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Is Jaydon Blue starting for the Cowboys in fantasy football? Should I Draft Blue in 2025? Read the rookie fantasy football outlook and depth chart analysis.
The Dallas Cowboys selected running back Jaydon Blue from the University of Texas in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Blue steps into a Dallas backfield that has plenty of opportunity for touches.
Blue is a dynamic athlete who showed off his speed and explosiveness at the NFL Combine, running a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash with an elite 1.52 10-yard split. He excelled as a pass catcher at Texas and steps into a favorable spot in Dallas with a more traditional dropback passer in Dak Prescott.
#Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer says that Jaydon Blue reminds him of Darren Sproles:
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“The quickness and the ability to accelerate in the hole… it’s just different. He’s got incredible lateral agility and quickness, and when he jump cuts or moves laterally, he’s able to get to… pic.twitter.com/9qcCTnk6O4
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) August 1, 2025
Last season's lead back Rico Dowdle departed for Carolina, and the only other additions that the Cowboys made were signing veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders and then drafting Phil Mafah in the seventh round.
Is Jaydon Blue Starting for the Cowboys?
Williams appears to have a grasp on the Cowboys' starting running back spot as training camp closes. However, it's been made clear that Blue has already vaulted up the depth chart past Sanders to be the number two back behind Williams.
Williams was one of the least efficient running backs in football last season. He averaged just 3.7 yards per carry behind a good Denver offensive line and had 4.9 yards per target in 2024. The 25-year-old hasn't been the same player at all since his knee injury, as he's lost a lot of juice. He'll still be trusted in pass protection and will catch a healthy amount of balls in that role, but it was pretty clear that he wasn't good in 2024.
Blue doesn't need to start and handle 15+ carries every game to be a huge hit in fantasy football. While he is a smaller back, he posted strong after-contact numbers in college, and that showed in Dallas’ last preseason game against Atlanta when he was stopped at the line on a goal-line run but kept his legs churning to drive a linebacker into the end zone.
.@DallasCowboys 5th-round pick Jaydon Blue finds the end zone 🤠
Watch on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/x9ciDjzK0M— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2025
Jaydon Blue Fantasy Football Outlook
Blue is one of the best upside swings to take at running back this season in fantasy. Dallas was willing to give an inexperienced Dowdle over 250 touches last season. He was predominantly a special teamer before 2024, but was able to earn a ton of volume under mostly the same coaching staff.
Blue handled 134 carries last season at Texas, and Dallas could opt to follow a similar plan. They’ve invested in the offensive line to improve the run game, and complementing that with a back who has the burst to create yards before contact and attack open lanes adds another layer.
JAYDON BLUE, HOW DO YOU DO?!?! 🔥
A 77-YARD TOUCHDOWN TO MAKE IT A TWO-SCORE GAME VS. CLEMSON 😱 pic.twitter.com/cCzmh6V5W2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 22, 2024
With George Pickens also inserted into the mix, Dallas should be more explosive as an offense overall. The Cowboys ranked 26th in explosive pass play rate in 2024. Pickens and Blue are both dynamic and explosive players to add in, along with a better offensive line. Pickens' vertical ability opens things up in the pass game, and it could open up opportunities for Blue to get schemed touches underneath in open space.
The Cowboys just spent meaningful draft capital on Blue in a historically great running back class. Some of these backs that went on day three this year likely would have been day two picks in other years.
Should I Draft Jaydon Blue?
Blue should be a target in every fantasy draft in the 10th to 12th round. His upside for receptions, in addition to his potential for breakaway runs, creates a De'Von Achane rookie season type of ceiling. The Dallas offense projects as one of the league’s most favorable situations, with fast pace, high play and pass volume, and a defense that again looks below average.
Blue appears to have suffered an ankle injury in the final preseason game, but it doesn't seem serious, and he should be ready to go for Week 1. The upside is undeniable for the speedy rookie. With an ADP of 153 on NFFC, that is the ideal range to start looking at some of these rookie running backs. Blue has one of the more optimal environments and should be a priority target for fantasy managers in drafts.
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