Javonte Williams Finally Gives The Cowboys The Strong Running Game They Have Been Missing

Williams’s success has taken a lot of the pressure off quarterback Dak Prescott. Williams has gotten solid chunks of yardage on early downs, making third downs easier for his QB. The North Carolina product has also been a force down near the goal line. Having a solid run game has directly contributed to Prescott’s hot start. Defenses can’t just pin their ears back and make a beeline for the quarterback when they have to honor the run. Prescott has been sacked just ten times, and has completed over 70 percent of his passes, racking up 2069 passing yards and 16 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

Bonus: Javonte Williams’ Affordable Contract

The front office got a steal when they signed Williams. Owner/GM Jerry Jones tends to sign running backs off the scrap heap to cheap deals every year to save money. For once, that tactic actually worked. After a solid rookie season in Denver, Williams had underperformed the next three years. That allowed Jones to sign Williams to a one-year, $3 million deal with incentives worth another $500,000. That deal looks great in hindsight.

End Of My Javonte Williams Rant

Jones got much luckier with Williams’ contract than he did with similar deals that brought Miles Sanders, Dalvin Cook, and a washed-up version of Ezekiel Elliott to the Cowboys’ running back room in the last two years. Unfortunately for Cowboys fans, the move will probably convince Jones that Williams’ renewed value will make him too costly to extend or re-sign. The Dallas owner will most likely bank on getting another lucky scrap-heap runner for 2026. It has definitely been his modus operandi. Jones has undervalued running backs (and defensive players) for years.

After Williams’ promising rookie season in 2021, a devastating knee injury took most of his sophomore season. He never regained his explosiveness and productivity over his next two seasons in Denver. Now, Williams appears to have turned a corner in his fifth season. His power and speed both appear to be back, and he is breaking off long runs like he did when he was that 21-year-old rookie. The Cowboys, and especially Prescott, are lucky to have him, and they will be even luckier if Jones forks over the cash to keep him.