Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Blake Corum

Sunday, January 11, 12:48 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, who will be a free agent in March, said his decreased number of carries at the end of the season will impact his thinking in free agency, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Dowdle said he wants to go somewhere "where he can get the bulk of the carries." The 27-year-old was an unquestioned RB1 during the 2025 season when Chuba Hubbard missed time with an injury. However, Dowdle was involved in more of a timeshare late in the year following Hubbard's return, and he watched Hubbard score twice in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. He had only five rushing attempts for nine yards while adding one catch on two targets for six yards. In the final four regular-season games, Dowdle averaged only 3.3 yards per carry as his role shrank. It sounds as though Dowdle doesn't plan on signing in Carolina, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to land a lead-back role elsewhere in free agency.

Friday, January 16, 9:04 PM

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum split time more evenly with backfield mate Kyren Williams down the stretch of the regular season, and that near-even timeshare continued in the Wild-Card win over the Carolina Panthers last Saturday. Corum had 11 carries for 45 yards and added two catches on two targets for 13 yards. Meanwhile, Williams had 15 total touches. The 25-year-old Michigan product has had double-digit carries in five of his last six games, and even if Williams is the lead back on Sunday in the Divisional Round against the hosting Chicago Bears, Corum should see enough of a role to make him a low-end starting RB option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues. Expected inclement weather in Chicago could also force both teams to run the ball more, which would lead to more work for Corum. During the regular season, the Bears' defense allowed the 10th-most rushing yards (1,772).