As the Dallas Cowboys gear up for the 2025 season, their running back room is under a microscope, and not for the reasons they’d hope. With training camp in Oxnard just weeks away, the narrative surrounding the Cowboys’ backfield is less about potential and more about skepticism. The trio of Miles Sanders, Javonte Williams, and rookie Jaydon Blue is set to lead the charge, but one name is already drawing heat: Javonte Williams. Bleacher Report recently slapped the “bust” label on the former Denver Bronco, raising eyebrows and sparking debate about what exactly constitutes a flop in Dallas’ revamped rushing attack.
A Backfield Under Fire
The Cowboys’ run game in 2024 was far from stellar, ranking among the league’s lower tier but not scraping the bottom. Still, the criticism has been relentless, with fans and analysts alike seemingly stuck in a time warp, fixated on past shortcomings rather than future possibilities. While no one is predicting a dominant ground game, there’s room for optimism—or at least improvement—under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. The bar isn’t sky-high, but the expectation is clear: be better, be productive, and share the load.
Enter Miles Sanders, Javonte Williams, and Jaydon Blue, the trio poised to carry the Cowboys’ rushing hopes. Early indications from OTAs and minicamp suggest Sanders might have the edge as the default starter if the season kicked off today. Yet, Bleacher Report has zeroed in on Williams, pegging him as the Cowboys’ prime “bust” candidate for 2025. But is the label fair, or is it just low-hanging fruit in a narrative-starved offseason?
The Case Against Williams
Bleacher Report’s reasoning hinges on Williams’ trajectory since his 2022 ACL injury. “This offseason, the Cowboys added former Broncos running back Javonte Williams to help reload their rushing attack,” they wrote. “While Williams’ one-year, $3 million deal is modest, he’s still largely expected to open the season as RB1. Williams hasn’t been an explosive back since his 2022 ACL tear, and he’s likely to cede touches to Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn, and rookie Jaydon Blue early and often.”
There’s a hitch, though: the assumption that Williams is “expected” to be the RB1 doesn’t hold water. The pecking order remains fluid, with Sanders currently holding the edge based on offseason performance. Schottenheimer’s scheme leans heavily on a committee approach, meaning Williams was never destined to be a workhorse back. Sharing touches with Sanders, Blue, and even Deuce Vaughn is by design, not a sign of failure. So, why the “bust” tag?
Defining a Bust
To call Williams a bust, we need to establish the bar. Is it failing to eclipse his 2024 stat line of 513 rushing yards and four touchdowns? Or would 600 yards and five touchdowns as a starter, with contributions from Sanders and Blue, still fall short? At a modest $3 million, the financial risk is minimal, making the “bust” label feel more like clickbait than a grounded critique. Williams doesn’t need to be a Pro Bowler to justify his contract—he just needs to be a reliable cog in a multi-faceted backfield.
The Cowboys’ run game isn’t aiming for one-dimensional dominance. Schottenheimer’s vision is clear: a balanced, committee-driven attack that maximizes the strengths of Sanders’ shiftiness, Williams’ power, and Blue’s raw potential. Labeling Williams a bust for sharing the load ignores the broader strategy. It’s like calling a puzzle piece useless because it doesn’t complete the picture alone.
Motivation Amid the Noise
The Cowboys’ running backs have heard the doubters all offseason, and it’s fueling their fire. Sanders, Williams, and Blue aren’t just fighting for carries—they’re fighting to prove the skeptics wrong. Williams, in particular, has a chip on his shoulder. His post-injury journey hasn’t been easy, but his 2024 numbers, while modest, showed resilience. Now, in a new system with a fresh start, he’s got everything to prove and nothing to lose.
The “bust” talk might sting, but it’s also low-hanging fruit. Picking on a running back in a committee system, on a budget-friendly deal, feels like a stretch. If anything, the criticism could galvanize Williams, pushing him to reclaim the explosive form he flashed pre-injury. With Sanders and Blue alongside him, the Cowboys’ backfield has the potential to surprise—if not dominate.
The Road to Oxnard
As training camp looms, the Cowboys’ running back room is a storyline to watch. Will Sanders solidify his role as the lead back? Can Williams silence the doubters and rediscover his spark? Will Blue, the rookie, emerge as a dark horse? One thing is certain: the narrative around this group is far from settled. The “bust” label on Williams might grab headlines, but it’s the performance on the field that will write the real story.
For now, the Cowboys’ backfield is embracing the underdog role, ready to turn skepticism into motivation. Come Week 1, don’t be surprised if this trio—Williams included—makes the naysayers eat their words.