The Cowboys were looking for Williams to give the run game some juice, and he delivered.
When the Dallas Cowboys signed Javonte Williams in the offseason, the move was met with significant skepticism.
Having had injury troubles and poor form, some thought Williams was just another bargain buy in free agency.
But his 2025 season proved otherwise.
Javonte had a career-best year in Brian Schottenheimer's offense, rushing for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns. His brutal running style and physicality allowed the Cowboys, for the first time in a while, to have a dependable run game.
Jaydon Blue showed promise, so too Malik Davis, but Miles Sanders was the forgotten man as injury ruined his 2025 season.
So, let's take a dive into the running back room for the 2025 season.
The Good:
It is clearly Javonte.
Dallas would finish with a top-10 run game in 2025, averaging 125.6 yards per game. their best return since 2022.
Williams gave the Cowboys confidence to run the ball, and yes, having George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb on the outside meant defenses couldn't stack the box. And Javonte thrived.
Playing 16 games and going at 4.8 yards per clip, Williams proved to be perhaps the shrewdest piece of offseason business for the Cowboys en route to a career-best season.
Now, they must re-sign him. Stephen Jones says it is a top priority, and it better be.
The Bad:
Yes, Javonte was superb, but the Cowboys didn't have a suitable backup. That meant Williams had 252 rushing attempts, the 10th highest in football.
Sanders played just four games, while Jaydon Blue struggled with consistency. It wasn't until Malik was signed off the couch midseason that Dallas got some relief for Javonte.
Still, in the final month of the season, due to the running back situation, Williams was forced to play with a banged-up shoulder.
A running back doesn't have a long NFL shelf life to begin with, and if Dallas wants the same production from Williams in 2026, a suitable backup is needed.
Whether that is another veteran free agent, Blue or Davis to drastically improve, Javonte needs more help.
The Ugly:
Blue's situation.
While calling it ugly might be a little heavy-handed, Jaydon was seen as a nice piece to add to the offense. But he struggled.
Schottenheimer wanted consistency off the field from the running back, and after playing against the Denver Broncos in Week 8, Blue wasn't sighted until Week 18 against the New York Giants.
And at MetLife Stadium, Blue showcased everything that made Cowboys Nation salivate over him being on the roster.
The lightning-quick feet, the ability to burst through run lanes as he rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, with a 27-yard run mixed in, proved he has a place in Dallas' offense in 2026.
Was it the Cowboys' coaching staff that got Blue up to speed? Yes, eventually, as our Mike Fisher reports that they spend all year trying to teach him things like "low pad level'' and "patience, not just sprinting.''
But with that Week 18 game a huge confidence boost, Blue should enter the offseason as Williams' backup.
Grade: A
The Cowboys didn't have a viable run game for years. They got it with Williams. And he's a pass protector. And he's a fine pass-catcher.
Regarding Javonte and Blue, Fisher reports that inside The Star, Dallas sees them as a "Thunder and Lightning" duo heading into 2026 ... so to the coaches and scouts, things look promising.
With Williams' brutal running style, coupled with Blue's electric feet and home-run potential, the Cowboys' run game isn't a huge red flag as we enter the offseason for the first time in recent memory.