Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams' encore might be even better than the opening act.
After a surprising performance in Week 1's 24-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Williams faces a New York Giants defense on Sunday that will be without a key Week 1 starter.
Per NFL insider Mike Garafolo, Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (leg) will miss extended time, which could compromise New York's ability to stop the run. It already did last weekend against the Washington Commanders. McFadden, who suffered his injury in the first quarter of the 21-6 loss and was replaced by 2024 sixth-rounder Darius Muasau, only played 11 snaps, including five on run defense, per Pro Football Focus data. The Giants allowed 220 rushing yards and 6.9 yards per attempt, both second-worst in Week 1.
Susceptible Giants Run Defense Good News for Williams After Promising Debut
With New York facing questions about its ability to stop the run, Williams, who entered the season with concerns of his own, might be able to exploit that weakness. In March, the 2021 second-rounder signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Cowboys to little fanfare after four seasons with the Denver Broncos. From 2023 to 2024, Williams averaged 3.6 yards per carry, the lowest average among 24 running backs with at least 350 carries during that span, and scored seven rushing touchdowns, which tied for the fewest among qualifying backs, per Stathead.
In Week 1, the Eagles held Williams to 54 yards on 15 carries (3.6 yards), but that doesn't tell the whole story. Williams scored two rushing touchdowns, already putting him two shy of tying his previous single-season career high. According to NFL Pro, he ranked fourth among running backs with at least seven Week 1 carries in expected points added (EPA) per attempt (0.13) and tied Commanders rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt for the second-highest success rate (60 percent).
Williams had a much better game than his surface-level rushing numbers indicate, and he might be able to put together a more aesthetically pleasing stat line against the Giants. When discussing the impact of losing McFadden, edge-rusher Brian Burns didn't mince words, telling reporters, "That's a tough loss.
"People don't know how valuable he is to this defense. He flies under the radar, but Micah is a baller," Burns added. (h/t New York Post)
Per NFL Pro data, last season, McFadden accounted for 60 stops, or tackles that result in negative EPA for the offense, including 43 as a run defender.
Williams opened training camp as the favorite to be the Cowboys lead back in 2025, and that played itself out in the opener, when rookie Jaydon Blue was a surprising scratch. Williams out-snapped backup Miles Sanders, who had a costly red-zone fumble in the third quarter and didn't receive a carry afterward, 47-11, and played 77 percent of the Cowboys offensive snaps.
He should once again factor heavily into head coach Brian Schottenheimer's offensive game plan against the Giants. As NFL Pro Insights notes, Williams gained 44 of his 55 yards and scored both of his touchdowns between the tackles in Week 1. The Giants allowed 68 yards (4.9 yards per carry) and had the league's fourth-lowest stuffed run rate (7.1 percent) on carries between the tackles against the Commanders.
Williams and the Giants' run defense are trending in opposite directions heading into the Week 2 divisional game. With Williams going up and the Giants down, he could be in line for a big performance.