The Javonte Williams and Cowboys partnership is official for the long term. Dallas signed Williams to a three-year, $24 million extension ($16 million guaranteed) after a career-best 1,201-yard, 11-touchdown season in 2025. What began as a one-year prove-it deal turned into a franchise commitment, solidifying Williams as the centerpiece of the Cowboys’ ground game moving forward.
Javonte Williams Fantasy Impact in Dallas
Williams averaged 19 opportunities per game last season and handled a workhorse role from start to finish. He logged 62 red-zone touches (among the league leaders), averaged 4.8 yards per carry, and added 35 receptions as a reliable outlet in the passing game. More importantly, he never lost control of the backfield. Dallas trusted him in early downs, passing situations, and at the goal line.
The Cowboys finished ninth in rushing offense and seventh in scoring, giving Williams both volume and touchdown equity. His efficiency metrics rebounded to rookie-year levels after multiple injury-affected seasons in Denver, highlighted by a career-best 2.5 yards after contact per attempt.
With this extension, Dallas removes nearly all workload uncertainty. His $8 million per year salary is reasonable enough to prevent immediate draft-threat panic but significant enough to signal commitment. Assuming no major early-round addition in the draft, Williams projects as a strong RB1 candidate in 2026.
How the Move Affects the Top RBs Available and Teams Seeking Help
The biggest name on the market is Breece Hall. If he is not franchise-tagged by the New York Jets, he is widely expected to command the largest contract among available backs. Still just 24 years old, Hall offers the complete three-down profile teams covet. He has averaged around 90 scrimmage yards per game for his career despite inconsistent quarterback play and offensive instability. Hall’s burst through the hole, ability to create yards over expected, and natural receiving skill set make him scheme-proof. He can handle 20+ touches per game while also splitting out wide or operating as a mismatch in space. For fantasy purposes, he carries legitimate RB1 overall upside if he lands in a high-powered offense with red-zone opportunities.
Kenneth Walker III is another major domino. His future with the Seattle Seahawks remains fluid as extension talks reportedly begin, but if he were to hit the open market, he would immediately become one of the most explosive options available. Walker has consistently ranked near the top of the league in explosive rush rate, showcasing home-run ability every time he touches the ball. The concern has never been talent; it has been consistency and staying healthy. His boom-or-bust style and committee usage have limited his fantasy ceiling at times. However, in the right system willing to feature him as a true lead back, Walker’s big-play ability could translate into league-winning fantasy production. Few available runners offer his combination of youth and game-breaking speed.
Travis Etienne Jr. headlines the next tier after a productive 2025 campaign that saw him eclipse 1,100 rushing yards and score 13 total touchdowns. Etienne brings versatility and proven pass-catching ability, but teams may view him more as a high-end 1A rather than a pure bell cow. He has shown the ability to thrive in space and capitalize on scoring chances, yet his efficiency metrics haven’t always matched the elite-tier backs. At 27, he may not command top-of-market money, but he is experienced, explosive, and capable of leading a backfield if given volume. His fantasy value will heavily depend on whether he lands in a clear-feature role or in a competitive committee.
Other notable names include J.K. Dobbins and Rico Dowdle, both of whom present intriguing but imperfect profiles. Dobbins has been highly efficient when healthy, flashing elite yards-over-expected numbers and strong success rates on the ground. The issue, of course, is durability. Multiple significant injuries have limited his availability, and he offers minimal passing-game production, which caps his fantasy ceiling in PPR formats. Dowdle, meanwhile, has proven he can produce spike weeks, including dominant 200-yard performances, but inconsistency and committee usage have followed him. He is unlikely to enter 2026 as a locked-in RB1 for any franchise, though he could be a valuable rotational back with contingent upside if injuries strike.
Now, attention shifts to the teams still searching for legitimate running back help. The Kansas City Chiefs stand out immediately after finishing near the bottom of the league in yards after contact while facing free agency decisions in their backfield. With their offense lacking consistent explosiveness on the ground, a dynamic addition could completely reshape the unit and take pressure off Patrick Mahomes.
The Houston Texans are another clear candidate after ranking 24th in rushing despite being a contender; adding a proven runner would bring balance to their offense and further unlock their play-action game. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints may look to pair a physical, early-down presence with Alvin Kamara as they attempt to revive a rushing attack that finished near the bottom of the league, signaling that multiple franchises could aggressively pursue backfield upgrades this offseason.
With the Javonte Williams and Cowboys extension complete, one of the league’s most attractive landing spots is gone. That shifts leverage to the remaining teams in need and places even greater emphasis on where the top available backs ultimately land, a development fantasy managers will be watching closely as the offseason progresses.
