Who Should I Start? Jonathan Taylor or Rico Dowdle

Tuesday, November 4, 9:04 PM

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor finally cooled off in a 27-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9. Taylor carried the ball 14 times for 45 yards while catching both of his targets for 12 yards in the disappointing loss to Pittsburgh. It was the first time all season that Taylor had been held to fewer than 66 rushing yards and just the third time in nine games that he was held out of the end zone. Taylor will now head back home to face off against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10. Atlanta has struggled to slow opposing rushing attacks this season, allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game to running backs in eight games. Taylor remains a rock-solid RB1 in all fantasy formats heading into Week 10's contest.

Wednesday, November 5, 3:19 PM

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the team is being smart with running back Rico Dowdle (quadriceps), which is why he was held out of Wednesday's practice, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. "We're counting on him this weekend," Canales said. It sounds as though the Panthers are expecting Dowdle to be fine to play this Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints, but he'll need to get back onto the practice field in the coming days. The 27-year-old has taken over lead-back duties from Chuba Hubbard in Carolina by running for 652 yards and three touchdowns on 103 carries in the last five games while adding 10 catches for 112 yards and another trip to paydirt. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Dowdle's status the rest of the week, but as long as he's active in Week 10, he's a no-doubt RB1 against the Saints.