The Dallas Cowboys can officially chalk up their 2025 season as a letdown. However, perhaps no member of the squad was more disappointing in isolation than running back Jaydon Blue.
Blue, who the Cowboys selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft last April, was a healthy scratch for much of his rookie year. He was largely an afterthought, with concerns about maturity and work ethic at the forefront. Nevertheless, it's onward and upward from here for him, especially if Dallas doesn't re-sign pending free agent Javonte Williams.
If everything falls into place for Blue in the coming months, he could be primed for a breakout sophomore campaign. Cowboys fans should monitor the situation closely, though they aren't the only ones: fantasy football managers may want to keep a close eye on him.
Dallas Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue has the makings of a 2026 fantasy football breakout candidate
It's worth mentioning that the Cowboys have made their desire to retain Williams on a long-term contract crystal clear, and understandably so. He was a revelation for the club's offense this season, which finished second in total yards and seventh in scoring. Yet, Dallas has several needs to address and is projected to be well over the 2026 salary cap, paving the way for a Blue takeover.
Blue has already given us a glimpse of what he can do with a full workload. It wasn't the most efficient outing, but he ran for 64 yards and his first touchdown as a pro on 16 carries in Week 18. While it was a low-wattage regular-season finale between two teams eliminated from playoff contention, the performance gave him momentum and confidence going into next year.
What Blue lacked in per-touch productivity in the aforementioned spot start against the New York Giants, he more than made up for with chunk plays. Four of his totes went for double-digit gains, including a 14-yard trip to the end zone.
1st career touchdown for Cowboys rookie RB Jaydon Blue
— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026
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While it took longer than Dallas may have hoped or anticipated, he finally began to showcase the speed, explosiveness, and athleticism they see in him. Meanwhile, his pass-catching profile coming out of college suggests there's loads of untapped receiving potential.
Williams' outlook will ultimately be the main determinant for how Dallas' backfield shakes out, but Blue's an intriguing late-round flier in fantasy drafts this summer. Be that as it may, the latter becomes a legitimate high-upside RB2/FLEX for a high-flying Cowboys scoring unit if the former takes his talents elsewhere.