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Cowboys' 'Breakout' Candidate Shows Inconsistent Nature Of Offseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jul 14, 2025 12:59 PM ET

We are at the stage of the offseason where opinions are flying off the shelf regarding what to expect from the Dallas Cowboys under Brian Schottenheimer, and the beauty of them all is that they are all subjective.

We haven't seen Schottenheimer in a head coaching role before, we don't know how the players will mesh together, whether or not the coaching staff assembled on both sides of the ball will be able to get the Cowboys to be an improved version of 2024.

But that doesn't stop the opinions coming, nor should it. However, there have been different thoughts on Dallas' run game, and particularly Javonte Williams.

Having been called one of the Cowboys' bust candidates for 2025, now Bleacher Report's Moe Moton has gone the other way, naming Javonte as a breakout candidate.

“Javonte Williams is the only player on this list who will suit up for his second team in 2025," Moton writes. "He could have a career year with the Dallas Cowboys after his production tailed off over the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos.

“The 25-year-old Williams is two years younger than Sanders and has fewer carries (606) on his career resume than Sanders (923) as well. As the rookies find their footing on the pro level, Williams can take off running with the lead job."

Again, that's subjective. And all we can base what we think Williams will do is off his previous work.

But for us, factoring in that the run game will have Schottenheimer, Klayton Adams, and Conor Riley, all who have skins on the wall in developing top run games, has to count for something, right?

Now, the run game won't be a swashbuckling outfit that will take the league by storm, but there's every reason to think it will be far more productive than last season. Williams, along with who we think is the starter right now in Miles Sanders and then rookie Jaydon Blue, Dallas does have solid options.

But there will be skeptics, and rightly so, of what the run game can be based on how poor it was last season. And the only way to change that narrative is to produce on the field.

Will Williams break out? We aren't sure, but one thing we are sure about is that someone has to.

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

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