Here is what the Cowboys running back room looks like.
If there’s anything you can say about how the Dallas Cowboys handled their running back situation this year versus last year, you can say they were more proactive. The running back room was a mess in 2024 because the front office put their feelings before roster building when they banked on Ezekiel Elliott having something in the tank and passed on the opportunity to pass on notable runners that were available.
Ultimately, the Cowboys “settled” on Rico Dowdle midway through the season and it didn’t come a moment too soon as he took the reins and became a pretty good runner who ran for over 1,000 yards. Looking ahead into this season, the Cowboys have parted ways with both Elliott and Dowdle and look to start fresh at the position.
That’s not to say that they spent a ton of money on the position. Maybe a wise choice considering many thought they were to be drafting a runner early in the draft, yet still made out well in the later stages. Dallas also added two veteran runners in free agency. The best way to review the position in this edition of the roster series is to break it down into three different categories.
Veteran Arrivals
Miles Sanders:
Sanders comes to Dallas on a modest $1.3M contract with only $167K guaranteed via a signing bonus. What has happened to Sanders to be such a cheap commodity is a mystery. After signing with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 2023, he seemingly fell off a cliff with his production and his efficiency plummeted drastically.
Sanders, a veteran signed to usher Bryce Young along in his development, quickly took a secondary role to players like Chuba Hubbard and D’Onta Foreman. The Cowboys are hoping that Sanders can somehow recapture the form he had with the Eagles, which saw Sanders average five yards per carry with the Eagles and earn one trip to the Pro Bowl. Sanders does have upside as a pass catcher and provides value on third downs.
Javonte Williams:
Like Sanders, Javonte Williams had a great start to his career. As a rookie, he proved to be a rugged runner between the tackles and defenders would slip off him routinely. In his rookie season, he broke 31 tackles and more than half of his 903 rushing yards came after contact. Williams suffered a torn ACL in his second year and hasn’t seen the same consistency since.
Yet, there are flashes occasionally of what he used to be, and behind the right offensive line, could return to form. If there is one runner on the roster who has the most potential to have a breakout season, it’s Williams. A recommitment to the running game with new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams could fit Williams like a glove provided he stays healthy.
Rookies
Jaydon Blue:
The Cowboys got themselves a home run hitter in the fifth round of the draft with their selection of Jaydon Blue. While Dallas had some speedsters on their radar like Bhayshul Tuten, Blue is a great pick with similar explosive traits. His blistering 4.38 40-yard dash time at the combine was the second-fastest only behind Tuten.
Blue doesn’t have huge numbers as a collegiate athlete, but that’s because he wasn’t asked to anchor the running game nor will he be in Dallas and will be a great change-of-pace option. His caliber of speed is something the Cowboys haven’t had in a while. There are concerns with Blue’s ball security that he will have to work on at this level. Blue will have to earn his carries and take care of the football in the opportunity he has over the summer.
Phil Mafah:
The Cowboys doubled up and drafted two running backs this April. The latter, Phil Mafah, is a great complement to Blue adding the thunder to Blue’s lightning. Selecting both runners is excellent foresight by the front office. The Cowboys have Sanders and Williams signed to one-year deals. The plan all along may have been to use the veterans as the bridge to their rookie runners and planning for 2026, and if so, kudos to them. Mafah is a bruising back that runs downhill and will likely be used as a short-yardage runner in certain spots.
The Incumbents
Deuce Vaughn:
Deuce Vaughn seems to be on the hottest of seats to keep his job on the team. Anytime a team adds that many players to your position, it should raise alarms. Vaughn hasn’t done anything to separate himself from the pack and the sand in the hourglass seems to be almost gone for the diminutive runner.
With two veterans signed, Vaughn will need to have an impressive training camp/preseason to remain on the roster. He needs to make the most of that opportunity and prove that he is more than just a good draft day story. It’ll take a big camp for him to stick around.
Hunter Leupke:
We know that Hunter Leupke is a Swiss army knife, capable of doing multiple things as the team’s fullback. Often described as a poor man’s Kyle Juszczyk, Leupke can run the football, is an adequate lead blocker, and has reliable hands. The question is how does new head coach Brian Schottenheimer value fullbacks in his vision for the team? We know former head coach Mike McCarthy was very fond of fullbacks that played the role of a traditional West Coast archetype, but will Schottenheimer have the same affinity for the position?
The initial belief is yes simply because Leupke can contribute in so many areas. His status on the team is tied to how Schottenheimer feels about the runners on his roster. For example, if Mafah needs more time to develop, Leupke likely makes the team with the Cowboys trying to slide Mafah onto the practice squad. Yet, if Mafah is doing well and the veteran runners are holding their own, you may see Leupke on the bubble. The running back position may be one of the more intriguing positions this offseason and what the Cowboys decide to do with the dynamic fullback.
