Javonte

Williams

Williams notched his second 100-yard game of the season, tacking on a fourth quarter score with less than two minutes remaining to push his fantasy production into RB1 territory. Week 9 also marks the third straight week in which the Cowboys utilized a new-look, run-heavy game plan, this time utilizing Tyler Goodson to soak up carries behind Williams. Williams has now seen 20 or more carries in three straight and will remain a volume-based RB1 in a difficult matchup against the 49ers at home in Week 10.

Woof. The Cardinals simply overwhelmed the line of scrimmage with run blitzes and dared the Cowboys to do something about it; they often didn’t. Williams also fumbled away a goal-line tote only for it to wind up as a Cowboys touchdown by landing in the hands of journeyman tight end James Mitchell. Things should be easier next week against the Colts, where Williams will remain a reasonable RB1/high-end RB2 tweener.

Williams churned out consistently positive gains against the injury-riddled Eagles but took off in the fourth quarter, gaining over 60 yards in the final frame. He cashed in for fantasy managers with a touchdown with just over two minutes remaining on the clock to push his line into elite territory, despite failing to notch any receptions. The career high in yardage on the ground comes after the Cowboys averaged the fewest rush attempts per game during the first six weeks of the new season. Williams gets a sparkling matchup against the Cardinals at home in Week 8, where he’ll return to RB1 status in fantasy circles following the eruption against the Eagles.

Williams has now been held to 3.8 yards per carry or fewer in five of six games and 45 yards on the ground or fewer in four of six games, with seven combined touchdowns keeping his fantasy value afloat through the first third of the regular season. Williams has now seen 12 or fewer carries in four of six contests to start the year. The good news is that the Cowboys have no choice but to keep riding Williams until the wheels fall off considering the general lack of depth in the backfield, meaning there are likely to be better days ahead for the veteran back. He gets another middling matchup on the ground against the division rival Eagles in Week 7, where he will be a volume-driven RB2.

Williams has now averaged 3.8 yards per carry or fewer in four of five games, keeping his fantasy value afloat via six combined touchdowns through five weeks. While the touchdown equity is solid in one of the league’s most potent offenses, we’re liable to see more down weeks like the one he put forth against the Buccaneers unless, or until, the Cowboys can fix their woes on the ground. Williams did see all but one running back opportunity in this one, keeping him in the top six in backfield opportunity rate through Week 5. Consider Williams a volume-aided and touchdown-aided RB2 ahead of a Week 6 meeting with the reeling Packers.

Williams had a very easy rushing score — his first one where he only had to beat one defender to the outside after a pair of pulls. He also had a very hard one, where he dragged several Texans defenders into the red zone. The Cowboys didn’t run the ball much, but when they did it was effective. Williams was averaging 5.1 yards per tote before the second half, where he simply lived in the goal-to-go set. He’ll be on the low-end RB1 line in Week 5 against a Jalon Daniels-led Bucs outfit on Thursday night.

The Cowboys drew up a lot of carries for Williams early in this one. The 26-year-old back totaled seven carries for 45 yards on his team’s first two possessions, and punched in a two-yard score late in the fourth quarter to put the Cowboys up 10-0. Williams would mostly be bottled up by the Ravens after his score, but he did break free for a 22-yard run in the third quarter that helped set up a Brandon Aubrey field goal — which was blocked. This is undoubtedly the best game of the season for Williams, who hadn’t gone for more than 41 yards in either of his first two games. That said, he still struggled at times to get going on the ground, as seven of his carries went for two or fewer yards. His volume remains reliable enough to keep him in the RB2 conversation for next week’s game against the Texans.

The Cowboys dominated through the air on Sunday, but the same can’t be said of their efforts on the ground. Washington bottled up Williams all afternoon, with his biggest play coming on a nine-yard run on the Cowboys’ final drive. Williams has just 71 rushing yards on 24 attempts (3.0 YPC), but has also seen nine targets in his first two games. He remains the unquestioned leader of the Cowboys’ backfield and will be a volume-based RB2 in next week’s game against the Ravens.

Williams understandably operated as a clear workhorse for a Cowboys team with little depth at the position following Malik Davis’ season-ending injury earlier in the week. His two second half scores and five receptions masked poor rushing efficiency on a night the Cowboys ran only 52 offensive plays, although a robust 32.7 percent total opportunity share foreshadows the potential for continued elite counting stats for the remainder of the regular season. Fantasy managers can continue to start Williams as a volume-driven RB1 as the team prepares to host the Commanders in Week 2.

Per Schottenheimer, Blue and Mafah “are in a tight battle for the backup running back spot.” Blue has received positive reports for some time now. His speed and receiving ability make him an ideal complement to starting RB Javonte Williams, who “probably won’t get a whole lot of run” in the preseason. If Blue can secure the role, he could warrant FLEX treatment on a weekly basis. Mafah (6'/234) is a burly rusher. Were he to win the RB2 job, he may be ill-suited to playing on passing downs, which could benefit Williams. We’ll see how things shake out in the preseason. Stay tuned.