Javonte Williams last year averaged almost a yard more on running plays rather than receptions. Who are the only other two active running backs who’ve had a season with over 1,000 rushing yards and at least 20 catches in which they averaged more yards on runs than receptions?
As the Cowboys map out their offseason, I wonder if the to-do list will include adding a pass-catching running back. Javonte Williams has been pretty awful in that regard – historically so.
Williams caught 35 passes last year – about 2 per week – but they averaged only 3.9 yards. That puts him in the rare subset of running backs with seasons averaging more yards per carry (4.8) than per reception.
This isn’t all on him, of course. There are 10 other players out there, and play design factors in. But Williams also wasn’t an effective pass catcher in Denver, and last year he had the benefit of playing with an accomplished quarterback in one of the better offenses.
On the plus side of the ledger, Williams didn’t drop any passes last year (he had 7 drops his last year with the Broncos), and he averaged 11.5 yards on 42 catches his last two seasons at North Carolina, with 4 TDs.
But he’s mostly struggled at the pro level (in passing situations). He caught only 69 percent of the passes thrown his way last year, which is low.
Since the league started tracking targets in the early ‘90s, there have been 703 running backs who’ve seen at least 50 passes in a season. Williams is the only one of those guys who’s averaged under 3 yards per pass play. Only 14 others have averaged under 4 yards per play, and Williams is the only back who’s done it twice.
| RUNNING AVERAGING UNDER 4 YARDS PER PASS PLAY | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Tgt | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | Yd/Tgt |
| 2025 | Javonte Williams, Dall. | 51 | 35 | 137 | 3.9 | 2 | 2.69 |
| 2024 | Chuba Hubbard, Car. | 54 | 43 | 171 | 4.0 | 1 | 3.17 |
| 1995 | Rodney Thomas, Hou. | 59 | 39 | 204 | 5.2 | 2 | 3.46 |
| 2006 | Edgerrin James, Ari. | 61 | 38 | 217 | 5.7 | 0 | 3.56 |
| 2021 | Myles Gaskin, Mia. | 63 | 49 | 234 | 4.8 | 4 | 3.71 |
| 1993 | Earnest Byner, Was. | 52 | 27 | 194 | 7.2 | 0 | 3.73 |
| 2001 | Corey Dillon, Cin. | 61 | 34 | 228 | 6.7 | 3 | 3.74 |
| 2012 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 58 | 40 | 217 | 5.4 | 2 | 3.74 |
| 2014 | Darren McFadden, Oak. | 56 | 36 | 212 | 5.9 | 0 | 3.79 |
| 2020 | Miles Sanders, Phil. | 52 | 28 | 197 | 7.0 | 0 | 3.79 |
| 1999 | Rob Konrad, Mia. | 66 | 34 | 251 | 7.4 | 1 | 3.80 |
| 2023 | • Javonte Williams, Den. | 58 | 47 | 228 | 4.9 | 2 | 3.93 |
| 1998 | Kevin Turner, Phil. | 59 | 34 | 232 | 6.8 | 0 | 3.93 |
| 1996 | Tony Carter, Chi. | 59 | 41 | 233 | 5.7 | 0 | 3.95 |
| 2017 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 88 | 59 | 350 | 5.9 | 0 | 3.98 |
| 2010 | Fred Jackson, Buff. | 54 | 31 | 215 | 6.9 | 2 | 3.98 |
The Cowboys last year drafted Jaydon Blue. Ideally, he’ll develop into an option who can play on some third downs. He caught 42 passes his last year at Texas. But Blue was slow to pick things up last year, playing in only five games.
—Ian Allan
