Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Bhayshul Tuten

Saturday, January 3, 10:02 AM

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) does not have an injury designation heading into the team's week 18 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dowdle appears to be in a 60-40 timeshare with fellow running back Chuba Hubbard, with the latter seeing the vast majority of third downs over the past three games. The Panthers hosted the Buccaneers in Week 16, and Dowdle was held to just 29 yards from nine rushing attempts, but did earn 14 receiving yards from his four receptions off six targets. Even though Dowdle has been absent on nearly every third down over the last two games, he still managed to earn more targets and run six more routes each game than Hubbard. Dowdle profiles as a low-end RB2 against a middle-of-the-road Buccaneers run defense in the 2025 regular season finale.

Friday, January 2, 8:24 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten (finger) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Tuten has missed back-to-back games because of his finger injury, but he is ready to return this weekend. The rookie back figures to resume his role as the primary backup to Travis Etienne Jr. in the backfield. The Jaguars can clinch the AFC South title with a win over the Titans this weekend or a loss by the Houston Texans. That means the Jags should play their starters during this regular-season finale. Tuten should see a handful of carries as he returns from injury, but it's unlikely to be enough to warrant streaming him.