RADIO
Jaydon Blue Strengthens His Case for the Cowboys' Primary Backup Job
As a rookie in 2025, Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue saw the field in only five games, but a strong showing in Saturday night's preseason win over the Cardinals has him well positioned to earn the primary backup responsibilities behind veteran Javonte Williams. In a game that the Cowboys led 24-6 by halftime, Blue ran for 75 yards on a team-leading 15 carries, showcasing the quick feet that allowed him to top 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his final season at Texas. Listed as the team's second running back when the Cowboys released their first unofficial depth chart of the summer, nothing that's happened since then would suggest Blue is in danger of losing what could be a valuable insurance role behind a player who has managed a full 17-game slate only twice in his five-year career. With enough potential standalone value to eventually work his way into streaming flex consideration, Blue could surprise in 2026, but his true upside comes as a handcuff to Williams in an offense that averaged more than 125 rushing yards per game a season ago.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Israel Abanikanda Exceeding Expectations in Cowboys Camp
Dallas Cowboys running back Israel Abanikanda has exceeded expectations in training camp so far, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Abanikanda has not appeared in an NFL game since his rookie season in 2023, when he recorded 113 scrimmage yards on 29 touches across six games with the New York Jets. He spent the final portion of the 2025 season on the Cowboys' practice squad and is now competing for a spot on the team's 53-man roster this summer. Dallas has a clear leader in the backfield in running back Javonte Williams. However, the team's RB2 job appears to be an open competition between Jaydon Blue (shoulder), Malik Davis, and Phil Mafah. With all three of those players largely unproven as NFL contributors, Abanikanda may have a chance to work his way into the mix for the Cowboys. In deeper league formats, Abanikanda may be a name for fantasy managers to keep an eye on throughout the remainder of the preseason.
Source: The Athletic - Jon Machota
Source: The Athletic - Jon Machota
Malik Davis Refuses to Go Away in Dallas' Backfield
Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis looked like the forgotten man in this backfield earlier in camp. He's making that harder to justify now. Davis led Dallas with 39 yards on seven carries in the preseason opener, and Brian Schottenheimer praised his vision and feel for the blocking scheme afterward. He was also the first back on the field after Javonte Williams during team work earlier this week. Davis has handled a bigger load before. When Williams went down in Week 17 last season, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound back ran 20 times for 103 yards. He finished the year with 250 yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries. Dallas' unofficial depth chart still has Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah ahead of him, so Davis hasn't won the backup job. Blue's shoulder issue and Mafah's recent injury have given him another opening, though, and he's taking advantage of it. RotoBaller has Davis at RB92 in PPR. He's outside normal redraft range, but this backup race is a lot less settled than it looked earlier in camp.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaydon Blue Dealing with Sore Shoulder
Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue (shoulder) sat out the team's joint practice with the New Orleans Saints due to shoulder soreness, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. Machota reports that Blue suffered the shoulder injury during the Cowboys' preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Blue appeared in just five games as a rookie and finished the year with 134 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 39 touches. Entering 2026, veteran running back Javonte Williams remains firmly atop the Cowboys' depth chart at the position. However, Blue appears to have a chance to earn the team's RB2 role, with Phil Mafah and Malik Davis profiling as his primary competition. While Blue has reportedly had a solid training camp so far, this shoulder injury could threaten to derail his progress. Fantasy managers should monitor for further updates on Blue in the coming days.
Source: The Athletic - Jon Machota
Source: The Athletic - Jon Machota
Jerry Jones Willing to Add More Pieces to Cowboys Roster
Even after the Dallas Cowboys signed veteran pass-rusher Von Miller to a one-year deal on Sunday, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on Monday that he's willing to make a "substantive move to further improve the roster if one should arise," per Todd Archer of ESPN. "I think it's fair to say that if we could improve it, which is almost a cliche, we would," Jones said. "Because again, I'm even more excited today than I was when we started camp that our team is going to be one that if we can have some things go right for us, avoid some injury, we could really be something that we all want to be. And that's a team that's competing for the big games. So bottom line is the answer is, yes, if we saw something that would help us any place, we'd do it." When asked if he had talked to any owners or GMs lately, Jones said he had talked to "a few" and would see "a bunch of them" at an owners' meeting next week, but that he didn't think being with other owners would lead to a potential trade. The Cowboys are excited about the addition of Miller, a former Super Bowl MVP, and what he can add to a defense that already includes pass-rushers Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Source: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
Source: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
Phil Mafah Will be OK After Suffering Chest Injury
Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah (chest) exited Saturday night's preseason opener against the Seahawks with a chest injury and did not return. A seventh-round pick in 2025, Mafah earned only seven total opportunities as a rookie, but with the team's primary backup job up for grabs behind locked-in starter Javonte Williams, he has been part of a training camp battle that includes fellow second-year player Jaydon Blue and veteran Malik Davis. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer indicated after the game that the injury did not appear to be overly serious. Still, Mafah's status bears watching in the lead-up to the regular season. While the second running back spot in Dallas holds almost no standalone value, whoever earns the role will become an important handcuff to Williams.
Source: Todd Archer
Source: Todd Archer
Javonte Williams Excited About Cowboys' Offense in 2026
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams had a career year in his first season in Dallas in 2025, rushing for a career-high 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns to earn a three-year, $24 million contract extension with the team in February. Going into his second season with the Cowboys, Williams is excited about the potential of the offense, according to Tommy Yarrish of the team's official website. "Just a whole other level of maturity," Williams said of Dallas' offense this year. "I feel like we hit the ground running. We didn't really start from the ground up, we just kind of built on what we could've done better last year. I feel like we're executing and communicating well." Personally, Williams said his conditioning is in a better place as he heads into his second year in Dallas and his sixth year in the NFL. In one of the league's highest-scoring offenses, Williams should carry a high fantasy floor as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 in 2026.
Source: DallasCowboys.com - Tommy Yarrish
Source: DallasCowboys.com - Tommy Yarrish
Jaydon Blue to "Get a Ton of Work" in the Preseason
Dallas Cowboys running backs Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah will both "get a ton of work" in preseason games, head coach Brian Schottenheimer told Patrik Walker of the team's official website. Schottenheimer also made it known that Blue and Mafah are "in a heated battle" for the backup RB spot behind starter Javonte Williams. It appears that both Blue and Mafah have overtaken Malik Davis for potential RB2 duties entering the 2026 campaign. The 22-year-old Blue, a fifth-rounder from the University of Texas last year, only saw action in five games as a rookie, carrying the ball 38 times for 129 yards and one touchdown and catching one pass for a five-yard gain. Who wins the RB2 job between Blue and Mafah could very well come down to how they perform in the preseason, with Blue being the more intriguing upside stash in dynasty/keeper leagues because of his blend of pass-catching ability and speed. He's also the best handcuff play for fantasy managers who draft Williams. There have been nothing but glowing reports on Blue's development going into his sophomore season in Dallas.
Source: DallasCowboys.com - Patrik Walker
Source: DallasCowboys.com - Patrik Walker
Phil Mafah Gaining Steam in Cowboys Backfield
Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah had another good run in training camp practice on Thursday, according to The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins, and he appears to be gaining some steam in the backfield this summer for a depth role behind starter Javonte Williams. The 23-year-old entered camp this summer competing with second-year RB Jaydon Blue and Malik Davis for the No. 2 role in the Cowboys' backfield after he saw only five rushing attempts for 18 yards and a touchdown while catching both of his targets for 11 yards in one game as a rookie in 2025 after Dallas took him in the seventh round (239th overall) out of Clemson. Although Mafah has reportedly looked good so far in camp, so has Blue, a fifth-rounder out of the University of Texas last year. Blue is also the much more complete back with more explosiveness, so he figures to be given the first shot at RB2 duties over Mafah in 2026, at least early on. At best, Mafah will most likely serve as a short-yardage weapon for Dallas because of his battering-ram style out of the backfield. Until further notice, he can be ignored in redraft fantasy leagues.
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Calvin Watkins
Source: The Dallas Morning News - Calvin Watkins
Rebuilders Should Test the Market on Javonte Williams
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams finally gave dynasty managers the season they had been waiting for, and Dallas made sure it was not a one-year stop. He rushed 252 times for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, then added 35 catches for 137 yards and two more scores. The Cowboys followed that breakout with a three-year, $24 million extension that includes $16 million guaranteed. Just as important, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Malik Davis are still sorting out the backup job. None of them is pushing Williams for the lead role. A contender should be happy to keep him. For a rebuilding team, this is probably the time to ask around. Williams is 26, last season was his first 1,000-yard campaign, and his 13 total touchdowns set a career high. RotoBaller has him at RB21 in its July dynasty rankings, which reflects both the strong setup and the risk of buying after a career year. The path to another heavy workload is clear, but running back value can turn quickly. Rebuilders do not need to force a deal. Still, a younger receiver or a strong package of picks would be worth considering while Williams' contract, role, and market value are all working in their favor.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cowboys Want to Get Jaydon Blue More Involved in Passing Game
Dallas Cowboys second-year running back Jaydon Blue has been a standout so far in training camp this summer and "continues to burn up the practice field with big runs," according to All City DLLS's Clarence Hill. Blue had two would-be touchdowns on long runs on Thursday and also saw a lot of run with the first-team offense, alternating with RB1 Javonte Williams. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team loves Blue's speed and "want to get him involved in the passing game" to take advantage of opposing defenses that are looking to take away receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on the outside. "I think what we feel like we have in Jaydon when you're playing defenses that are trying to change the math and cheat to really elite receivers, which we have, there's usually a favorable matchup in that regard," Schottenheimer said. After a disappointing rookie year in 2025, Blue is looking like the favorite for RB2 duties in Dallas behind Williams and ahead of Malik Davis and Phil Mafah. At the very least, Blue is shaping up as the handcuff to roster if you also have Williams.
Source: All City DLLS - Clarence Hill Jr.
Source: All City DLLS - Clarence Hill Jr.
Jaydon Blue Named Standout After First Camp Practice
Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue was one of the players who stood out during Wednesday's first training camp practice, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said, according to Jon Machota. Blue also mixed in with the first-team offense and broke a 45-yard run that would have resulted in a touchdown during the non-padded session. The 22-year-old appeared in five games as a rookie, finishing with 38 carries for 129 yards and one touchdown while catching one pass for five yards. Javonte Williams remains firmly established as Dallas' lead back after rushing for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025. The competition behind him remains unsettled, with Phil Mafah receiving the initial No. 2 reps Wednesday and Malik Davis returning after recording 250 rushing yards last season. Blue's 4.38 speed gives him an explosive trait that separates him from the other reserve options, but one strong practice does not secure the backup job. He remains a worthwhile late-round watch while competing for a meaningful complementary role.
Source: Jon Machota
Source: Jon Machota
Jaydon Blue Flashing Early in Camp, Remains in Competition for No. 2 Role
Dallas Cowboys second-year running back Jaydon Blue has flashed early in training camp this summer and had one of the highlights of the first day of practice on Wednesday, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. "My speed is what I'm best at. Once I get in the open field and it's one-on-one, I don't think anyone in this league can stand a chance," Blue said. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said back in June that the 22-year-old Blue has been "night and day" in terms of his performance this year compared to last year. Javonte Williams is Dallas' clear RB1 after a career year in his first year with the Cowboys in 2025, but the RB2 job is up for grabs, and based on Blue's strong work so far, he may very well be the favorite. The former fifth-rounder from the University of Texas could never get his legs under him in a trying rookie campaign, as he had only 38 rushing attempts for 129 yards and a touchdown while adding one catch for five yards in five games played. Blue is battling with Malik Davis and Phil Mafah for the RB2 role this summer, with his elite speed giving him a leg up. The time is now for Blue to make his move.
Source: The Athletic - Jon Machota
Source: The Athletic - Jon Machota
Malik Davis Not a Lock for RB2 Role in Dallas
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.
Source: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
Source: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
Jaydon Blue to Battle for an Important Insurance Role
A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue barely saw the field as a rookie, with 16 of his 39 total touches coming in a Week 18 tilt against the Giants, in which the team's starters saw limited action. Leading rusher Javonte Williams signed a three-year extension early in the offseason, locking him in atop the depth chart, but with few other moves made at the position, Blue has the opportunity to compete against a familiar cast of characters for primary backup responsibilities. Serving in that role last season, Malik Davis showed great efficiency on his limited touches, which could put him in pole position ahead of 2026 training camp, while 2025 seventh-round pick Phil Mafah was active in only one game as a rookie. Meanwhile, Blue was reported to have impressed his coaches with the progress he showed during OTAs and minicamp, and if he can carry that momentum into the padded practices of training camp, he could threaten for an important insurance role in what again projects to be a high-scoring offense.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
