Javonte Williams DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams was seen taking reps with the first team during the portion of last Tuesday's OTAs that was open to the media, according to Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com. Williams signed with Dallas during the offseason, and their crowded backfield now features Williams, Jaydon Blue, and Miles Sanders, among other depth pieces. While this update from Yarrish could provide some insight into the Cowboys' backfield dynamic, it's important to note that the regular season is still several months away and the depth chart is destined to change. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer echoed this sentiment, saying, "It's too early to tell. Last year, we went into it thinking it's going to be by committee and then at the end of the year, we changed that." He noted that Williams and Sanders got an early jump on the competition by signing during the offseason, but even Blue has made impressive progress in the few weeks since being drafted.

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams is ready for a fresh start after inking a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the team in March. The 25-year-old showed promise during his inaugural season, finishing with 1,219 yards from scrimmage while combining for seven touchdowns. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in October 2022 and didn't look like the rookie version in his final two years in Denver. However, Williams recently reported he's finally feeling good after sustaining the injury nearly three years ago. "I feel completely like myself," said Williams. "I probably can get more flexible and things like that, but as far as healing up, that I feel like is done." The 2021 No. 35 overall pick is eager to prove himself, especially now that he feels as well as he did before the knee injury. The backfield is crowded in Dallas, with Miles Sanders signing with the club this offseason. Deuce Vaughn is also still on the roster, at least for now, and the Cowboys bolstered the backfield even more by adding Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah via the 2025 NFL Draft. Yet, it appears Williams is the early favorite to sit atop the depth chart heading into Week 1, considering he's taken the bulk of first-team snaps at OTAs. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer plans to utilize the run more often, so there could be plenty of reps for multiple backs. If anything, Williams seems to be in line to handle most of the touches to begin the 2025-26 campaign. With that in mind, the upside is there, but fantasy managers should be prepared to draft an insurance policy in case Williams cedes carries as the year progresses.

The Dallas Cowboys have signed free-agent running back Javonte Williams on Monday. The two sides have agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract that carries a maximum value of $3.5 million through incentives. This is a low-risk move by the Cowboys to address the lack of depth in their backfield. The assumption is that Williams will serve as the backup with the Cowboys likely adding a running back during the upcoming NFL draft. They will likely use Williams in some type of committee role. Williams has been unable to live up to the hype of his rookie season where he rushed for 903 yards in 2021. The 24-year-old was stuck in a backfield committee last season with the Denver Broncos. There's a good chance Williams ends up in a committee type of approach in Dallas, so this move shouldn't give fantasy managers too much confidence in a bounce back campaign from Williams.