The efficiency of the Dallas Cowboys run game this season will be a telling sign of this offseason’s effectiveness. Some splashy moves headline Dallas’ activity, but what was largely considered to be the team’s largest need was not one of them.

But you can’t say they didn’t do anything.

Dallas rebuilt their running back room by signing experienced players in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders who have starting pedigree but are hoping to get out of their recent slumps. The Cowboys also drafted two backs, with fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue making an early case to command carries in his rookie year.

However exciting the action is, the run game may still be the weakest link of the offense. The offensive line should be reloaded with first-round talent galore, but there is still no telling how successful the Cowboys’ new ball carriers will be. That is largely because of the O-line’s youth and so many new faces adhering to a new system.

At the moment … there isn’t even an idea who will be the starter, let alone if the team will run the ball well at all.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer is likely content rolling with this group, but if the opportunity to bring in a proven superstar presented itself, Jerry Jones and the front office would be silly to not at least take a couple looks.

In Buffalo, there is a star running back that could be in search of a new team and be the high-profile addition so many Cowboys fans have been praying for.

Fantasy Sports of SI believes the Cowboys are a potential “top landing spot” for disgruntled Bills running back James Cook.

Cook, the NFL‘s rushing touchdowns leader a year ago, is holding out from Bills offseason programs because the organization is not fulfilling his request for a new contract. If their relationship continues to sour, Buffalo could decide to move on from the 25 year old in a trade.

“Cook would immediately vault to the top of Dallas’ running back depth chart. If quarterback Dak Prescott and company stay healthy, this could be a better landing spot for Cook than [the Washington Commanders],” the article read.

Dallas was notoriously bad on the ground last year, even with a surprise 1,000-yard season from Rico Dowdle. With a rotation of question marks, things could be shaping out for a repeat in 2025 if there isn’t someone who breaks free from the bunch.

Cook, however, could flip that script. He’s combined for 2,131 yards over the last two seasons with a staggering 16 rushing touchdowns last year. The idea fits perfectly with what Dallas is looking for in a premier ball carrier.

Where things get tricky for Dallas is financially. As we’ve seen, Cook is blunt about his demands for a contract that represents his on-field value – which would take a hefty amount … in his mind, $15 million per year.

That isn’t happening in Big D.

The Cowboys already have a long to-do list with player contracts for George Pickens, DaRon Bland, Brandon Aubrey and Tyler Smith all expiring soon. Adding Cook to that mix would be a nightmare trying to make it all work.

It would be a clear “all-in” move for this season that could set up the Cowboys offense to be the most potent in the league.

But logistically, it doesn’t feel possible … thus making it a literal “fantasy.”