Cowboys' Javonte Williams: Finds end zone twice in Week 5 win
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Williams carried the ball 16 times for 135 yards and a touchdown and added a four-yard receiving TD while catching one of two targets in Sunday's 37-22 win over the Jets.
The former Bronco is having a breakout campaign in Dallas. Williams recorded his first triple-digit rushing performance since Week 13 of his rookie season in 2021, and his first receiving score since Week 10 of 2023, in Sunday's victory. He's now found the end zone six times in his first five games as a Cowboy while racking up 525 scrimmage yards, giving him massive momentum heading into a Week 6 clash with the Panthers.
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: Top DFS Play
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Williams has already been one of the best values in Fantasy Football. He could be even better in Week 5. Miles Sanders is banged up, which could mean more work for Williams, and the Jets have missed the most tackles in the NFL. Williams' Cowboys are favored in this game, and 20 touches shouldn't surprise anyone. Neither should 20 Fantasy points.
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: Leading rusher on 20 carries Sunday
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Williams took 20 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown while corralling all three of his targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 40-40 overtime tie with Green Bay.
Williams managed to reach the century mark in total yards while punching in his fourth touchdown in as many starts this season. The 25-year-old is finally delivering on the potential he flashed as a rookie in Denver back in 2021, prior to a serious knee injury in 2022. Williams has a stranglehold on the Cowboys' starting job with 19.8 touches per game, making him a plus fantasy option heading into next Sunday's tilt against the Jets.
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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Williams is more of a bust alert than a must-sit running back, but this could be a rough week for him against the Packers. The Cowboys are down two interior offensive linemen since guard Tyler Booker (ankle) and center Cooper Beebe (ankle) are out, and Green Bay is No. 8 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to running backs this season. Williams scored a season-low 12.2 PPR points in Week 3 at Chicago, which hopefully is his floor on a weekly basis, but I'm concerned he could be worse than that this week. I would only use Williams as a flex in the majority of leagues.
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: Overcomes early fumble
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Williams rushed the ball 10 times for 76 yards in Sunday's 31-14 loss to the Bears. He added five receptions on five targets for 16 yards.
Williams fumbled to end Dallas' first offensive possession, though he wasn't benched and continued to dominate touches while the game was competitive. His rushing volume was muted by game script as the Cowboys trailed for nearly the entire contest, but he was still efficient with his carries. Williams was also involved as a pass catcher and now has 11 combined receptions in the last two games. While he failed to find the end zone for the first time this season, this showing suggests that Williams has a clear hold on the lead-back role in Dallas.
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: RBs to Start
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In Week 1, Williams scored two rushing touchdowns at Philadelphia to boost his Fantasy production to 20.4 PPR points, and he added 15 carries for 54 yards and two catches for 10 yards on three targets. He then had a monster game in Week 2 against the Giants with 18 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown and six catches for 33 yards on seven targets, so Williams might be for real. This week, he's facing a Bears defense that has allowed three running backs to score at least 13.1 PPR points through two games, and Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 23 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2. Williams should be considered a solid No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues.
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: Finds end zone again
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Williams carried the ball 18 times for 97 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 40-37 overtime win over the Giants. He also caught six of seven targets for 33 yards.
After scoring two TDs in a Week 1 loss to the Eagles, Williams churned out another big performance in his second game as a Cowboy, highlighted by a 30-yard run in the third quarter for his third score of the season. The veteran back did benefit from some missed tackles by Giants defenders, but he also showed impressive power, and he continues to solidify his hold on the top job in the Dallas backfield. In Week 3, Williams will take aim at a Bears defense that just got gashed for a combined 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns by the Lions duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: RBs to Start
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I'm not expecting Williams to score 20.4 PPR points again like he did in Week 1 at Philadelphia, but there are some things working in his favor for Week 2 against the Giants. It doesn't sound like Jaydon Blue is ready to contribute for the Cowboys, and he was inactive in Week 1. Miles Sanders also fumbled against the Eagles, which is a plus for Williams. And the Giants just lost linebacker Micah McFadden (foot) in Week 1 against the Commanders in a game where Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Austin Ekeler, and Jeremy McNichols combined for 20 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown. Williams had 15 carries for 54 yards and two touchdowns against Philadelphia and two catches for 10 yards on three targets, and 15-plus touches feels safe against the Giants, making him a No. 2 running back in all leagues.
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: Two rush TDs in opener
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Williams rushed 15 times for 54 yards and two touchdowns and secured two of three targets for 10 yards in the Cowboys' 24-20 loss to the Eagles on Thursday night.
The offseason addition took the first play from scrimmage of the season for a seven-yard gain on his first regular-season carry in a Dallas uniform, a harbinger of what would be a strong debut -- albeit one that benefitted from Philadelphia star defensive tackle Jalen Carter getting ejected immediately after the opening kickoff. Williams would go on to cap off the opening possession with a one-yard touchdown run, and he added another one-yard score on the first play of the second quarter. Backfield mate Miles Sanders had the run of the night with a 49-yard scamper in the third quarter, but he'd go on to fumble at the Eagles' 10-yard line five plays later. Thursday's usage appears to indicate Williams will usually serve in the lead early-down role, and the Week 2 home opener against the Giants on Sunday, Sept. 14 will provide the next opportunity to see the backfield pecking order play out.
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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I'm curious to see how the Cowboys will use their running backs in Week 1 with Williams, Jaydon Blue and Miles Sanders, and Williams is going to start. Fantasy managers should treat him as a flex option at best against the Eagles, who were No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs last year. It would be great to see Williams dominate touches, but this backfield could be messy all season. And in Week 1, given the matchup, you might want to avoid the headache. It's a low number, but I'm still going to play the under on Williams' rushing yards prop on FanDuel, which is 36.5
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: Set to start in Week 1
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Williams, who is in line to serve as the Cowboys' starting running back Thursday versus the Eagles, said that he hasn't been told what his workload will look like in the season opener, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Signed to a one-year, $3 million deal in free agency this spring, Williams faced little competition in training camp as both Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue dealt with injuries. The Cowboys also treated Williams as the starter during the preseason, as he didn't play in any of those three exhibitions. Despite those encouraging signs, Williams could end up serving as the lead option in a committee rather than operating as a true bell cow. The uncertainty of Williams' workload, coupled with the lack of efficiency he showed during his final two seasons in Denver after suffering a severe knee injury in 2022, make it difficult to insert him in fantasy lineups with much confidence this week.
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: Still in lead for top job
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Williams has seen the most first-team reps in Dallas' backfield competition, though no running back has yet emerged as a clear favorite for the No. 1 role, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Williams was held out of action during Dallas' 31-21 preseason loss to the Rams on Saturday, as was the case for many of the Cowboys' key players. With Miles Sanders (knee) and Jaydon Blue (heel) kept out by default due to injuries, though, the only real insight into the current backfield pecking order provided by exhibition action to date may be that Deuce Vaughn was given the green light to suit up, an unsurprising indication that he's entrenched as a reserve or, at best, rotational option. While it remains to be seen whether Williams regains the explosiveness he touted prior to the severe knee injury he suffered in 2022, he brings ample starting experience, three-down versatility and reliability in pass protection, traits that could be enough to secure the lead backfield role.
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Cowboys' Javonte Williams: Moving on to Dallas
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Williams is in line to sign a one-year contract with the Cowboys, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The deal has a base salary of $3 million with the potential to earn $3.5 million overall via incentives. This move appears to be the first step in moving on from Rico Dowdle, Dallas' starting running back last year, as Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis are the other players at the position under contract in 2025. There's still time for the Cowboys to add via free agency and especially the draft, but as the backfield stands, Williams is the clear No. 1 option at the moment. In four campaigns with the Broncos, the 2021 second-round pick averaged 4.0 yards per carry and 62.2 yards from scrimmage per game while scoring 16 total touchdowns in 54 regular-season contests.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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It's always a guessing game for the Denver backfield, but it appears like Jaleel McLaughlin has taken over as the preferred rusher. Williams had no carries in Week 17 at Cincinnati, and he's been held to single digits in carries in seven games in a row. He does have two games over that span with at least 12.3 PPR points, but he had one carry for 1 yard, and two catches for 6 yards on two targets at Kansas City in Week 10. The Chiefs are expected to rest starters in Week 18, but the only Broncos running back I would consider as a flex is McLaughlin. Williams is too risky to trust in most leagues.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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The positive for Williams is Jaleel McLaughlin (quadriceps) is out for Thursday's game at the Chargers. The negative is Williams will still share touches with Audric Estime, and this isn't an easy matchup. The Chargers are No. 7 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and they have allowed just five total touchdowns to running backs all season. Williams had six carries for 23 yards and three catches for 13 yards on six targets in Week 6 against the Chargers, and it's tough to trust Williams at this point in the season, even with McLaughlin not playing.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Modest numbers in platoon role
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Williams rushed six times for 15 yards and caught two of three targets for eight yards in Sunday's 31-13 win over the Colts.
Williams continued his late-season slump, which has seen him exceed 25 total yards only once in his last five games. Jaleel McLaughlin led Denver's running backs with seven carries for 21 yards prior to exiting due to a quadriceps injury, and quarterback Bo Nix finished as the team's leading rusher with eight rushing attempts for 23 yards. There could be more opportunities available for Williams if McLaughlin's unable to suit up against the Chargers on Thursday, though rookie Audric Estime could also see more touches.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Sleeper RBs
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I'm not sure what Sean Payton will do with Williams and Audric Estime in Week 12 against the Raiders, but both have sleeper appeal. I like Williams as a No. 2 running back in all leagues, with Estime more of a flex. Williams was great in Week 11 against Atlanta, with nine carries for 59 yards and a touchdown, along with four catches for 28 yards on five targets. And he had 13 carries for 61 yards and five catches for 50 yards on six targets in Week 5 against the Raiders. Las Vegas is No. 7 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and a running back has scored at least 13.3 PPR points against the Raiders in every game this season.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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We'll see what the Broncos decide to do with Williams, Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin in Week 11 against the Falcons, but Williams is tough to trust after what happened in Week 10 at Kansas City. He had one carry for 1 yard and caught two passes for 6 yards on two targets. Estime took over as the lead rusher with 14 carries for 53 yards, and Sean Payton seems intent on leaning on the rookie moving forward. That could leave Williams as the main pass catcher out of the backfield, but it makes him tough to trust in the majority of leagues. At best, Williams can be a flex option in Week 11.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: One carry in loss
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Williams rushed once for one yard and caught both of his targets for six yards in Sunday's 16-14 loss to the Chiefs.
Williams had an extremely quiet Sunday against Kansas City, as the fourth-year running back took a clear back seat to rookie Audric Estime as a rusher. While Williams carried the ball only one time and played just 17 of the Broncos' 58 offensive snaps, Estime was relied upon heavily with 14 carries in the contest across his 26 snaps. It appears head coach Sean Payton's recent remarks about Estime taking on a bigger workload were more than just coach speak, so if he continues to pace the backfield in opportunities, Williams' days as a consistent fantasy contributor are likely in jeopardy. The 24-year-old will have his next opportunity to bounce back when the Broncos host the Falcons in Week 11.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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Williams actually did better than expected in Week 9 at Baltimore with 12 carries for 42 yards and two catches for 42 yards on three targets, and he scored 10.4 PPR points. But he might regress in this matchup since the Chiefs are No. 1 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Jordan Mason's 58 rushing yards and 69 total yards in Week 7 are the most yards Kansas City has yielded to a running back this season, and only three running backs have scored touchdowns against the Chiefs. Sean Payton said Audric Estime could start getting more work for the Broncos, and that's also a potential problem for Williams. At best, consider Williams just a flex option in most leagues for Week 10.
