Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Phil Mafah indicated Friday that he played through a torn labrum in his shoulder during his final college season at Clemson, Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News reports. Mafah has been looking good in camp thus far and mentioned that he is feeling healthy, then proceeded to discuss his 2024 injury. During the 2024 season, he rushed for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns on 216 carries. He also caught 21 passes for 103 yards and played all 14 games, starting every one, and was voted a permanent team captain by his teammates. Those are still solid numbers considering he was dealing with a shoulder injury. Nonetheless, it could be why he fell to the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft in the spring. A big performance from Mafah on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams could create a running back battle in the Cowboys' backfield between the two veterans (Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders) and the two rookies (Jaydon Blue and Mafah) ahead of Week 1. At this point, from a fantasy standpoint, Mafah remains a dynasty stash at best.
Aug 9, 2025 11:43 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Phil Mafah is earning praise from Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, according to Garrett Podell of CBS Sports. Schottenheimer said that Mafah is "very fluid" and has "excellent" vision. A seventh-round pick out of Clemson, Mafah rushed for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games in his final collegiate season. He's competing with veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders as well as fellow rookie Jaydon Blue for playing time in the Dallas backfield. Williams is the favorite to open the season as the Cowboys' RB1, but there's an opportunity for whichever back plays best to earn carries. With a strong showing in the preseason, Mafah could be a name to monitor in deeper leagues as the regular season gets underway.
Aug 7, 2025 6:00 PM EST
The Dallas Cowboys have signed seventh-round rookie running back Phil Mafah to a four-year, $4.31 million deal, per the team's transaction log. Mafah spent his entire college career at Clemson, garnering seven starts over his first three seasons before starting in all 14 games in 2024. He broke out last year, rushing for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns across 216 carries (5.2 YPC). The 22-year-old wasn't much of a receiver over his first two campaigns, but he caught 21 balls in each of his junior and senior seasons, though he did not score any TDs there. Like his fellow rookie rusher Jaydon Blue, Mafah will have the opportunity to crack Dallas' backfield due to the lack of competition in front of him. This RB room will be one to watch throughout the months leading up to the NFL season.
May 7, 2025 8:14 PM EST
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