In a position group without a clear standout, anyone can be the sleeper. The Dallas Cowboys have taken a true committee approach to the running back position in 2025. Not unlike the way they handled the previous season, Dallas has chosen to invest very few resources to fill the RB room this season.
The Cowboys added two replacement level veterans in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders and drafted two Day 3 rookies in Jayden Blue and Phil Mafah. Teamed with carryovers Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke, the Cowboys hope to find a winning combination that can carry them through the year.
Despite some known work ethic concerns from the rookie Blue, he’s expected to carry the load as the primary complementary back. The explosive Texas RB has game breaking ability that’s unrivaled in the backfield. In front of him most have either Williams penciled in or his veteran counterpart Sanders. With Luepke a virtual lock to snag the fullback specialty role, it leaves very little room for a sleeper to pop up and make a difference. But if one sleeper can make a difference, it’s the seventh rounder Mafah.
Mafah, 6-foot-1, 234-pounds, is a man amongst boys at the RB position. The Clemson bruiser is a one-cut runner with patience to wait for openings and the strength and physicality to create his own openings. He’s not flashy, lacking the big play speed or open field elusiveness, but he’s workhorse between the tackles and a willing blocker in pass protection.
Mafah’s film is a tale of two halves. Before his injury he looked like a legit NFL prospect but after his injury his production fell off a cliff and his playing style ineffective. It was a combination of this and a loaded draft class that caused Mafah’s stock to drop until the last round. If he can prove his shoulder injury is behind him and he’s the runner that wowed scouts the first half of the 2024 season, the Cowboys could have a steal on their hands.
Phil Mafah’s success in the NFL is tied to the run scheme in Dallas. He shines as a Gap runner.
In ’24, Dallas ran Zone at a 69% rate.
Dallas’ OC came from Arizona. They ran Gap at the highest rate last year (69%).
Athletically, Mafah is a near 1-to-1 comp to James Conner.
— Zareh Kantzabedian (@ZKantzFF) July 3, 2025
Blue brings the high ceiling, Williams brings the high floor, and Sanders brings the insurance policy, but Mafah brings the mystery as a wildcard. If this seventh-round rookie can hold up in pass protection, contribute on special teams and be a force in short yardage he could go from roster bubble/camp casualty to steady role player in no time.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys Phil Mafah is being overlooked in RB competition
