OXNARD, Calif. — Jaydon Blue, the Dallas Cowboys’ fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, arrives at training camp with a chance to carve out a significant role in a wide-open backfield. The former Texas Longhorn, known for his electrifying speed and pass-catching prowess, brings a dynamic skill set that could make him a fantasy football sleeper in 2025.
Blue, a Houston native, showcased his potential at Klein Cain High School, rushing for 2,155 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior before skipping his senior season to prepare for college. A four-star recruit, he chose Texas over powerhouses like Alabama and LSU. At Texas, Blue played behind a stacked running back room, including NFL talents Bijan Robinson and Jonathon Brooks, limiting his carries. In 2024, he emerged as a co-starter, rushing for 730 yards and eight touchdowns on 134 carries across 15 games, despite missing one due to an ankle injury. His receiving ability stood out, with 42 receptions for 368 yards and six touchdowns, leading the Longhorns with 14 total scores.
At 5-foot-9 and 196 pounds, Jaydon Blue lacks the size of a traditional workhorse back but compensates with elite speed, clocking a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. His 73% rate of rushing yards after contact and 25% target share as a receiver highlight his elusiveness and versatility. In the 2024 Sugar Bowl, he rushed for 59 yards on nine carries, added four receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown, and returned three kickoffs for 80 yards, showing his all-purpose potential.
The Cowboys’ backfield offers Jaydon Blue a clear path to playing time. After losing Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, and Dalvin Cook, Dallas signed veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to modest one-year deals and drafted Blue and Clemson’s Phil Mafah. Williams, coming off an injury-plagued tenure in Denver, and Sanders, who averaged just 3.5 yards per carry in Carolina, have not locked down the starting role. Mafah, a seventh-round pick, brings power but lacks Blue’s explosiveness. The Cowboys’ new offensive coordinator, Klayton Adams, emphasizes a spread offense that suits Blue’s ability to run routes from the slot and burn linebackers on wheel routes.
Blue’s fantasy football appeal lies in this opportunity. His pass-catching skills position him as a candidate for third-down and two-minute drill work, with potential to climb the depth chart if he outperforms the veterans. Despite concerns about his limited college carries and occasional ball-security issues, with seven fumbles over two seasons, his youth at 21 and big-play ability make him a late-round dynasty league target. Social media buzz from training camp highlights his speed and slot usage, fueling optimism about his role.
As the Cowboys kick off training camp in Oxnard, Jaydon Blue competes not only for carries but also for kickoff return duties, adding another avenue for impact. If he secures the trust of the coaching staff, Blue could emerge as the Cowboys’ lead back by midseason, making him a steal for fantasy managers willing to take a chance.
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