Rico Dowdle
Running Back #23
Rico Dowdle News
Rico Dowdle Productive in Win Over Saints, but Clear No. 2 Option
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle carried the ball nine times for 41 yards (4.6 yards per carry), and caught all six of his targets for 45 receiving yards (7.5 yards per reception) in France during a 16-10 Week 7 win over the New Orleans Saints. He played 28 offensive snaps. Dowdle was fairly productive and heavily involved in the passing game, as he led the Steelers in receptions and tied for the team lead with wide receiver DK Metcalf in targets. However, it is evident that running back Jaylen Warren will remain the preferred option in the running game. Warren played 40 offensive snaps and rushed 18 times for 101 yards (5.6 yards per carry). Warren added three receptions (on four targets) for 36 yards (12.0 yards per catch). Warren out-touched Dowdle 21-15, compiling 137 scrimmage yards compared to 86 total yards for Dowdle. The Steelers prefer to use a two-running back attack, and Dowdle will continue to get plenty of touches, but expect Warren to keep operating as the lead back as the 2026 season progresses.
Oct 25, 2026 10:07 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Active for Week 7 Against Saints in Paris
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 7 contest against the New Orleans Saints in Paris, France. Dowdle made the trip overseas and was ultimately listed as questionable entering this weekend. In the end, though, he will suit up against the Saints. The 28-year-old missed all three games from Weeks 3-5, but he returned to action last week and will play again this Sunday. The 28-year-old has operated as the clear No. 2 option out of the backfield behind Jaylen Warren. He has fewer than 8.0 PPR points in all three of his games so far, although to his credit, he is averaging a solid 3.7 targets and 2.3 catches per contest. Dowdle should have a role this week, but we'd hesitate to start him in leagues with 14 or fewer teams. Warren is the Steelers running back to start in fantasy football.
Oct 25, 2026 4:27 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Could Offer Deep League Flex Value
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (knee) is currently listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. Dowdle made his return to the field last week after missing three games due to injury. He rushed the ball seven times for 40 yards in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also hauled in three of his four targets for nine yards. The expectation is that he'll have a similar role in Week 7, assuming he's able to play. Jaylen Warren has played extremely well and cemented himself as the lead back in Pittsburgh. If healthy, Dowdle could offer some deep league flex value, but he isn't someone who is a must-start while Warren is healthy and getting the bulk of the playing time.
Oct 23, 2026 6:50 PM EST
Rico Dowdle Listed as Questionable to Play in Week 7
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (knee) is listed as questionable to play in Week 7's matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Dowdle was limited in all three days of practice this week due to an apparent knee injury, despite not appearing to be injured in the 26-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. Last week, Dowdle returned from a toe injury that cost him three games, had seven carries for 40 yards, and added three receptions for nine yards. While Jaylen Warren has firmly cemented himself as the lead back in this offense, Dowdle, if healthy, will still have a role, even after Warren's elite production in Dowdle's absence. Fantasy managers should monitor the team's Saturday elevations and Dowdle's status on Sunday morning, especially in a weaker matchup against the struggling Saints run defense.
Oct 23, 2026 5:15 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Dealing With Knee Injury, Limited on Wednesday
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (knee) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday with a new knee injury, according to Jeff Nowak. Dowdle missed three games with a dislocated toe on his right foot, but he managed to return in the Week 6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing 27% of the offensive snaps while carrying the ball seven times for 40 yards. He added three catches for nine yards. Meanwhile, Jaylen Warren handled 14 rushing attempts for 50 yards and caught two passes for 28 yards. Dowdle apparently picked up a knee injury in his first game back, but it might not be serious enough to keep him out of playing again in Week 7 in Paris against the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Mike McCarthy envisioned a pretty even split between Dowdle and Warren before the start of the regular season, but Dowdle's toe injury opened more opportunities for Warren, and he took advantage. Warren has earned a larger share of the backfield pie than Dowdle. Dowdle is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers, but he is averaging just 3.5 yards per attempt on his 22 carries through three games in Pittsburgh, and he will be relegated to RB3/flex status if he is active in Week 7 in France.
Oct 21, 2026 2:15 PM EST
Rico Dowdle Remains Part of Steelers' Two-Back Plans
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) remains firmly in the team's offensive plans, with head coach Mike McCarthy stressing the importance of getting both Dowdle and Jaylen Warren involved. Asked about using the two backs on the field together, McCarthy told Brian Batko, "We really like both running backs a lot and they need to touch the ball." Dowdle returned from a three-game absence in Sunday's 26-19 overtime win over Tampa Bay, rushing seven times for 40 yards and catching three passes for nine yards. Warren handled 14 carries for 50 yards and added two receptions for 28 yards, holding his spot as Pittsburgh's featured back. Two-back formations give Dowdle a way to stay involved alongside Warren, though Sunday's 16-to-10 touch advantage backs up the existing hierarchy. Dowdle has some appeal as backfield depth in deeper fantasy leagues, but McCarthy's comments don't necessarily point to a more even split of touches.
Oct 19, 2026 11:40 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Returning From his Toe Injury on Sunday
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) is officially active and will make his return to Pittsburgh's backfield on Sunday on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. A dislocated toe on his right foot caused Dowdle to miss each of the last three games, allowing Jaylen Warren to take on an elevated workload as the Steelers' lead back. While head coach Mike McCarthy planned for an even backfield split between Warren and Dowdle before the regular season started, Warren's recent play makes him deserving of more of the work now that Dowdle has returned from his injury. The 28-year-old Dowdle was averaging just 2.5 carries for 37 yards and no rushing touchdowns on his 15 rushing attempts in two games before his injury, too, so it is not like he had been impressing the coaching staff before missing time. He should be involved for the Steelers now that he is back, but fantasy managers should temper expectations, and he is a hard sell as an RB3/flex option in his first game back in Tampa.
Oct 18, 2026 7:52 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Expected to Return for Week 6 vs. Buccaneers
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 6 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite being listed as questionable, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Dowdle played in the first two games of the season but wasn't much of a factor, canceling out his four receptions with a very underwhelming 2.47 yards per carry. His return comes amid a surge of dominance from Jaylen Warren, who seems to have a pretty firm grasp on the lead-back role. Warren ranks as the RB8 in PPR leagues, and over his last three games, he has 321 rushing yards, 12 catches, 169 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. The return of Dowdle may allow the Steelers to give Warren a few more snaps off, but we'd be surprised if they don't continue to treat him as a near-every-down back. That would keep Dowdle off the fantasy radar for the time being.
Oct 18, 2026 4:26 AM EST
What role will Rico Dowdle Play If He Returns in Week 6?
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) enters a Week 6 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a questionable designation due to a toe injury. Dowdle has missed each of the past three games. He was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice before being upgraded to a full participant on Thursday and Friday. Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio said earlier this week that he expects Dowdle to return in Week 6, and the full practice sessions are encouraging, but Dowdle's status still needs to be monitored before Sunday's 1 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff. Dowdle was highly inefficient in the first two games of the season. He has tallied 15 carries for 37 rushing yards (2.5 yards per carry), while adding four catches for 28 yards(7.0 yards per reception) so far in 2026. He has not yet recorded a touchdown. Meanwhile, Jaylen Warren has seemed to take over as Pittsburgh's unquestioned starter with Dowdle out. However, if Dowdle is active, expect him to get a fair share of touches. Still, it might be best to leave Dowdle on the bench until his role becomes clearer. He is RotoBaller's No. 37 running back for Week 6.
Oct 17, 2026 7:04 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Questionable Despite Full Practices
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) is questionable for Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite practicing in full on Thursday and Friday. Dowdle has missed three consecutive games since injuring his toe against New England in Week 2, but his progression from a limited session Wednesday to consecutive full practices is encouraging. He recorded 37 rushing yards on 15 carries and caught four passes for 28 yards across his first two games. Jaylen Warren has taken control of the Pittsburgh backfield during Dowdle's absence, most recently totaling 188 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns against Indianapolis in Week 5. Warren's production gives the Steelers little reason to rush Dowdle into a substantial role, even if he's cleared to return. Fantasy managers should keep Dowdle on the bench until there's a clearer picture of how Pittsburgh intends to distribute its backfield touches.
Oct 16, 2026 12:15 PM EST
Rico Dowdle Logs Full Practice on Thursday, Poised for Week 6 Return?
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) practiced in full on Thursday, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. Dowdle has been sidelined since Week 2 with a toe injury, but it appears he could be trending toward returning in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before suffering the injury, Dowdle recorded 65 yards from scrimmage on 19 touches across two games. The 28-year-old was splitting backfield work relatively evenly with fellow Steelers back Jaylen Warren. However, Warren has taken off as the lead back in Dowdle's absence, totaling 490 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns over the past three weeks. While Dowdle will surely play a role in the Steelers' offense upon his return, he's unlikely to see a fantasy-relevant workload while Warren remains healthy.
Oct 15, 2026 12:25 PM EST
Steelers Expect Rico Dowdle to Return in Week 6
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio said on Monday that he expects running back Rico Dowdle (toe) to return in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. Head coach Mike McCarthy continues to say that Dowdle is close after missing each of the last three games due to a dislocated toe. Warren has taken advantage of his increased opportunity over that span with Warren sidelined, carrying the ball 49 times for 321 yards (6.6 yards per carry) and a touchdown while adding 12 catches on 16 targets for 169 yards and another score through the air. McCarthy had visions of a split backfield with Dowdle and Warren going into the 2026 season, but upon Dowdle's return, fantasy managers should expect a smaller role given Warren's dominance and a bigger workload. The 28-year-old struggled in his first two games for the Steelers before getting hurt, rushing the ball 15 times for only 37 yards while catching four passes for 28 yards. If Dowdle is officially cleared for Week 6, he will be a tough sell as an RB3/flex.
Oct 12, 2026 12:25 PM EST
Rico Dowdle was "Close" to Playing on Sunday, Hopeful for Week 6 Return
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) was "close" to returning on Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. Pryor added that the team hopes Dowdle can practice this week and be cleared to suit up in Week 6. Head coach Mike McCarthy said, "Having them as a one-two punch was the vision of this offense," but added that Jaylen Warren is "crushing" it right now. While the two split work early in the season, since Dowdle has been on the shelf, Warren has led the entire backfield. He put up another dominant effort in their win over the Colts, totaling 101 rushing yards, 87 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. However, if Dowdle sits out, both running backs would have their fantasy upside capped, with Warren falling in the mid-end RB2 range and Dowdle holding low-end FLEX upside.
Oct 11, 2026 1:42 PM EST
Rico Dowdle Inactive for Week 5 Game
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) has officially been ruled out for the Week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday and will miss a third straight game, according to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier on Sunday that Dowdle was unlikely to return this weekend, so fantasy managers should keep him on their benches. The 28-year-old was limited in practice all week. His next chance to return to the Steelers' backfield will be in Week 6 on Sunday, Oct. 18, on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Dowdle being out yet again, Jaylen Warren is an absolute must-start in fantasy as the workhorse for Pittsburgh. Dowdle, who had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2024 and 2025 with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers, respectively, is off to a bad start in 2026 in his first year in Pittsburgh due to his toe injury. In his first two games with the team, he had 15 rushing attempts for 37 yards (2.6 yards per carry) and four catches for 28 yards while splitting backfield touches with Warren.
Oct 11, 2026 7:55 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Unlikely to Return in Week 5
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) is not expected to play in Sunday's Week 5 contest against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. He is officially listed as questionable, and the team will confirm his status during pregame warmups. Dowdle is trying to work his way back from a toe injury that has sidelined him since the start of Week 3. The 28-year-old hadn't been overly productive prior to his injury, and fantasy managers should be concerned that he has only lost ground to Jaylen Warren over the past couple of weeks. Warren remains a mid-to-high RB2 with Dowdle sidelined. If Dowdle does end up returning next week, he'll likely rank as a low-end RB3/flex in leagues with 12+ teams.
Oct 11, 2026 4:33 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Has Slight Pass-Catching Appeal in Potential Return
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) was relatively quiet on offense through the first two weeks of the season, logging just 15 carries and 2.5 yards per carry. On the bright side, he logged five targets in Week 1 and has two catches in each of his two games so far. Dowdle's rushing upside has taken a massive step backward compared to last year, but it was still intriguing to see him remain involved as a receiver when he was healthy and sharing volume with Jaylen Warren. It remains to be seen exactly how much the Steelers will use Dowdle, who is questionable, in his potential return to action on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Warren has made a case for the offense to feed him nonstop, as he has posted 302 scrimmage yards in two games without Dowdle. With that being said, Dowdle could produce if he gets decent volume, as the Colts have allowed the fifth-most receiving yards and ninth-most fantasy points to running backs in 2026.
Oct 10, 2026 5:20 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Questionable for Week 5 Against Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) is questionable for Sunday's matchup with Indianapolis, according to Nick Farabaugh of PennLive. Dowdle has missed the past two games after dislocating a toe against New England in Week 2, but he's making progress. He returned to limited practice Wednesday and Thursday after being sidelined for more than two weeks. Jaylen Warren has been excellent in his absence, rushing for 220 yards on 34 carries while adding six catches for 82 yards over the past two games. Head coach Mike McCarthy has indicated he still plans to use both backs when Dowdle returns, although Warren has certainly earned his touches. Dowdle managed just 37 rushing yards on 15 carries before getting hurt. Even if he's cleared for Sunday, his workload could be limited in his first game back, making him a risky fantasy option against the Colts.
Oct 9, 2026 11:45 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Up in the Air to Return in Week 5
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said on Thursday that running back Rico Dowdle (toe) will continue to work towards a return in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. McCarthy also said that Dowdle's status is still up in the air for Sunday. A dislocated toe has been the reason why Dowdle has missed each of the team's last two games. He was limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, though, so if he can upgrade to a full practice by Friday, Dowdle could have a good shot at returning and sharing backfield work with Jaylen Warren. Dowdle's return would be bad news for Warren's fantasy managers, as McCarthy has said that he plans to return to a platoon in the backfield with both RBs once Dowdle has healed from his toe injury. The 28-year-old Dowdle is now a long shot to record a third straight 1,000-yard season with his third different team in 2026. He had 15 carries for 37 yards (2.5 yards per carry) and caught four passes for 28 yards in his first two games as a Steeler before dislocating a toe. At best, Dowdle will be in the RB3/flex conversation if he returns this weekend against Indy.
Oct 8, 2026 8:05 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Making Progress From Toe Injury
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) is making progress after missing the past two games. Head coach Mike McCarthy told Nick Farabaugh on Monday that Dowdle is working his way back, though there still isn't a firm return date. Jaylen Warren has made the most of Dowdle's absence, piling up 302 scrimmage yards over the last two games while getting 17 carries in each. That workload could change once Dowdle is ready. McCarthy said he still expects the two backs to operate as a "one-two punch," pointing toward a shared backfield rather than Warren continuing to handle the same amount of work. Dowdle had 15 carries for 37 yards and four catches for 28 yards before the toe injury. His practice participation this week should give a better idea of when that committee might be back together.
Oct 5, 2026 11:53 AM EST
Rico Dowdle Has a Pretty Good Chance to Play Next Week
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) has already been ruled out of his team's Week 4 matchup on Thursday night against the Browns, but his return may not be far away. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday morning that Dowdle is more "day-to-day than anything else," and that he "has a pretty good chance" to return in Week 5, when the Steelers host the Colts at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Dowdle shared work in the first two weeks of the season with Jaylen Warren, and he'll be back in that timeshare when he returns from his toe injury. Until then, Warren will carry a big workload, giving him a boost in fantasy value.
Oct 1, 2026 5:30 AM EST
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