Where Fantasy Sleepers Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue Land on Cowboys' RB Depth Chart

If you picked running back Jaydon Blue for your fantasy football team, then you won't want to see the Dallas Cowboys' unofficial depth chart.

Having finalized their roster, the Cowboys listed Javonte Williams as their starter, with Miles Sanders and Blue following him.

Given the state of Dallas' backfield, some have tabbed Blue as a late-round sleeper.

Williams' performance with the Denver Broncos tailed off following his encouraging rookie season in 2021, and he hasn't been the same since suffering a torn ACL in 2022. Sanders, meanwhile, ran for 637 yards and three touchdowns in his two years with the Carolina Panthers.

Neither looks like a strong No. 1 option, and the Cowboys' decision to trade star edge-rusher Micah Parsons could dramatically shift their short-term priorities and results.

If the franchise starts looking toward the future, then elevating Blue and giving him more touches makes a lot of sense.

The fact that he's third in the depth chart obviously isn't encouraging. He ran for 25 yards and one touchdown in the preseason. Those number, along with his work in practice, weren't enough to convince the coaching staff he's a better option than Williams or Sanders.

Granted, this wouldn't be the first time the Cowboys put seniority ahead of on-field effectiveness.

Ultimately, the ripple effect from Friday's news shouldn't be all that big.

Williams is rostered in 72 percent of Yahoo leagues compared to 37 percent for Blue, so fantasy managers have largely operated under the premise the former would be the opening day starter.

When Rico Dowdle can eclipse 1,000 rushing yards behind the Cowboys' offensive line, being a little bullish on Williams makes sense. Dowdle was good enough to finish as a low-end RB2/flex option.

Still, it might be a good idea to steer clear of any Cowboys running back for now given all of the question marks. Blue is worth monitoring to pounce on the waiver wire should he start to eat into Williams and Sanders' share of carries.