When the Dallas Cowboys signed Javonte Williams to a one-year, $3 million contract this offseason, many assumed he would be a complementary/depth piece at best. No one expected him to lay claim to the starting job or perform as well as he has the first two weeks of the 2025 NFL season.
To the shock and awe of many, Williams is performing as one of the best running backs in the league right now. He is currently ranked seventh in the league in rushing yards (151) and tied for first in rushing touchdowns (3). On top of that, he finds himself among the league leaders in many other categories as well.
The 25-year-old veteran is also currently leading the league in EPA/play and total EPA. His yards after contact are also in the Top 10 and he is currently ranked second behind Alvin Kamara in Pro Football Focus rushing grade ranks. That’s pretty impressive for someone everyone had a pretty low expectations for, but there’s more.
Williams’ 10 first downs this year tie him for No. 1 in the NFL. He also has an elusive rating, which measures RB impact independent of the blocking front of him, that ranks ninth in the league. And let’s not forget one of his more underrated skills, pass protection, where he’s also earned a Top 10 grade.
We share all of this to show just how impressive Williams has been with the Cowboys so far, even though we’re just two games into the 2025 NFL season. There is one thing that has eluded him for a while now, but should be within his grasp in the not-too-distant future – a 100-yard rushing game.
Williams has a total of two 100-yard rushing games in his entire career, both came during his rookie season, one of which was against the Cowboys where he rushed for 111 yards. He came close last week falling just three yards shy (97) in the overtime victory against the Giants, but that just could add fuel to the fire.
The way the Week 3 matchup with the Chicago Bears is shaping up, Williams has a good chance of having his first 100-yard rushing game since his rookie season, and the first with the Cowboys. The Bears defense is currently allowing 148.5 rushing yards per game and is a banged up unit heading into this matchup.
Chicago could be without three defensive starters this week – LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring), CB Jaylon Johnson (groin), and CB Kyler Gordon. That’s one of their top tacklers and two other defensive backs, which means they will have to alter their defensive game plan significantly to help combat Dallas’ offensive weapons.
The Bears can’t exactly stack the box to contain Williams knowing the damage CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens can do in the passing game. That should open up things for Williams to do what he’s been doing, making this a favorable matchup for him and whoever else happens to tote the rock this week.
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