After letting Rico Dowdle leave in free agency following a 1,000-yard season, the Dallas Cowboys turned to free agent running back Javonte Williams.
Williams, originally a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos, struggled with injuries after a strong rookie campaign and averaged under four yards per carry over his last two seasons in Denver.
Despite those struggles, the Cowboys believed Williams was an ideal fit for Brian Schottenheimer’s scheme. Their gamble paid off: Williams ran for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns at an average of 4.8 yards per carry.
That performance positions Williams for 2026 free agency, though he could earn more elsewhere. ESPN’s Matt Bowen suggested that Dallas remains the best fit.
“Williams returning to Dallas makes sense after he rushed for a career-high 1,201 yards in coach Brian Schottenheimer’s offense,” Bowen wrote. “With his explosive movement ability and north/south power, Williams can keep his role as the Cowboys’ lead back and contribute as a pass catcher for quarterback Dak Prescott.”
The Cowboys have made it clear they want Williams back on a multi-year deal but are unwilling to overpay. He joins a line of recent 1,000-yard rushers for Dallas, including Tony Pollard in 2023 and Dowdle in 2024, both of whom were not re-signed.
Backup running backs also showed productivity, giving Dallas confidence in negotiating. Malik Davis, who joined the team midseason, averaged 4.8 yards per carry on 52 attempts, while Miles Sanders gained 117 yards on 20 carries (5.9 average) before a knee injury.
Those performances may allow the Cowboys to walk away if Williams’ asking price becomes too high.