abanikanda is still just 23 years old. He’s just a couple of weeks older than Mafah and three months older than Blue, so he’s still an equally young prospect. His running style more closely resembles Williams’ than either Davis or Blue, perhaps making him a more ideal backup. The key for Abanikanda is if he can show some refinement in his overall game. Despite his size, pass blocking was considered a weakness coming out of college. He’ll need to be better there, and show better ability to read blocks and allow his blocks to develop. We’ve seen how Williams, despite being powerful, displays shiftiness and adapts as the play unfolds in front of him. That will be a key for either Abanikanda or Mafah if they’re going to make it at this level. Abanikanda is certainly not a favorite in this summer’s RB competition, but he’s worth keeping an eye on. He was considered to have starting potential in the class of 2023. He’s admittedly struggled to find a lasting home so far in the NFL,
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Blue is competing with Malik Davis and Phil Mafah for No. 2 running back reps behind starter Javonte Williams at OTAs, Todd Archer of ESPN reports. Blue, a 2025 fifth-round pick, was a healthy scratch for 12 games as a rookie and only tallied 38 carries for 129 yards and one score across the five regular-season appearances he did log. Among those games was Dallas' regular-season finale against the Giants in Week 18, however, in which Blue stepped into the No. 1 role with both Williams and Davis sidelined, totaling 16 carries for 64 yards and his sole career score. Blue is undersized at 5-foot-9, 196 pounds, but he boasts 4.38-second 40 speed and could carve out a change-of-pace role behind Williams with a strong offseason
Blue's rookie season as a fifth-round pick was mostly disappointing, as he couldn't earn playing time despite Dallas' lack of depth at the position, losing out on the RB2 role to career backup Malik Davis even after Miles Sanders' season-ending injury in Week 4. Blue (4.38-second 40) offers intriguing speed and pass-catching ability, but his polish in other parts of the game were lacking in 2025. Blue doesn't run with much power at 5-foot-9, 196 pounds, and both ball security and pass blocking are likely concerns additionally. If Blue can earn more carries then his more immediately developed ability as a receiver should get more chances too, but if he can't conclusively push aside non-prospects like Davis then the hope will quickly fade. In the meantime, though, Blue still has a chance as a 22-year-old prospect heading into his second NFL season. If he can't get cracking in a hurry then the long-term projection quickly turns for the worse, though
Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue did very little in his first professional season after the team selected him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. A healthy scratch in 12 games, he totaled only 129 rushing yards as a rookie on a 3.4-yard per carry average, and yet he remains a dynasty hold in all but the shallowest of leagues. With the Cowboys largely focused on defense in what was a weak 2026 NFL Draft for running backs, Blue finds himself in competition with only Malik Davis and 2025 seventh-round pick Phil Mafah for the primary backup spot behind Javonte Williams. With the team committing $16 million in guaranteed money to Williams as part of the three-year extension he signed this offseason, it's evident that he is viewed as a true bellcow, but his injury history brings added value to whoever can earn the backup job. On talent alone, Blue should have an advantage, but Davis looked serviceable in his limited opportunities in 2025, averaging almost five yards per carry and topping 100 yards when given the bulk of the work in a Week 17 win over the Commanders. At RotoBaller's dynasty RB68, Blue is unlikely to make a meaningful fantasy impact, but at only 22 years old and offering an element of speed not possessed by any other back on the roster, he's at least worth holding through training camp in hopes that a pecking order becomes more clearly defined
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