Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah enters his second NFL season with a legitimate case to be the No. 2 back behind Javonte Williams, and his 232-pound frame might be the deciding factor. 

The former Clemson workhorse, who amassed 2,887 rushing yards (ninth in program history) across four college seasons, profiles as the closest stylistic match to starter Javonte Williams in a Cowboys backfield that figures to carry around four running backs on the 53-man roster. While Jaydon Blue remains the fan and media favorite for the backup role, Mafah’s physical profile and skill set give him a clear path to earning significant snaps in 2026.

Why Mafah fits the Cowboys’ offensive identity

Williams is the Cowboys’ starter for a reason. He brings power, vision, and patience as a well-rounded back who keeps the chains moving. Dallas plans to build its offense around that kind of runner. Mafah, at 232 pounds, is actually bigger than Williams (222 pounds) and plays with a similar downhill style that slots naturally into the same scheme.

Blue, listed at 198 pounds, offers something different. He brings explosion and speed, the kind of change-of-pace element that creates a one-two punch at the position. That’s valuable and it’s clearly Blue’s selling point. But if Williams were to miss time, Blue’s build doesn’t lend itself to absorbing Williams’ workload. Mafah does.

That distinction matters more than it might seem on the surface. Sometimes it’s about who can step in and keep the offense running the same way if the starter goes down. Mafah’s calling card heading into training camp is exactly that: he can replicate Williams’ role more naturally than Blue can.

Mafah’s roster chances

My take? Dallas will likely carry Williams, Blue, Mafah, and fullback Hunter Luepke on the 53-man roster. But Malik Davis deserves mention as a dark horse. Davis doesn’t provide much upside, but he proved last season that he can hold things together in a pinch.

When Blue struggled and Mafah landed on injured reserve (and Miles Sanders also got hurt), Davis stepped up with 250 yards on 52 carries, 2 touchdowns, and a 4.8 yards-per-carry average. That kind of reliability doesn’t get forgotten easily by a coaching staff like Brian Schottenheimer’s. 

Still, Mafah’s roster spot feels relatively secure. I’d call him close to a lock for the 53-man roster barring injury. The real question is whether he can be active on game days.

The game day question

Here’s the thing about Phil Mafah, though: if he doesn’t contribute on special teams, he could be seen as redundant when Williams is healthy and taking the lion’s share of carries. Luepke can handle the special teams reps that typically justify a running back’s game day activation. So Mafah needs to prove he offers enough as a pure runner to justify being active over someone like Blue, who brings speed and pass-catching ability to the table.

Can Mafah do enough to overcome Blue’s upside when both are healthy and competing for game day snaps? Or is he a healthy scratch most weeks, waiting in the wings as Williams insurance? That’s the central question of his second NFL season.

There’s also the mileage factor. Mafah racked up 561 carries at Clemson. The Cowboys could view that as evidence of a proven workhorse, or they could see it as wear and tear that raises durability concerns for a player who already spent time on IR as a rookie.

OTAs, minicamp insight

Mafah was a “standout” in the no live contact period of the offseason. According to multiple reports, he took second-team snaps alongside Jaydon Blue behind Williams. That is telling as it reaffirms the seventh rounder’s chances of competing for the top backup job. 

What to watch in training camp

Mafah needs to show out in camp to push himself firmly into the No. 2 conversation. The Cowboys face a style decision at the position: do they want a 230-pound Williams clone as their primary insurance policy, or do they prioritize Blue’s game day versatility and trust that Williams stays healthy? The former seventh-round pick has the tools to earn a bigger role. For now, we wait to see if he seizes it.