Will Javonte WIlliams Get His Fantasy Football Giddy-Up Back in Dallas?

Sometimes the things we think will never happen…happen. The Dallas Cowboys actually signed a free agent. While it’s not the splashiest or most expensive deal out there, Jerry Jones opened up the wallet and added RB Javonte Williams on a one-year deal worth $3 million. The former Bronco can earn up to $3.5 M, so this season will be a prove-it situation for the 24-year-old.

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The Underwhelmingness of Javonte Williams in the NFL

Selected in the second round by Denver in the 2021 NFL Draft, the past four years have been less than impressive for Williams in both real life and fantasy football. His rookie campaign was his best statistically, posting 1,219 yards from scrimmage with seven total touchdowns, as the RB28 in half-PPR scoring on a per-game basis. Williams suffered a knee injury that kept him off the field for 13 games the next season, and after that his production fell to just 3.65 yards per attempt and an average fantasy finish of RB38 with just 8.75 half-PPR points per game over the last two years.

It’s also worth noting that Williams was not given lead back volume in the past two seasons either, as he shared the load with Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine in 2023 and McLaughlin and Audric Estime to some degree in 2024. He’s now a few years removed from his knee injury and will be just 25 years old this season, so let’s assess Williams’ outlook in Dallas.

Dallas as a Landing Spot for Javonte Williams

This is truly a prove-it scenario for the former Bronco and considering he’s failed to showcase reliability and consistency as an NFL RB thus far, Williams ended up in a good spot to redeem himself. Last year’s RB1 for the Cowboys, Rico Dowdle, is a free agent and this addition likely means the end of his time in Dallas. Williams should take on the early downs and goal-line work for the Brian Shottenheimer-coached offense, and we've certainly seen how he loves to establish that run from his days in Seattle with Pete Carroll.

The Cowboys will likely add another RB to the room either via free agency or the NFL Draft, considering the team does have 10 picks in April, so this is still an active crime scene of sorts.

The Fantasy Fallout

Since the Cowboys now likely won’t draft an early RB like Boise State's Ashton Jeanty as they have other pressing needs, Williams should be in the RB3/flex conversation as his floor but could produce as an RB2 if he can get back to his pre-knee injury form and does get the bulk of the RB touches. Williams is currently being drafted as the RB58 with an ADP in the 16th round in early Underdog best ball drafts, which should steadily climb following the signing.

Dowdle is now tough to predict or to click that draft button for until we know where he’ll be playing in 2025, but his ADP sits as a mid-to-late 12th round pick as RB41.

As far as Denver goes, Audric Estime could be handed the starter keys in his sophomore season, but there is still plenty of free agency left and the Draft still to come, so proceed with caution. As the 68th RB off Underdog boards in early drafts, Estime is still a solid value, and McLaughlin is leaving boards in the 20th round as RB78 for now.

Bottom Line

• The Cowboys worked out a $3 million one-year prove-it deal with Javonte Williams worth $3.5M with incentives.
• The former second-rounder hasn’t quite lived up to expectations as an NFL RB, with his best fantasy performance coming his rookie season as the RB28 in half-PPR scoring on a per-game basis.
• Now several years removed from a knee injury that kept him off the field for 13 contests in 2022, Williams gets a shot at redemption as the perceived RB1 for Dallas, with other rushers likely joining him in the room in the weeks or months to come.
• Consider the 24-year-old an RB3/flex heading into 2025 with the ability to put up RB2 numbers if he stays healthy and has the workload of the Cowboys' lead back.