In the end, the final line on Cowboys rookie running back Phil Mafah was not eye-popping. The seventh-round pick out of Clemson finished with 10 carries and 36 yards, an average of 3.6 yards, the kind of numbers that surely won’t get a player a roster spot.
But that does not tell the story of Mafah in the Cowboys’ preseason debut, because he had multiple big plays that were later nullified by penalties. He ran with force and power, and made two catches out of the backfield, a must in Dallas’s offense.
It’s not likely that we’ll see Mafah as the starter here in 2025, but he did show he is worthy of a roster spot and could, eventually, land as the RB2 this season.
Phil Mafah Fighting for Roster Spot
Certainly, the reviews were positive for Mafah.
As the Cowboys site “Blogging the Boys” wrote, it’s not hard to imagine Mafah beating out veteran Miles Sanders, who’s dealing with a knee injury. A roster spot could come down to Sanders vs. Mafah.
BtB noted: “Mafah could make that decision a lot easier. Dallas would naturally prefer a younger, cheaper player at the bottom of the depth chart. If Sanders doesn’t become the starter, he’s a 28-year-old back on a one-year deal. Mafah, still just 22, has a fresh four-year contract as a drafted player, and on the cheap as just a seventh-round pick.”
Wrote “Locked on Cowboys” host Marcus Mosher on Twitter/X, “Just keep giving Phil Mafah touches.”
Cowboys online analyst Dan Rogers wrote of Mafah’s most impressive called-back play, a 14-yard gain to the Rams’ 1-yard line: “Rookie running back Phil Mafah bursts through the hole, stutter-steps to an open lane, says no thank you to an arm tackle, lowers his shoulder, and finishes strong. This would have been first-and-goal at the 1 if Asim Richards knew how to line up properly.”
Cowboys Crowded at RB
Additionally, at the Cowboys’ website, Patrik Walker noted that Mafah was one of the standouts in the loss to the Rams.
Dallas has a crowded committee at running back, with Sanders, newly added Malik Davis, as well as free-agent signee Javonte Williams. The Cowboys also hope to use Kavontae Turpin out of the backfield more.
“Jaydon Blue and Miles Sanders were both absent with injury, and despite the signing/reunion with Malik Davis, it was Mafah getting the bulk of the carries; and he made the most of them,” Walker wrote. “His stat line was solid, but could’ve been explosive, if not for his biggest run of the day being called back due to offensive holding, for example. The rookie running back was punishing, but also quick and had great vision, and he’s off to a tasty start that could make waves in the RB room.”
-1752370148-q80.webp "Heat Won’t Trade Andrew Wiggins Anymore")
-1752845999-q80.webp "Raiders' Mark Davis Looks Forward to This the Most in 2025")
