Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle has been the talk of the NFL lately, recording 373 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 60 total touches across his last two games played. Dowdle has been filling in for Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (calf), who could make his return in Week 7 against the New York Jets. However, Panthers head coach Dave Canales has been non-committal about whether Hubbard will remain the starter once he returns. While Hubbard will certainly get his touches, it's hard to imagine that Carolina would completely remove Dowdle from the game plan, given what he has done over the last two weeks. If there are any leagues where Dowdle remains available, he needs to be rostered in all fantasy formats and could be a borderline must-start running back in Week 7, even if Hubbard returns to the lineup.
Oct 14, 2025 12:01 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle showed that he isn't a one-hit wonder during Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Last week, Dowdle shocked the fantasy football world when he rushed for 206 yards against the Miami Dolphins. Dowdle continued to have success this weekend as he rushed for 183 yards on 30 attempts in the win over the Cowboys. He also hauled in four of his five targets for 56 yards and a touchdown through the air. Chuba Hubbard (calf) missed his second straight game which led to increased carries for Dowdle. When healthy, Hubbard is going to have a tough time taking away carries from Dowdle with the way he's running the ball. Dowdle figures to lose some value once Hubbard returns, but remains a viable option versus the New York Jets next week.
Oct 12, 2025 6:28 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle is in line to make his second straight start with Chuba Hubbard (calf) ruled out again for Week 6 against Dallas. Dowdle erupted for 234 total yards and a touchdown on 26 touches in Week 5 against Miami in his first spot start of the year. Dowdle may have earned more snaps moving forward when Hubbard returns from injury, given how well he's played. Dowdle and the Panthers should be successful moving the ball on the ground again on Sunday versus a Dallas defense that has allowed 4.5 yards per carry and the seventh most PPR points per game to opposing running backs this season. Dowdle should be fired up as a borderline RB1 for Week 6.
Oct 11, 2025 9:13 AM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle had one of the best fantasy performances by any player this season in Week 5, racking up 206 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against the Dolphins while also catching three passes for 28 yards. Dowdle stepped up with Chuba Hubbard (calf) out, and Hubbard starts Week 6 "day-to-day" heading into Carolina's matchup against the Cowboys in Week 6. Coach Dave Canales said that the team having "two good backs" is "a good problem," but it's hard to know exactly what the timeshare will look like when Hubbard is ready to return. At least in the short term, Dowdle should get more work and could keep the lion's share of the work more long-term if he remains so effective, or if Hubbard needs more time to get back to full speed. It's definitely a situation to monitor moving forward, and Dowdle should be owned in all formats after his career day.
Oct 7, 2025 10:59 AM EST
With Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (calf) viewed as day-to-day with the calf injury that kept him out of Sunday's win against the Dolphins, and Rico Dowdle coming off the first 200-yard game of his career, the Panthers' backfield situation is suddenly looking cloudy for fantasy managers. In speaking with reporters on Monday, head coach Dave Canales said the team has two good running backs and that, "It's a good problem to have." There were some fears that the 73% running back rush share that made Hubbard a fantasy darling in 2024 would be unsustainable, especially after the team signed Dowdle in free agency. Prior to Hubbard's injury, Dowdle had seen a steadily increasing involvement in Canales' offense. As long as Hubbard is out, Dowdle can be started with confidence, but fantasy managers who can afford to do so should take a longer-term approach to seeing how carries are divvied up when both backs are healthy.
Oct 6, 2025 3:07 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle was spectacular on Sunday in a smash spot against a poor Miami Dolphins run defense, and he made the most of it. Stepping in for injured Chuba Hubbard (calf), Dowdle rewarded his fantasy managers who picked him up off the waiver wire with his 206 rushing yards (8.96 YPC) and 28 receiving yards on three receptions, and with his touchdown coming from one yard out. Dowdle has slowly been getting more involved over the last few weeks, and he made the most of his opportunity in Week 5 as the lead-back. It's hard to imagine this backfield not moving closer to a 50/50 split once Hubbard returns, although nothing yet has been reported. In the meantime, Dowdle needs to be picked up off waivers if he is still out there, and if Hubbard misses any additional time, he will be a high-end RB2 heading into Week 6, as the Panthers face another sub-par defense in the Dallas Cowboys.
Oct 6, 2025 9:59 AM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle carried the ball 23 times for 206 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown during Sunday's Week 5 win over the Miami Dolphins. He also caught three of four targets for an additional 28 receiving yards. Dowdle filled in for the injured Chuba Hubbard (calf) and turned in one of the best individual fantasy performances we've seen through five weeks this season. He proved to be a terrific waiver wire addition for many fantasy managers who inserted him into their lineups on Sunday. Even if Hubbard returns next week, Dowdle has done more than enough to carve out a significant role on offense. He's worth deploying as an RB3/flex with RB2 upside going forward, including next week in a revenge game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Oct 5, 2025 4:55 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle will take over as the lead back ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The Panthers are without Chuba Hubbard (calf) this week, so Dowdle is the next man up. Over the last two games, Dowdle has rushed 19 times for 62 yards and one touchdown. The 27-year-old has been working as the primary backup, but should offer streaming value as the starter. Trevor Etienne and DeeJay Dallas could also be involved, but Dowdle is the best option of the bunch. Given the injuries and byes in Week 5, Dowdle is looking like a viable RB2 to plenty of fantasy managers.
Oct 5, 2025 8:30 AM EST
Carolina Panthers running back and former Dallas Cowboy, Rico Dowdle, is set to be the lead back in the Panthers' backfield in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, with Chuba Hubbard (calf) ruled out for Week 5. Hubbard is considered week-to-week, so Dowdle isn't expected to be a hot commodity for a season-long play, but he immediately rises in the Week 5 ranks and becomes a top-25 running back against the Dolphins defense, which allows the seventh most fantasy points to the running back position. Dowdle is no slouch either; last year with the Cowboys, he accumulated 1,328 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. Rookie running back Trevor Etienne becomes the team's RB2 and should also be in line for additional carries.
Oct 3, 2025 9:25 AM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle could continue to have low-end fantasy value even if teammate Chuba Hubbard (calf) suits up against the New England Patriots in Week 4. The veteran had 38 scrimmage yards on 11 touches last week, and he also vultured a touchdown from Hubbard to score double-digit fantasy points for the first time this season. In order to get back to the double-digit range, Dowdle would likely need to find the end zone again this week. That's certainly possible, of course, as New England has surrendered three running back touchdowns through three games so far. With that said, Dowdle was +170 to score a touchdown on Saturday, but his odds have shifted to +350 on DraftKings as of Sunday morning.
Sep 28, 2025 10:06 AM EST
Carolina running back Rico Dowdle saw his heaviest usage of the season and scored his first touchdown as a Panther in Sunday's blowout win over the Falcons. Dowdle turned 10 carries into 30 yards, with his touchdown coming late in the 4th quarter. The Panthers led throughout, which significantly contributed to Dowdle's increased usage. He did run for over 1,00 yards last season with the Cowboys, so he's far from incapable should the Panthers look to create a more even backfield split, but the team's 30 rushes on Sunday were a season-high. The Panthers face the Patriots in Week 4, who have been stout against the run but susceptible to pass-catching backs. Dowdle's five targets through three games suggest that he won't be used in that role and can therefore be kept on the bench for another week.
Sep 23, 2025 2:45 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle showed a glimpse of his potential as a pass-catching threat in the team's preseason debut against the Cleveland Browns, recording one reception for 20 yards to go along with two rushes for seven yards. The 27-year-old running back is entering his sixth season in the NFL after spending his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys, which was riddled with injuries. Dowdle is clearly behind Chuba Hubbard on the depth chart, but could carve out a role in the Panthers' receiving or two-minute offense in 2025. Coming off an underwhelming 2024 season in Dallas, where high hopes for the lead back role didn't materialize (235-1,079-2 on the ground, 39-249-3 in the air), a move to a new location and a backup role could take some pressure off Dowdle and allow him to grow into his potential. Rotoballer currently projects him as RB55, but Dowdle could be a sneaky stash if anything happens to Hubbard throughout the season.
Aug 9, 2025 4:08 PM EST
The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow writes that Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle will split carries with rookie Trevor Etienne as the backups to lead back Chuba Hubbard in 2025. Dowdle is coming of a 1,000-yard season with the Dallas Cowboys in his first year as a lead back, but he'll be working behind Hubbard. As the RB2 last year in Carolina, Miles Sanders only had 55 carries, although he was mostly injured and ineffective. Zietlow adds that the Panthers will want to find out what they have in Etienne before Jonathon Brooks (knee) returns in 2026. If anything, the 27-year-old Dowdle will take away valuable pass-catching opportunities from Hubbard on third downs in his first year in Carolina, but it's going to be hard to justify him as an every-week fantasy starter as long as Hubbard stays healthy. Dowdle is ranked as RotoBaller's RB50 going into the 2025 season.
Jul 1, 2025 9:24 PM EST
The Carolina Panthers have signed free-agent running back Rico Dowdle on Wednesday. The two sides have agreed on a one-year, $6.25 million deal for the upcoming season. On paper, Dowdle is a good fit with the Panthers who certainly need depth behind Chuba Hubbard. Last season, Dowdle rushed for over 1,000 yards across 15 games with the Dallas Cowboys. It's also worth noting that Dowdle hauled in 39 receptions for 249 yards and three touchdowns through the air. This is a low-risk move that should help the Panthers while former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks (knee) recovers from injury.
Mar 12, 2025 7:36 PM EST
According to a person with knowledge of the Dallas Cowboys' thinking, the team signing former Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams in free agency means that RB Rico Dowdle won't return in 2025. Williams is regarded as a comparable talent to Dowdle and is more cost effective, according to the Dallas Morning News' David Moore. The Cowboys are committed to selecting a running back in April's draft as well, and they will likely compete with Williams for backfield touches in 2025. This news comes after executive Stephen Jones said at the end of last month that Dallas was hoping to re-sign Dowdle, who had his first 1,000-yard rushing season and two touchdowns on 235 rushing attempts as the team's lead back in 2024. Meanwhile, Williams averaged a mediocre 3.7 yards per carry and had 513 rushing yards and four touchdowns in Denver while losing the starting gig midway through the season.
Mar 10, 2025 9:10 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle rushed 22 times for 72 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders. He also caught two of his three targets for an additional 12 yards through the air. Dowdle was quite impressive throughout the 2024 season, supplanting Ezekiel Elliott as the Cowboys' undisputed No. 1 running back. He finished the campaign with 1,079 rushing yards, 249 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns through 16 games, ranking as a low-end RB2 in fantasy football. There has been plenty of speculation that the Cowboys could take an aggressive approach with their pursuit of a running back this offseason, such as drafting Ashton Jeanty. However, there's also a real possibility they feel confident in Dowdle and don't take as big of a swing for a backfield addition within the upcoming months. The 26-year-old currently still has appeal as a mid-range RB3 option heading into the 2025 campaign, and until Dallas brings in competition, this backfield belongs to Dowdle.
Jan 5, 2025 9:23 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle will look to top off his surprising breakout season in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders with a splash. The 26-year-old has rushed for over 100 yards in four of his last five games and now faces a solid matchup against Washington's 20th-ranked run defense. He will look to solidify his finish as an RB2 on the season. Dowdle is in RB1 territory heading into the season's finale and should be started in any leagues that run into Week 18.
Jan 4, 2025 9:52 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle was one of the lone bright spots in the Week 17 blowout loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. The fifth-year running back carried the ball 23 times for 104 yards while catching his lone target for four yards. Dowdle also lost a fumble, his second of the year. The South Carolina product has come along nicely down the stretch for the Cowboys, rushing for over 100 yards in four of his last five outings.
Dec 29, 2024 9:40 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle rushed for just 23 yards last week after a three-week stretch of 100+ yards on the ground. The 26-year-old out of South Carolina has generally performed better when facing easier matchups, and this week's matchup against Philadelphia's top-ranked defense against running backs is far from easy. Dowdle will see heavy volume per usual as the workhorse in Dallas' offense, but his production may not be as strong as it has in recent weeks due to the tough matchup. He is a low-end RB2 solely based on projected volume.
Dec 28, 2024 8:32 AM EST
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle rushed for just 23 yards on 13 carries during Sunday's Week 16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also caught each of his three targets for an additional 28 yards through the air. Although Dowdle's pass-catching work was solid, his inefficiency on the ground counteracted some of the production he delivered through the air. Even in PPR leagues, this was Dowdle's worst fantasy outing since he took over as the Cowboys' No. 1 running back over veteran Ezekiel Elliott. The 26-year-old gets another tough matchup next week against the Philadelphia Eagles, who held Brian Robinson Jr. to just 24 rushing yards and two fumbles on Sunday.
Dec 23, 2024 1:13 AM EST
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