Who Should I Start? Najee Harris or Rico Dowdle

Thursday, February 29, 6:09 PM

While Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said that the team thinks "very highly" of running back Najee Harris, he was also non-committal on whether the team will pick up his fifth-year option. Harris' future is thus uncertain despite the fact that he's recorded three straight 1,000-yard seasons while making team history. Harris' fifth-year option, which was set at $6.79 million, must be decided on by May 2. If they pick it up, it would become fully guaranteed for the 2025 season. It would be a surprise if Pittsburgh didn't pick it up, considering they have invested heavily in a ground-and-pound offensive rushing attack and just hired Arthur Smith as their new offensive coordinator. The 25-year-old would figure to have a solid fantasy floor if he sticks with the Steelers, although Jaylen Warren will continue to be a thorn in his upside.

Monday, March 18, 6:29 PM

The Dallas Cowboys are re-signing running back Rico Dowdle to an undisclosed deal on Monday. With Tony Pollard moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, Dowdle is now No. 1 on the Cowboys' RB depth chart, for now. The 25-year-old former undrafted free agent out of South Carolina entered the league in 2020 with the Cowboys and has just 96 carries for 385 yards and two rushing touchdowns in his three NFL seasons, adding 17 receptions (22 targets) for 144 yards and two more touchdowns through the air. Eighty nine of his career carries came in 2023, when he rushed for 361 yards and two TDs in 16 regular-season contests. Depending on what Dallas does at the position in the upcoming NFL draft, Dowdle could see a substantial role increase in his fourth NFL campaign.