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The Cowboys carried only two active RBs (plus FB Hunter Luepke) into Thursday night's game against the Eagles, and Javonte Williams dominated the work. He played 47 (of 61) offensive snaps vs. just 11 for No. 2 RB Miles Sanders. Williams also carried 15 times to Sanders' four and ran 27 pass routes to Sanders' 3, according to Pro Football Focus. Williams tallied a 15-54-2 rushing line in the loss, adding 2 receptions for 10 yards on three targets.
The two TD runs were obviously huge, either thrilling you if you had to start him or (more likely) angering you by coming on your bench. But try not to overreact.
The Philly defense lost at least its best lineman -- and probably best player overall -- when DT Jalen Carter got ejected for spitting on Dak Prescott before the game's first snap. Williams' two scores -- each from 1 yard out -- went:
Carter plays right DT, so both plays went squarely through his vacated territory.
Williams delivered a good game by his recent standards. His 73.6 PFF rushing grade beat his full-season grades for each of the past three seasons. But Williams also beat that grade in three individual games last year.
He averaged a mere 3.6 yards per rush (though that jumps to 4.0 without the TD plunges, to be fair). And his 2.13 yards after contact per attempt trailed even his declining averages of the past two years in that category.
Ultimately, you should be thrilled with Williams' clear lead role in Week 1, which included rookie Jaydon Blue not even getting activated. That factor will make Williams more of a starting candidate going forward, for as long as it sticks.
Blue obviously lost by going inactive for this game. He arguably lost again when Williams dominated the backfield work.
If we had gotten more of a split between Williams and Miles Sanders, then Blue would need only overtake Sanders to find a significant role. Instead, he now needs to prove his game-day worth and likely wait for Williams to falter.
Neither Dallas RB offered much in the passing game, so there's certainly still room for the rookie to climb. But it looks like you'll have to be even more patient with Blue than you might have hoped when you drafted him.
Sanders, of course, managed to win and lose by popping off a 49-yard run through a tight hole and then ending that same drive by losing a fumble at the Dallas 11.
Williams got a whole lot more tradeable Thursday night, but be careful about overplaying your hand.
Most experienced fantasy players will probably be able to see beyond the 2 TDs and retain some skepticism for a guy who didn't offer much over the past three years.
If you do find trade opportunities on Williams this week, make sure you're able to see past the TD shine and pounce if the return is right.
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