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Dallas Cowboys · 2026
Who is Javonte Williams’s handcuff?
Explore the full Dallas Cowboys depth chart, player roles and draft history
The published handcuff answer
Tyler Goodson
Behind Javonte Williams · DAL
Tyler Goodson is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Javonte Williams in our published Week 7 Dallas Cowboys analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs.
Goodson is the only other back dressed behind Williams
Handcuff score
Backup opportunity, not projected points or an injury probability.
Analysis published . Status and role notes reflect that board.
Check official availability and your league’s transaction rules before adding.
Dallas Cowboys backfield overview
If Javonte Williams misses time
Fact: the official Cowboys-Eagles inactive list, posted Oct 26 at 6:45 p.m. (team page states no timezone; read as ET) and reopened unchanged just before kickoff, scratches RB Emari Demercado, while Javonte Williams, Tyler Goodson and FB Hunter Luepke are all absent from it and dressed. Fact: Malik Davis is on injured reserve, so Goodson is the only other true running back active tonight - a clear path rather than a committee. Fact: Week 6 snap counts at Green Bay (published Oct 20) were Williams 57 (73%), Goodson 11 (14%), Luepke 11 (14%). Projection: if Williams cannot finish, Goodson inherits the early-down carries by default, though he is a change-of-pace back and Luepke can absorb short yardage. Goodson is free almost everywhere; he only matters if Williams misses real time and Goodson then holds off Demercado, a healthy scratch who sat ahead of him earlier this season.
Williams carries no injury designation and is active for Monday night, so this is a pure contingency call. The roster news that matters is Demercado's scratch, which leaves Goodson as the lone backup running back behind Williams, with Luepke available as a fullback and short-yardage option. Davis remains on injured reserve. Nothing reported points to a Williams workload limit.
New arrival who has already passed Demercado. Signed to the Dallas active roster Sept. 15 off Atlanta's practice squad (he signed with ATL in March, joined their PS Aug. 31), filling the hole left by Malik Davis' season-ending IR. Active for Week 3 at BAL while Demercado sat as a coach's decision, making him the de facto No. 2. Former GB/IND back with return-game value; small Dallas sample.
- availability_unverified
- stale_availability
- conflicting_availability
- thin_profile
- no-starter-injury-designation
- thin-backup-profile
- fullback-short-yardage-competition
- demercado-returns-when-active
Why this candidate scores here
Other candidates in this backfield
Hunter Luepke
fullback · score 34/100
Candidates and scores are from the same published board. A split workload can limit the upside of any one backup.
The production behind the names
2026 regular season. Recorded production, not a projection. A missing stat line is not a zero.
| Player | Games with stats | Carries | Receptions | Total yards | PPR / game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 85 | 19 | 420 | 18.2 |
| 3 | 11 | 2 | 38 | 1.9 |
Carries + receptions, last 6 recorded games in 2026
Carries + receptions, last 3 recorded games in 2026
Totals include all teams played for that season. Per-game averages use games with recorded stats. Source: nflverse player statistics.
Handcuff, backup and next-man-up questions
Who is Javonte Williams’s handcuff?
Tyler Goodson is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Javonte Williams in our published Week 7 Dallas Cowboys analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs.
Who is the backup running back behind Javonte Williams?
Tyler Goodson is the preferred replacement candidate in the published Dallas Cowboys board. The board lists him at RB2. A fantasy handcuff recommendation and an official depth-chart position can differ; compare the full team chart and role evidence.
Who is next up if Javonte Williams misses a game?
Tyler Goodson is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Javonte Williams in our published Week 7 Dallas Cowboys analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs. Other published candidates include Hunter Luepke. Fact: the official Cowboys-Eagles inactive list, posted Oct 26 at 6:45 p.m. (team page states no timezone; read as ET) and reopened unchanged just before kickoff, scratches RB Emari Demercado, while Javonte Williams, Tyler Goodson and FB Hunter Luepke are all absent from it and dressed. Fact: Malik Davis is on injured reserve, so Goodson is the only other true running back active tonight - a clear path rather than a committee. Fact: Week 6 snap counts at Green Bay (published Oct 20) were Williams 57 (73%), Goodson 11 (14%), Luepke 11 (14%). Projection: if Williams cannot finish, Goodson inherits the early-down carries by default, though he is a change-of-pace back and Luepke can absorb short yardage. Goodson is free almost everywhere; he only matters if Williams misses real time and Goodson then holds off Demercado, a healthy scratch who sat ahead of him earlier this season.
Should I add Tyler Goodson as a handcuff?
Consider Tyler Goodson if you have a spare bench spot and want exposure to the replacement role behind Javonte Williams. His value depends on availability, competition for carries and receiving work, and your league’s roster rules. A handcuff is not automatically a useful starter this week. Review the dated analysis, current injury reports and the next kickoff before adding.
Compare backup running backs and next-man-up candidates for every team. Published depth and scores come from the documented roster, depth-chart and scoring process; they do not establish game-day availability.
Sources behind the analysis
- Cowboys vs. Eagles Inactives | 2026 Week 7 Monday Night Football
- Joey Porter's lagging snap counts, Cowboys switched things up in Wk 6
Published analysis may use automated research. How evidence and recommendations are handled.
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