The Dallas Cowboys completely overhauled their backfield from last season. They have three new backs, any of whom could end up leading the way. Rookie fifth-rounders typically aren’t good investments in fantasy football, but could Jaydon Blue be the exception?
Jaydon Blue Fantasy Outlook
By now, every fantasy manager (and NFL fan) has heard the phrase, “Running backs don’t matter.” Last year, guys like Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs helped push back against that narrative. But, in general, over the better part of the past decade, NFL teams have largely decided that it is not in their best interests to pay up at the running back position.
It’s quite ironic that the Cowboys have become the paradigm for this philosophy, as they once spent the No. 4 overall pick on Ezekiel Elliott. However, it appears as though they secretly regret that decision. While Zeke was an elite running back for about a half-decade, he never actually moved the needle. Since then, the Cowboys have invested minimal resources into the running back position.
Dallas was fine with Tony Pollard as their lead back in 2023. After he walked in 2024, the presumption was they’d surely sign or draft a replacement. Instead, they legitimately went into the season with a completely cooked Elliott and 2020 former UDFA Rico Dowdle as their top two backs.
By the second half of the season, Dowdle was being used as a three-down back. The wild part is it worked.
Dowdle averaged 12.4 fantasy points per game, finishing as the overall RB24. He was at 13.5 PPG from Week 5 onward, which is the point at which the Cowboys started leaning on him more.
The point in recapitulating all of this is that the Cowboys’ RB1 role is valuable in fantasy. Whoever ends up emerging will be startable.
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Currently, Javonte Williams sits atop the depth chart. Behind him is a sub-replacement-level talent in Miles Sanders, who really shouldn’t even be in the NFL. Then, we have Blue.
Anyone investing in Blue will have to be patient. He’s a rookie fifth-rounder. As ineffective as Williams and/or Sanders may be, they will open the season as the top two backs, and there’s nothing we can do about it.
What fantasy managers need to bank on is rational coaching. To Mike McCarthy’s credit, we saw it last year. In the middle of the season, the Cowboys came out and said they were reducing Ezekiel Elliott’s role, presumably because he was no longer an NFL-caliber running back.
Neither Williams nor Sanders is as good as Dowdle. Plus, neither Williams nor Sanders has the pedigree that Zeke had. That makes Blue’s task easier to accomplish, provided he has the ability to do so. As a reminder, he went in the fifth round for a reason.
I am bullish on Blue emerging because I do not believe in the talent of Williams and Sanders. At the same time, the history of Day 3 rookie running backs making strong impacts in fantasy is not great.
Simply put, we know what Williams and Sanders are. We do not know what Blue is. Therefore, he’s the one I want to take shots on the most.
One of the biggest Fantasy football risers this draft season has to be Jaydon Blue
Receiving skills and game-breaking speed are unique traits ⚡️
Blue the only Dallas RB who has em https://t.co/XLroUScJuL pic.twitter.com/PFsR0wnHZk
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) April 28, 2025
Blue’s RB44 ADP is behind Williams, but way ahead of Sanders. There’s merit to taking chances on all three of these backs, as someone has to have fantasy value. But I feel confident in saying Blue has the highest upside.
I have Blue ranked as my RB39. When differentiating between boring veterans and upside young players, it comes down to preference and roster construction. Blue is cheap and well worth throwing on your bench to see what happens.
Frank Ammirante’s Fantasy Projections for Jaydon Blue
Blue has been battling a heel injury this preseason, but he’s been back at practice and could get some live reps in during Dallas’ preseason finale. The rookie is expected to serve as a backup to open the season, but seriously compete for work as the season progresses.
Neither Javonte Williams nor Miles Sanders has delivered on the promise they flashed early in their careers, leaving the door wide open for Blue to get role promotions if he can flash. In Dallas’ second preseason game, their longest run as a team was eight yards on their way to a 20 for 51 performance on the ground.
This is going to be a pass first offense no matter who lines up behind Dak Prescott, but the need for some balance is there and Blue should get every opportunity, when at full strength, to carve out a role that could land him in the fantasy flex conversation as soon as October
