Cowboys' Ground Game Faces Crucial Offseason Questions After Late-Season Fade
The Dallas Cowboys' offense hit a wall in the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers, and while one off night doesn’t erase months of strong play, it did shine a light on some lingering concerns-particularly in the run game.
Dak Prescott and the passing attack have been steady all year, and the core of that offense is expected to return in 2026. That includes George Pickens, who’ll be back whether it’s on a new contract or the franchise tag.
But the ground game? That’s where things get murky.
At the center of the conversation is Javonte Williams, whose early-season production looked like a steal for Dallas. Signed to a modest $3 million deal, Williams quickly became one of the most impactful free-agent pickups the franchise has made in recent memory.
He brought a physical, punishing style that energized the offense and gave Dallas a legitimate threat on the ground. Through the first 11 games, he racked up 855 rushing yards and averaged a healthy 4.9 yards per carry.
That’s not just solid-that’s feature-back material.
But the back half of the season has told a different story.
Williams' Wear and Tear Becoming a Concern
There’s no denying how hard Williams runs. He’s built to break tackles and thrives on contact, bouncing off defenders like a pinball.
But that style comes at a cost-especially when there’s no real rotation behind him. With no dependable second option to take some of the load, the wear and tear has started to show.
In three of the last four games, Williams has averaged under 4.0 yards per carry. The lone exception came in Week 15 against Minnesota, where he popped for 6.1 yards per carry, but that performance stands out as more of an outlier than a trend.
The advanced metrics back it up. From Weeks 13 through 16, Williams has slipped in several key categories. After ranking near the top of the league earlier in the year in yards after contact, missed tackles forced, and yards after contact per carry, he now sits 13th, 12th, and 24th respectively among qualified running backs over the past month, per PFF.
That’s not a collapse by any means-he’s still second in the league in yards after contact per attempt for the season and ranks 12th in explosive play rate. But it’s clear the juice he had in September and October isn’t quite there in December.
No Shame in the Dip-But Dallas Needs a Plan
To be fair, expecting Williams to carry that early-season efficiency through all 17 games was always a stretch. He’s just two years removed from a major knee injury, and his bruising style isn’t built for a solo workload. The NFL season is a grind, and even the most durable backs eventually feel it.
The real issue isn’t Williams-it’s the lack of support behind him.
Malik Davis has stepped in as the RB2 after overtaking Jaydon Blue, but let’s be honest: no defense is losing sleep over Davis. He’s serviceable, but he’s not the kind of back who can spell Williams for meaningful stretches or keep the offense balanced when the lead back needs a breather. And that’s a problem-especially in December, when running the ball becomes more critical.
What’s Next?
Williams has done more than enough to earn another year in Dallas. Whether it’s a short-term deal or something longer, he’s proven he can produce at a high level in this offense. But if the Cowboys are serious about making a deep playoff run next season, they can’t ask him to do it alone again.
The front office needs to find a legitimate complementary back-either in free agency or on Day 3 of the draft. Someone who can take 8-10 carries a game, keep Williams fresh, and give the offense another gear when it needs it most.
Because as good as this offense has looked for most of the year, the second-half fade in the run game is a warning sign. And if Dallas wants to be playing meaningful football deep into January, it’s one they can’t afford to ignore.