Who Should I Start? Najee Harris or Rico Dowdle

Monday, September 8, 6:06 PM

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that the team planned to give running back Najee Harris 12 to 15 plays in the Week 1 season opener last Friday in Brazil against the Kansas City Chiefs and capped him at 12. However, Harbaugh said Harris' workload could change in a Week 2 divisional clash on Monday night against the Las Vegas Raiders. Harris was only on the field for 12 plays last Friday in the 27-21 win but managed just one carry for five yards while catching his only target for another five-yard pickup. Meanwhile, first-round rookie Omarion Hampton led the Bolts' backfield with 15 carries for 48 yards (3.2 yards per tote) while adding two catches for 13 yards. Harris missed almost all of training camp and the entire preseason with an eye injury, which is why L.A. eased him in. While he could see the field more in Week 2, he still won't be much more than a shaky RB3/flex in fantasy.

Saturday, August 9, 4:08 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle showed a glimpse of his potential as a pass-catching threat in the team's preseason debut against the Cleveland Browns, recording one reception for 20 yards to go along with two rushes for seven yards. The 27-year-old running back is entering his sixth season in the NFL after spending his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys, which was riddled with injuries. Dowdle is clearly behind Chuba Hubbard on the depth chart, but could carve out a role in the Panthers' receiving or two-minute offense in 2025. Coming off an underwhelming 2024 season in Dallas, where high hopes for the lead back role didn't materialize (235-1,079-2 on the ground, 39-249-3 in the air), a move to a new location and a backup role could take some pressure off Dowdle and allow him to grow into his potential. Rotoballer currently projects him as RB55, but Dowdle could be a sneaky stash if anything happens to Hubbard throughout the season.