Who Should I Start? Michael Pittman Jr. or Rico Dowdle

Friday, December 20, 10:52 PM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was a full participant in practice on Friday. The 27-year-old did not practice on Wednesday, but was back to a full participant the following two sessions to close out the week. The 6-foot-4 wideout has dealt with back issues seemingly all season long, but it has cost him just one week of playing time. The former second-round draft pick has been Anthony Richardson's preferred target in the passing game over the last four weeks since being reinstated as the starting QB, averaging over five catches per contest, albeit for just 60 yards per game. The fifth-year pro hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 6, which happened to be against his Week 16 opponent, the Tennessee Titans. Although he found paydirt in that first meeting, he did so on just three catches for 35 yards. With the Titans allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers and with Richardson completing less than 50% of his passes on the season, expectations for Sunday's divisional showdown should be tempered. While the Colts are 3.5-point favorites in this one, there is a low expected total of 42.5 and Pittman Jr. projects as a WR4 this week, so hopefully fantasy managers have other options.

Sunday, December 15, 9:56 PM

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle has now run for a career-high amount of rushing yards in three straight weeks. The 26-year-old is enjoying a breakout in his fifth NFL season, his first with an extended role. Dowdle rushed 25 times for 149 yards in the Week 15 win over the Carolina Panthers, taking advantage of a strong rushing matchup. He did not record a target in the dominant victory. Dowdle and the Cowboys will be back in action next Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a tougher matchup on the ground than the previous few.