Jaydon Blue envisions his NFL debut as he returns from an ankle injury, and the Cowboys are letting the rookie ramp up for a preseason showdown with the Falcons. He’s been visualizing the moment on the sideline, and with full-pads practice this week, Dallas CBT staff have grown more confident he’ll play Friday. Blue was already getting first-team reps before his injury, a sign the coaching staff believes he can contribute once healthy.

Dallas’ backfield is crowded and rotating, with Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Phil Mafah, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis handling the bulk of carries in the early games. Blue is eager to show what he can do in game action, insisting there are no limitations. His return could add another dynamic element to an already-competitive room, especially if he earns a role on early downs or as a pass-catching option in the screen game.

Overall, the plan is to evaluate his ceiling in the preseason finale while maintaining caution around workload. A productive showing could accelerate a path to meaningful snaps, but the logjam at running back will require consistent and standout play from Blue to unlock a regular-season role.

Dallas faces a higher-stakes 2025 season as questions pile up on both sides of the ball. A lead backfield battle — Javonte Williams atop the depth chart with Miles Sanders and a rookie push — could shape early game plans for Dallas’ offense, while an injury-plagued offensive line tests Schottenheimer’s rotation and coaching acumen. The big swing in the story, though, is the secondary. PFF’s 31st-ranked pass defense entering 2025 signals a potential mismatch, even with Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland on the roster. Diggs’ knee rehab clouds Week 1 readiness, forcing others to step up quickly.

Dallas’ back-end depth is under the microscope: Diggs’ absence to start the year, Bland’s dip from previous All-Pro chatter, and the health of veterans Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson create a precarious safety net. Israel Mukuamu holds the nickel job, but rumors point to Kemon Hall or a youth infusion pressing for snaps. In this environment, the Cowboys must balance banged-up blockers with a vulnerable secondary, and ownership’s risk tolerance could decide how aggressively Dallas addresses it midseason.

In fantasy terms, the Cowboys’ 2025 arc boils down to three levers: health and usage of the backfield, line stability, and the ability of the secondary to stay above water when multiple pieces aren’t at peak. If Williams, Sanders, and the offensive line can anchor the run game, Schottenheimer’s plans can open through play-action and tempo. If not, Dallas may lean on a more conservative attack while the defense fights through early-season bumps, making depth charts and matchups crucial for weekly lineup decisions.

Dallas’ 2025 outlook, per Mike Clay’s ranking, centers on the passing game: Lamb leads a top-10 wide receiver room, boosted by the addition of Pickens as a true WR2. The Bengals’ Chase-Higgins duo edges this group as the league’s best. Dallas’ RB corps sits at the bottom (No. 32) after signing Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders and adding Day 3 rookie Jaydon Blue, with Williams showing inefficiency and Sanders limited production, inviting Blue into a bigger early role. Overall, Dallas sits at No. 17 overall, anchored by a No. 11 quarterback group, with edge rush improving to No. 12 but linebacker slipping to No. 28. The blend suggests Lamb as the core fantasy engine, Williams/Blue as volatile but intriguing late-round contributors, and Parson’s defensive impact as a swing factor.

The Cowboys’ 2025 backfield depth chart remains one of the most intriguing storylines in training camp, even after OTA sessions and preseason action. Miles Sanders, Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue, Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke, Phil Mafah, and Malik Davis have all flashed in Oxnard, with Williams and Davis flashing on multiple occasions and Blue drawing standout attention from coaches and fans alike. Brian Schottenheimer’s measured praise for Javonte Williams — refusing to name a starter while signaling he’s “having a hell of a camp” — keeps the guessing game alive about who will lead Dallas’ ground game. If Sanders and Blue suit up in the second preseason game against Baltimore, evaluators will be watching for who takes control of the early-down work, pass-catching opportunities, and red-zone touches. The room’s versatility could yield a committee that leans toward a hot-hand approach, with Williams’ bruising style and Williams’ pass-catching upside offering different paths to fantasy value. For fantasy enthusiasts, the evolving depth chart means frequent re-evaluations, especially as health and matchup dynamics shift through August and into Week 1.