Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Chris Rodriguez Jr.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Rico Dowdle News

Rico Dowdle's Dynasty Value Fading Ahead of First Season in Pittsburgh?

Friday, May 29, 12:11 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle is entering his first year with the team in 2026 after racking up 1,373 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 275 touches across 17 games with the Carolina Panthers in 2025. Dowdle began the year as the RB2 in Carolina but eventually took over the lead role following an early-season injury to Panthers back Chuba Hubbard. While Dowdle's season-long numbers are impressive, his production tailed off down the stretch of the season after Hubbard returned from injury. Dowdle failed to crack 60 rushing yards in any of his final eight games of the season and logged just six touches in the Panthers' playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Dowdle now enters a similar backfield dynamic in Pittsburgh, where he figures to split touches with Steelers back Jaylen Warren. Dowdle's upside in the event of an injury to Warren could be enormous, but his production figures to be limited as long as both backs are splitting touches. In dynasty formats, managers may want to consider selling high on Dowdle.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Chris Rodriguez Jr. News

Chris Rodriguez Jr. has Foot Procedure, Expected to be Full-Go for Camp

Monday, June 8, 4:14 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (foot) had a procedure on his left foot following an injury earlier in the offseason program, but he's expected to be ready for the start of training camp in late July, a team source told Ryan O'Halloran of the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union. Rodriguez, who signed a two-year deal with the team on March 11, has not taken part in any of the team's OTAs and will miss mandatory minicamp, which runs from June 9-11 this week. The 25-year-old is expected to be a full-go for the start of camp. When he rejoins the team, he'll be competing with Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. for a role in Jacksonville's new-look backfield without Travis Etienne Jr. C-Rod played one season at Kentucky when head coach Liam Coen was the Wildcats' offensive coordinator, but will that be enough to give him an advantage for early-down work over Tuten? The former sixth-rounder of the Commanders in 2023 has averaged 4.6 yards per carry as a rusher in his three years in the NFL, and he recorded a career-high 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 13 games (seven starts) in D.C. in 2025. Until we get a better read on the Jags' distribution of RB touches in the summer, Tuten is the better and more explosive RB2 upside selection in upcoming fantasy football drafts.


Rico Dowdle vs. Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Still trying to decide between Dowdle and Rodriguez Jr.? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Rico Dowdle is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Chris Rodriguez Jr. is projected to score 0.0 points.