Inside The Star
The Dallas Cowboys came into the 2025 season looking to begin a season with a new starting running back for the third straight year.
The question they faced was who would be the next player in the line of succession? And would he be able to match the numbers put up by Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, and Rico Dowdle?
Dallas went to the free agent market and signed two running backs, Denver’s Javonte Williams, and former Eagles’ back Miles Sanders.
They used two draft picks, Jaydon Blue (5th round), and Phil Mafah (7th), to try to fill up the running back room.
The Cowboys brought back Malik Davis about midway through the year to shore up the position. Hunter Luepke had a solid year at fullback.
Here’s how the season played out for all six and what can be expected from each in 2026.
Overall, Williams had a solid season. He cracked 100 yards in two games, with a high of 135 against the Jets.
Despite not playing in the season finale against the Giants, Williams finished with career highs in rushing yards (1,201) and rushing touchdowns (11).
Williams added 137 yards on 35 catches and two receiving touchdowns.
Resigning Williams must be Dallas’ highest priority. His presence in the backfield opened up defenses and allowed Dak Prescott to have his best year of his 10-year career.
Williams will either be resigned or earn the franchise tag, depending on how negotiations go with the Cowboys’ other priority resigning, receiver George Pickens.
As the first half of the season wound down, the Cowboys were in dire need of an RB2. So they reached back into the past and brought back a player they’d signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Davis had been cut and then re-signed to the practice squad just before the 2025 season began.
Davis had played for the Cowboys in 2022 and 2023, but spent all of 2024 on the practice squad.
Rejoining the team for the Week 7 game against Washington, Davis had to wait until the following week at Denver to get his hands on the ball. He had three yards on two carries.
Over the next seven games, backing up Williams, he had 30 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns, along with two catches for 16 yards.
Despite not starting in the season finale in New York, Davis had a career-best game. He had a career-high 20 carries and a career-high 103 yards.
Depending on how Blue and Mafah develop, and assuming Williams is retained, Davis will likely find himself back on the practice squad in 2026.
Luepke’s numbers aren’t what makes him valuable to the Cowboys. His blocking in both the run game and passing is invaluable.
The fact that he can be the running back as well means he can serve as the featured back in case of injury.
It was a role he was called upon more than once during...
