Javonte Williams

Javonte Williams enters the 2026 fantasy football season in a strong position after staying with the Dallas Cowboys on a three-year, $24 million extension that includes $16 million guaranteed. That matters for fantasy because it keeps him in an offense that gave him a heavy workload in 2025, and CBS Sports notes that Dallas is expected to continue leaning on him as a clear lead back.

Williams rewarded that trust last season with a true breakout, finishing as the RB11 in fantasy points per game and posting 1,201 rushing yards, 13 total touchdowns, and 35 receptions in Dallas. FantasyPros highlights that he was especially productive early in the year, and that if he can sustain that first-half efficiency across a full season, he has legitimate top-10 and even top-five upside.

There are still a couple of reasons not to overpay. His second-half production dipped noticeably, and CBS Sports pointed out that he missed Week 18 with a shoulder injury while averaging just 11.8 PPR points over his final eight games. That makes him more of a solid RB2 than a locked-in fantasy star, even though the overall situation in Dallas remains favorable.

For 2026 drafts, Williams looks like a dependable pick in the middle rounds, with CBS Sports suggesting a price as early as Round 5 and placing him around RB20 in early rankings. If Dallas keeps feeding him the kind of volume he saw in 2025, he should again be one of the safer starting running backs in fantasy, with weekly RB1 upside when the touchdowns come.

Updated 06/08/2026