Nick Harris of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram on Friday listed four things he "knows" from watching Cowboys training camp so far, and No. 3 delivered a surprising line on third-round rookie Jaishawn Barham. Harris says we should expect a "big role" for the young guy.
What They're Saying: Rookie Barham Earning Reps
Harris: "The coaching staff has trusted Barham in many different alignments, and they've seen success. Playing the majority of his snaps as an off-ball linebacker, Barham should give fans a bit more confidence in the depth of the inside linebacker room this his start to training camp. The staff has quickly gained trust in him, so much so that Barham handled the green-dot communicator responsibilities in Tuesday's practice when DeMarvion Overshown needed a rest day. He may not be a starter when the season bigins, but he's proving that it will be hard to keep him off the field."
Harris adds that he "thinks" Overshown will wear the dot in season: "Overshown has received the most reps with the headset ... and he continues to earn praise for how he's handled it. For a defensive coaching staff that has continued to emphasize how important communication is for the system to work, they wouldn't be giving Overshown praise if it wasn't warranted. A handful of other players are training with the green dot, but I think Overshown will be the guy in Week 1."
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Target DeMarvion Overshown
Let's start with Overshown, who's most in line to help 2026 fantasy teams.
The former third-round pick lost his rookie season to a left ACL tear but was putting together a strong comeback campaign before tearing the ACL, MCL, and PCL in his right knee in Week 14. The recovery from that injury limited Overshown's availability throughout last season.
But he's back now as the apparent corps leader, and the green-dot status says we should expect full playing time. Overshown has displayed cross-category scoring potential both in college -- where he began as a DB -- and his lone season of starter-level snap shares in the NFL.
His quiet past three years overall are bound to keep him on the board late into IDP drafts. But he sits at a potentially impactful 25th in our LB rankings.
You can probably draft him later than that in nearly all leagues.
Dynasty Impact: Barham Enticing Long Term
Here's where you should be most interested in Barham.
We'll see whether he can work his way into 2026 IDP relevance. The rookie finished his Michigan career playing primarily on the edge, but he spent the previous three seasons running mostly as an off-ball LB. So his Dallas role shouldn't be truly new to him.
Barham will need to beat out former 49ers LB Dee Winters to join Overshown for primary duty. That's probably doable, though the team paid a fifth-round pick for Winters this spring.
That obviously doesn't lock him into a role, but it's a significant price for a former sixth-round pick who spent just one of his three San Francisco seasons as a yearlong starter and is in the final year of his contract.
The battle will be worth watching for IDP upside, especially given Overshown's rough injury history. But it also won't change the fact that Barham carries long-term intrigue.
Try to stash him on your dynasty roster now if he's available, before your league mates get the chance to learn about him.
