Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Chris Collier

Friday, January 30, 12:35 PM

ESPN's David Newton writes that unless Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle wants to "return at a bargain price," he "appears headed to this third team in three seasons." General manager Dan Morgan said he had a good meeting with Dowdle after the season, but Dowdle was unhappy with the way the year ended -- he had seven carries for 10 yards in the Week 18 regular-season finale and only five carries for nine yards in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The 27-year-old has produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and was Carolina's leading rusher (1,076 yards), but he'd likely be in a committee backfield again with Chuba Hubbard if he were to re-sign. Hubbard is locked in through the 2028 campaign on a four-year, $33.2 million deal he signed in 2024. "I just want to be a guy who can go out there and just get the bulk [of the carries]," Dowdle said.

Friday, August 8, 11:25 AM

Second-year running back Chris Collier took the spotlight in the Las Vegas Raiders' 23-23 tie with the Seahawks, handling the bulk of the second-half carries. Collier played a key role in the team's most productive drives, including a 16-yard run that helped set up Cam Miller's touchdown pass. While the 25-year-old remains a longshot to make the roster behind Ashton Jeanty, Raheem Mostert, and Zamir White, he's making the most of his preseason opportunities.