Who Should I Start? Gus Edwards or Rico Dowdle

Friday, March 7, 7:32 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers have informed veteran running back Gus Edwards that he will be released in the coming days, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Edwards appeared in just 11 games in 2024, his only season with the Chargers, rushing for 365 yards and four touchdowns on 101 carries. With Edwards now a free-agent, the Chargers could have an entirely revamped backfield in 2025 with J.K. Dobbins also an unrestricted free-agent. There is a good chance the Chargers target a running back in the 2025 NFL draft in what is shaping up as a loaded class at the position. Edwards will now look to latch on with another team as an early-down and short-yardage grinder.

Tuesday, July 1, 9:24 PM

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.