Javonte Williams has a new team. He signed a 1 year deal with the Dallas Cowboys for $ 3 million. Is this finally the “all in” for the Cowboys in free agency? Are they done making moves, or do they address other needs? Can Javonte revitalize his career back to his pre-injury form that fantasy managers saw in 2021? Let’s dig into who else might be loving and who might be hating the Javonte Williams signing in Dallas.
Winners of the Javonte Williams signing
Javonte Williams: RB- Dallas Cowboys
Its been a long four year career for Javonte Williams. After a solid rookie season in 2021, he has dealt with injuries and a heavy rotation in the Denver backfield. He gets a new lease on life with this signing. The Dallas Cowboys have been looking for their workhorse back for a few years now. After bouncing back and forth with Ezekiel Elliot and Rico Dowdle last season it looks like its Javonte’s job now.
It’s a 1 year prove-it deal for Javonte. He should have plenty of opportunities to prove it. Rico Dowdle had 235 carries in 2024, and he missed a game. Williams should shatter the 139 carry total he saw with the Denver Broncos last season. The question fantasy managers will have to ask is what can Javonte be. He has been an infective flex play most of his career, he has never scored more than four rushing touchdowns. Rico Dowdle only had two last year. I expect Javonte to be over-drafted as people will be chasing the hype. Elliot is no longer on the team, so expect the Cowboys to draft someone. The best case for Javonte is that he is a low-end RB2. The worst case is he is a roster clogger for your fantasy team.
Jaleel McLaughlin: RB- Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have been rotating guys through for the past two seasons. One of the surprises of that was the play of Jaleel McLaughlin. He showed flashes in games last season. He only had one rushing touchdown but had four games with double digit carries. With Javonte Williams signing with the Cowboys it opens the door for McLaughlin.
McLaughlin isn’t a great pass catcher, only seeing 27 targets last season, so the Broncos may look to add to the team. McLaughlin should be able to beat out Audric Estime for the starting job. He won’t be a big name in a fantasy draft but will probably be a name you see in early-week waiver wire articles. I’m willing to take him late in drafts and give him a few weeks. The Broncos are on the come-up with Bo Nix, so expect them to score more this season and be in games, giving the running backs more opportunities.
Losers of the Javonte Williams signing
Dak Prescott: QB- Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott needs a good running game. The years when he was one of the best quarterbacks in the league were when the run game was clicking in Dallas. Does Javonte Williams’s signing fix that? Probably not completely, but its a great start. There are questions about whether he can handle the load and be an efficient rusher. Javonte averaged over 4 yards per carry before his season-ending injury back in 2022. He started to show flashes this past season. Most injury experts will tell you that it takes two years to fully recover from that type of knee injury. That is where we are at with Javonte.
Taking pressure off Dak is something that is needed. The Cowboy quarterbacks were sacked a total of 38 times. That is middle of the pack in the NFL. That number projects to go up with right guard Zack Martin retiring. Javonte Williams’s signing helps with that. PFF.com rated Williams at 482.3 in run blocking last season. That puts him as the 127th on the list of running backs. That’s not great for keeping Prescott upright and healthy.
Ashton Jeanty: RB
Listen Ashton Jeanty is still the best running back in the draft class. The Dallas Cowboys may still draft him but having Javonte Williams on the roster isn’t good for Jeanty. Williams may have only gotten a 1 year deal and the money isn’t great but its enough that they will work him into the offense no matter who they draft.
At worst, this completely takes away a possible landing spot for the top running back who was possibly looking at falling in the draft due to how deep the draft class is. Jeanty will still be a great player in fantasy, but him on Dallas behind that great offensive line would have been magical. Even with Zack Martin retiring, they have a great offensive line and a run-first mentality.
CeeDee Lamb: WR- Dallas Cowboys
Why does the Javonte Williams signing hurt CeeDee Lamb? well lets face it: the Cowboys haven’t exactly been the movers and shakers of free agency the past two years. The fact that they decided to spend money on a good, albeit be it running back, compared to other areas of need is concerning. The Cowboys need another wide receiver. Brandin Cooks is a free agent. Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo have been disappointments. CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott need help.
The Cowboys also have to replace future Hall of Famer Zack Martin on the offensive line. They have to sign or trade Micah Parson on defense and still bring in another running back. Considering this is one of the few moves the Cowboys have made in two years, you have to be wanting more if you are Lamb. You want them to seem serious about equipping the team with skilled players at wide receivers. That hasn’t happened yet. The Cowboys still have plenty of cap space, but the available players are drying up quickly.
Lamb should still be a top 5 wide receiver but he has the skills to be at the tippy top of that list but the team around him is holding him back.
