Who Should I Start? Javonte Williams or Jerome Ford

Monday, March 10, 7:38 PM

The Dallas Cowboys have signed free-agent running back Javonte Williams on Monday. The two sides have agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract that carries a maximum value of $3.5 million through incentives. This is a low-risk move by the Cowboys to address the lack of depth in their backfield. The assumption is that Williams will serve as the backup to Rico Dowdle to begin the season. However, the Cowboys could still add more backs through free agency or the upcoming NFL draft. Williams has been unable to live up to the hype of his rookie season where he rushed for 903 yards in 2021. The 24-year-old was stuck in a backfield committee last season with the Denver Broncos. There's a good chance Williams ends up in a committee type of approach in Dallas, so this move shouldn't give fantasy managers too much confidence in a bounce back campaign from Williams.

Friday, May 2, 11:25 PM

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Jerome Ford agreed to a pay cut with the team on Friday, reducing his 2025 salary from $3.486 million to a guaranteed $1.75 million, a league source told The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot. It means that free-agent RB Nick Chubb will likely not be re-signing with the Browns this offseason. The move to reduce Ford's salary comes after the Browns selected former Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins with the 33rd overall pick in last week's NFL draft. Cleveland also added to the RB room and took former Tennessee rusher Dylan Sampson at No. 126 overall. Ford, a fifth-rounder in 2022, led the team with 565 yards on 104 carries (5.4 yards per carry) and three touchdowns with Chubb coming off a serious knee injury in 2023. The 25-year-old Ford is technically still atop the team's RB depth chart, but his reduction in pay is a clear sign that Judkins will have the opportunity to become the RB1 sooner than later in 2025.