Dallas

Cowboys

Cowboys starting RB Javonte Williams was absent. Archer notes that fellow backups, RB Jaydon Blue and RB Malik Davis, also got some work. After backup RB Miles Sanders suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4 last season, Davis and Blue respectively served as the Cowboys’ RB2 and RB3. Mafah was limited to just 10 offensive snaps all season. It appears as though he is getting the chance to work his way up the depth chart behind Williams this summer.

ESPN’s Todd Archer advises that readers not to get carried away with any of today’s observations. It’s a reasonable preface. There is no reason to think Williams’ absence is concerning. The Cowboys are still conducting voluntary workouts, so he is not compelled to be there. Mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 16-18. Archer adds that RBs Phil Mafah, Jaydon Blue and Malik Davis split first-team reps, with Mafah notably taking the first snap.

Valdes-Scantling has logged only 78 special teams snaps in his career, with 49 of them coming in his 2018 rookie season. Schottenheimer said that Valdes-Scantling has the “speed to be a gunner,” so it sounds like he will not be returning punts and kicks. Don’t count on any return touchdowns appearing in his box score. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris adds that Valdes-Scantling caught two passes and dropped one on Tuesday. His hands have always been an issue. While he will help out QB Dak Prescott with a few big plays this season, Valdes-Scantling is unlikely to be a reliable fantasy contributor in his age-31 season.

Schottenheimer believes the 2024 sixth-round pick “has a chance to be a terrific receiver in this league.” He currently projects as the Cowboys’ WR3 and will likely carry that distinction into the regular season. Flournoy is a worthwhile best ball pick right now, but it remains to be seen whether he will warrant consideration in 12-team re-draft leagues late in August. Flournoy posted a 40/475/4 receiving line last season, while upping his yards per route run average from 1.06 to 174. It will be difficult for him to be anything more than a volatile WR5/WR6, but he will deliver a few spiked weeks.

Hennessy will be placed on PUP at the start of training camp. The veteran backup likely faces tough odds to make the roster at the start of the season.

Lawrence becomes the latest first-round pick to sign his rookie deal. The UCF pass-rusher was one of two defensive players taken by the Cowboys in the first-round of this year’s draft as they hope to drastically improve a defense that allowed the most points per game (30.1) and third-most yards per game (377.0) last season. Lawrence totaled seven sacks in 12 games in his final season for the Knights while also breaking up three passes and forcing two fumbles. While he won’t fully make up for the loss of Micah Parsons, there’s hope he can generate a little more pressure on the quarterback after the Cowboys managed just 35 sacks last season.

Per Harris, Revel looks “more fluid in his movement” and “has gained a lot of confidence this offseason now that he’s returning to 100-percent.” The Cowboys drafted Revel in the third round last year, while he was recovering from a torn ACL. Unfortunately, Revel suffered a setback in July and was placed on the non-football injury list to begin the year. He was activated in November and played in Weeks 11-17, breaking up two passes and recording 26 tackles. Revel will likely compete for a starting spot on the perimeter this summer.

Back in January, Bland said he expected to be ready for organized team activities. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. That said, Archer thought Bland was “moving very well laterally,” and expect the Cowboys to “be patient with how they bring him along.” Bland was injured in Week 15 last year. He tallied five pass breakups, one interception, 54 tackles and two quarterback pressures.

The Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 16-18. Pickens is not present for the Cowboys’ voluntary organized team activities, but head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Pickens is “in a good spot and handling his business” after speaking with the wide receiver yesterday. Pickens signed his franchise tag late in April and is set to make $27.3 million this season. Trade speculation has not amounted to anything thus far, and it sounds like Pickens will show up when he is supposed to later this month.

Fantasy managers will want to tuck this away in the memory bank for later. Harris said that “just based on last year’s late-season production,” he would give the edge to Davis, but said the team has confidence in second-year backs Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah as well. Davis is a fifth-year veteran of the league who has spent his entire career with the Cowboys, surviving multiple training camp cuts and stints on the practice squad to remain with the team. Last season, Davis rushed 52 times for 250 yards and two touchdowns, and has a career rushing line of 90-411-3. His limited ability in the passing game could work against him while Blue and Mafah attempt to secure the RB2 role for themselves, but Davis could prove to be the early-season handcuff for Williams in fantasy.