Phil Mafah

Mafah is trapped behind an unclear Cowboys RB hierarchy with Ezekiel Elliott and potentially other competition. His path to significant touches remains murky without a clear injury or departure.

The 2025 seventh-round pick spent most of his rookie season on IR due to a shoulder injury, but Dallas activated him ahead of a Week 18 clash with the Giants. Mafah indicated he played through a torn labrum in his shoulder during his final college season at Clemson, suggesting chronic shoulder issues warrant monitoring.

Mafah appeared in one game for the Cowboys in 2025, carrying the ball five times for 18 yards and a touchdown while catching both his targets for 11 yards. With only 10 total snaps and one game of action, his NFL projection relies almost entirely on preseason performance and college tape.

Dallas is unlikely to carry five RBs on the 53-man roster, and at least one of Davis, Blue, or Mafah will be cut when healthy. Mafah is currently the most vulnerable of the three to a practice squad assignment or outright release.

With Javonte Williams headed for free agency, the Cowboys' backfield is unsettled to begin the offseason, and Mafah could find himself in a short-yardage-specialist role to begin 2026 if the team isn't able to find a bell cow to head the backfield. If Dallas doesn't retain/replace Williams, workload opportunity could expand.

If Dallas moves on from aging veteran backfield options or Mafah wins the competition, he could develop into a three-down back with lead-back volume. His college tape suggests NFL-caliber skill.

Javonte Williams carries real injury risk given his torn ACL history and the bell-cow workload Dallas will hand him. If Williams misses significant time, Mafah inherits a top-shelf situation behind an elite offensive line with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens commanding defensive attention.

Mafah weighed in at 234 pounds at the combine, giving him a unique profile relative to the rest of the backfield that could help him carve out a short-yardage role initially. His ability to run with power and patience bodes well as short yardage and red zone RB, providing a specific role pathway.

The Cowboys rank among the league's premier offensive environments with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens forcing compressed box counts. Any RB who earns a role here benefits from one of the best run-game contexts in football.