Dowdle is expected to start for the Panthers in Week 6 with Chuba Hubbard (calf) hurt, and it should be another productive game for Dowdle against his former team. Now, we can't expect him to replicate what he did in Week 6 when he tore up the Dolphins for 23 carries for 206 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 28 yards on four targets. But the Cowboys are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and three running backs have already scored at least 18.4 PPR points against Dallas, including two in a row with Josh Jacobs and Breece Hall. I like Dowdle as a high-end No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues in this revenge game.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: Top DFS Play
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If Chuba Hubbard misses one more week, then we get Rico Dowdle at a (smaller) discount in a revenge game against the team that let him go this offseason. The Cowboys have given up 25.8 PPR FPPG to opposing running backs and 6.2 receptions per game to the position. Dowdle had 26 touches last week, and I would expect the Panthers to feed him again if Hubbard is out.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: Spectacular in spot start
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Dowdle rushed 23 times for 206 yards and a touchdown and brought in three of four targets for 28 yards in the Panthers' 27-24 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.
Stepping into the lead-back role in place of Chuba Hubbard (calf), Dowdle exceeded all expectations in his first opportunity to helm the ground attack in Carolina. Dowdle repeatedly knifed the Dolphins' front seven for big gains, including 43- and 53-yard scampers. Dowdle's otherworldly performance raises an intriguing dilemma for head coach Dave Canales whenever Hubbard is healthy again, but the Panthers can certainly afford to give the latter time to fully heal, especially with Dowdle next getting a crack at the inconsistent defense of his former Cowboys squad in a Week 6 home matchup.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: Sleeper RBs
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Chuba Hubbard (calf) is out for Week 5 against Miami, and I like Dowdle as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. In 2024 with the Cowboys, Dowdle had 10 games with at least 15 total touches, and he scored at least 14.9 PPR points in six outings over that span. He will likely share the work in Carolina with rookie Trevor Etienne in Week 5, but we expect Dowdle to do most of the heavy lifting. He already started to take work away from Hubbard, and Dowdle has 19 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 6 yards on two targets in his past two games against Atlanta and New England. The Dolphins have allowed a running back to score at least 12.8 PPR points in every game this season, including the past three opponents (Rhamondre Stevenson, James Cook and Breece Hall) to score at least 16.1 PPR points. Dowdle is my favorite injury replacement running back in Week 5, and he has top-20 upside in all leagues with his matchup against Miami.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: Set to start Sunday
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Coach Dave Canales said Dowdle will start Sunday against the Dolphins with fellow RB Chuba Hubbard (calf) ruled out for the contest, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Hubbard wasn't able to practice this week due to a lingering calf injury, and while he'll be inactive this weekend, Canales labeled him "day-to-day," meaning Dowdle's time as the Panthers' No. 1 backfield option may be contained to one game. In reserve role this season, Dowdle has averaged 3.0 yards on his 28 carries, hauled in five of six targets for 20 yards and scored a rushing touchdown in four games. Having said that, he racked up 1,079 rushing yards last year as the Cowboys' primary RB, so he can handle a large workload if needed. Trevor Etienne and DeeJay Dallas will be on hand for any reps that don't go to Dowdle.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: Likely headed for Week 5 start
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Dowdle is expected to serve as the Panthers' starting running back for Sunday's game against the Dolphins with Chuba Hubbard (calf) likely to be sidelined for the Week 5 contest, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Hubbard didn't take part in practices Wednesday and Thursday, and unless he takes a dramatic step forward in his activity Friday, he could be ruled out for Sunday's contest heading into the weekend. After signing a one-year, $2.75 million deal with Carolina in the offseason, Dowdle has served as Hubbard's top backup through the first four games, carrying 28 times for 83 yards (3.0 YPC) and a touchdown to go with five catches for 20 yards on six targets. Despite his poor efficiency so far with Carolina, Dowdle is coming off a 1,079-yard rushing season with Dallas and is likely to rank as the Panthers' preferred option out of the backfield ahead of fourth-round rookie Trevor Etienne, who has primarily served as a return specialist through the first four weeks and didn't see his first extended action on offense until garbage time of the Panthers' 42-13 loss to the Patriots last Sunday.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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Dowdle continues to take work away from Chuba Hubbard, and Dowdle is worth stashing in all leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB. In his past two games against Atlanta and New England, Dowdle has combined for 19 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 6 yards on two targets. He has some lottery-ticket appeal if Hubbard were to miss time due to injury, and Dowdle is not a bad reserve to have on your bench in deeper leagues in case his touches increase moving forward. He's worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: Underwhelms in Week 4
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Dowdle rushed nine times for 32 yards and caught his only target for minus-2 yards in Sunday's 42-13 loss to the Patriots.
The first-year Panther has now received double-digit touches in each of his last two games. Although Sunday's loss was a blowout, seven of Dowdle's 10 touches came in the first half while the game was still competitive, suggesting he's carved out a valuable role in Carolina's offense. However, he still worked behind Chuba Hubbard, who tallied 69 yards on 13 touches over 34 offensive snaps. Dowdle was also inefficient with the ball in his hands Sunday, averaging just 3.0 yards per touch. He's expected to continue serving as the Panthers' No. 2 running back ahead of a Week 5 matchup against the Dolphins.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: Role keeps growing
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Dowdle recorded 10 rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-0 win over the Falcons. He added one reception on one target for eight yards as well as one kick return for 21 yards.
The Panthers enjoyed a blowout win, though that doesn't appear to be the only reason for Dowdle's increased usage. He was the exclusive running back on a possession that began late in the fourth quarter, which accounted for half of his carries and his touchdown, but Chuba Hubbard returned to the game on the following possession. Hubbard is still the clear lead back in Carolina, but Dowdle has seen his touch total increase every week of the season.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: More touches in Week 2
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Dowdle rushed six times for nine yards and caught his only target for 10 yards during Sunday's 27-22 loss to the Cardinals.
Despite Dowdle seeing a larger role than he did in Carolina's opener, he played just 29 percent of the team's offensive snaps in Week 2. The 27-year-old has struggled with efficiency through his first two games with the team, averaging only 2.3 yards on his nine carries. Starter Chuba Hubbard recorded 77 total yards and a touchdown on 15 touches in Sunday's loss, and Dowdle doesn't have a clear path to more volume heading into a Week 3 matchup against the Falcons.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: Three touches in preseason loss
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Dowdle rushed twice for two yards and secured his only target for 15 yards in the Panthers' 20-3 preseason loss to the Texans on Saturday afternoon.
The offseason addition entered the game after Chuba Hubbard, with Dowdle logging his first touch on the first third down of the Panthers' third drive of the afternoon. Dowdle recorded his 15-yard catch on that play and then netted his two rushing yards over the next two snaps to wrap up his afternoon. A 1,000-yard rusher in 2024 with the Cowboys, Dowdle appears slotted for a solid but still complementary role alongside Hubbard going into the 2025 regular season.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: Makes impact as receiver Friday
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Dowdle gained seven rushing yards on three carries and caught his only target for 20 yards in Friday's 30-10 preseason loss to the Browns.
The former Cowboy made his debut in a Panthers uniform after signing a one-year contract in March, and Dowdle flashed his three-down skill set by connecting with Andy Dalton on a big gain early in the second quarter. As expected, Dowdle appears to be behind incumbent starter Chuba Hubbard on the depth chart, but with both players having gained over 1,000 rushing yards in 2024 for their respective teams and Dowdle posting better numbers as a receiver, he figures to still have a substantial role in Carolina's offense.
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Panthers' Rico Dowdle: Strikes deal with Carolina
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Dowdle agreed to a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Dowdle emerged as the Cowboys' top running back last season and rushed for a career-high 1,079 yards on 235 carries (4.6 YPC) with two touchdowns while adding 249 yards on 39 catches and three touchdowns. In Carolina, he'll be joining a backfield headlined by Chuba Hubbard (calf/knee), who had his own breakout last season with a career-best 1,195 rushing yards on 250 carries and 10 touchdowns. Dowdle's fantasy stock may take a hit as a result of being part of a timeshare with Hubbard in a best-case scenario, but the signing gives the up-and-coming Panthers a potentially formidable 1-2 punch out of the backfield. Jonathon Brooks, whom the Panthers selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, is expected to miss most of next season while recovering from his second torn ACL.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Wanted in Dallas
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Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said Monday that the team hopes to re-sign Dowdle, David Moore of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dowdle is scheduled for free agency at the beginning of the league year, with Dallas being the only team that can attempt to sign him before then. His breakout in 2024 figures to lead to a contract with considerable guarantees this offseason, but it's hard to say if teams will view Dowdle as a viable starter or more of a high-end backup. Having spent most of his pro career at the back of the Cowboys' roster or on their practice squad, Dowdle is unlikely to give a hometown discount, as this may be his only shot at a sizable contract. He'll turn 27 in June.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Finishes season strong
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Dowdle rushed 22 times for 72 yards and a touchdown while catching two of three targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 23-19 loss to the Commanders.
Dowdle's two-yard rushing touchdown with 7:02 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Cowboys a 19-16 lead, but the Commanders responded with a game-winning touchdown in the final seconds. The pending unrestricted free agent bolstered his value with a strong stretch run, as Dowdle compiled 591 rushing yards and two touchdowns over the last six games. Overall, Dowdle recorded 235 carries for 1,079 yards and two touchdowns while catching 39 of 49 targets for 249 yards and three touchdowns in this breakout season. If the Cowboys bring Dowdle back, they will likely look to bolster their backfield further via the draft or free agency.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: RBs to Start
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Dowdle did a nice job at Philadelphia in Week 17 with 23 carries for 104 yards and one catch for 4 yards on one target. He lost a fumble, which kept him at 9.8 PPR points, but this was his fourth 100-yard game in his past five outings. He had 19 carries for 86 yards and three catches for 12 yards on three targets at Washington in Week 12, and the Commanders have allowed a running back in each of the past three games to score at least 17 PPR points. Dowdle is worth trusting as a No. 2 running back in all leagues.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Hits season milestone in loss
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Dowdle rushed 23 times for 104 yards and brought in his only target for four yards in the Cowboys' 41-7 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.
Dowdle was able to bounce back from a difficult night against the Buccaneers' stingy run defense in Week 16, eclipsing the 100-yard mark for the fourth time in the last five games. The productive day also pushed Dowdle over the 1,000-yard threshold for the season, a particularly noteworthy accomplishment considering he didn't have a consistent grasp of the lead-back role over the first half of the campaign. Dowdle's fourth-quarter fumble at the Eagles' 10-yard line was costly in terms of both preventing the Cowboys from potentially scoring and because it led to an eventual Philadelphia TD, but the fourth-year pro should have a good chance of finishing the season in productive fashion against the Commanders in Week 18.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Dowdle had a rough game in Week 16 against Tampa Bay with 13 carries for 23 yards and three catches for 28 yards on three targets. It snapped his three-game streak of rushing for at least 112 yards, and he had a four-game streak of scoring at least 10.8 PPR points that ended against the Buccaneers. I don't expect Dowdle to get back on track in Week 17 at Philadelphia, and he was limited to 8.6 PPR points against the Eagles in Week 10 when he had 12 carries for 53 yards and three catches for 3 yards on three targets. Philadelphia is No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and the Eagles just held the Steelers and Commanders running backs to a combined 19.8 PPR points in the past two games. Dowdle is a flex option at best in most leagues in Week 17.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Struggles against Tampa Bay
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Dowdle rushed the ball 13 times for 23 yards in Sunday's 26-24 win over Tampa Bay. He added three receptions on three targets for 28 yards.
Dowdle had emerged as an efficient rusher with elevated volume in recent weeks, but he never got going on the ground in Sunday's win. His longest gain as a rusher went for just six yards, while 10 of his attempts went for two yards or fewer. Dowdle managed to redeem himself a bit as a pass catcher by posting his most receiving yards since Week 9. Things won't get easier for him heading into a Week 17 matchup against the Eagles, but he should remain a centerpiece of the Cowboys' offense.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: RBs to Start
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Dowdle comes into Week 16 against Tampa Bay with three games in a row with at least 112 rushing yards, and he scored at least 14.9 PPR points in each outing. He also has four games in a row with at least 19 total touches, and the Cowboys are leaning on him as a featured running back. The Buccaneers' run defense has improved in their past three games against Carolina, Las Vegas, and the Chargers, but I'll take my chances with Dowdle right now as a No. 2 running back in all leagues, given his recent level of play.
