Who Should I Start? Joe Mixon or Rico Dowdle

Saturday, December 21, 4:15 PM

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon compiled 71 total yards with no touchdowns in a 27-19 defeat at Kansas City on Saturday. The first-year Texan had a decent day on the ground against a strong Chiefs run defense, compiling 57 yards on 14 carries, but wasn't involved much as a receiver, drawing just two targets for one catch and 14 yards. The veteran has now gone back-to-back weeks without a score after compiling 11 touchdowns in the prior eight games. Mixon and the Texans will be back in action in short order, taking on the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.

Saturday, December 21, 12:03 PM

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle will be facing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense on Sunday Night Football in Week 16 that has allowed the fewest half-PPR points to opposing RBs in the last five weeks, which includes just one rushing touchdown given up. However, because of the high volume that Dowdle has been seeing of late as Dallas' clear-cut No. 1 RB, he'll carry high-end RB2 value for fantasy managers still alive in the playoffs. The 26-year-old is coming off a a career-best 149 rushing yards on 25 carries in last week's win over the Carolina Panthers after setting a previous career-best with 131 rushing yards the week prior. In the last four games, Dowdle has really been eating, seeing at least 18 carries per game and averaging 5.69 yards per attempt with a touchdown. Fantasy managers may not want to expect another career performance on Sunday night, but Dowdle is certainly trending up.