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Could Cowboys Have Surprise Running Back Starter?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated May 1, 2025 9:21 AM ET

The Dallas Cowboys' most intriguing position entering the offseason is running back, which is a far cry from 12 months ago, when the world was ending at the thought of what it could become.

Not anymore.

In fact, there is some optimism about the run game under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

Veterans Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams were signed in free agency, while Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah were taken in the draft to give Schotty four new running backs to develop a plan of attack with.

With the selection of Blue, who boasts genuine home run speed, many think he will be Dallas' starter in Week 1, and even Schottenheimer has stated he wouldn't have drafted Blue and Mafah if he didn't think they could start.

But for our own Mike Fisher, in doing his 53-man roster projection, thinks a veteran with NFL skins on the wall could get first crack.

“If I had to give the ball to somebody today, I've seen Miles Sanders do it,” Fish said on the Fish Report. “Am I nuts? Has he lost it? If Jaydon Blue becomes a real running back, then we won't have to worry about Miles Sanders anymore, Sanders might get cut in that event because I don't need two of him. But until I see Jaydon Blue do it, Miles Sanders, then Blue, Javonte [Williams], then Hunter [Luepke], that's my group.”

There's no doubting Blue's potential to be a starting-caliber back for the Cowboys, but training camp is where he will prove it, or he won't.

Sanders is just two years removed from his 1,269-yard, 11-touchdown season with the Philadelphia Eagles, but his last two years in Carolina haven't been productive, and looking at the offense, it is easy to see why. Plus, Sanders was behind Chuba Hubbard as well, who has taken the majority of the snaps, and was injured last season.

That won't happen to Sanders in Dallas if he can prove himself to be the guy who Schottenheimer can lean on.

Of course, there's Williams and Blue, who, as Fish stated, if he turns out to be a genuine running back, then this conversation is all moot.

But right now, maybe the veteran in Sanders might just be leading the race for the starting job. Yes, it's early, but at least Blue knows who he's chasing in Oxnard.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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