Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Dameon Pierce

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.

Monday, September 15, 5:58 PM

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce is a healthy inactive for Week 2 on Monday Night Football against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pierce was active in the Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Rams but only played seven offensive snaps and had three rushing attempts for five yards. With the 25-year-old in street clothes for this one, Dare Ogunbowale, rookie Woody Marks, and British Brooks will be battling for change-of-pace touches behind veteran Nick Chubb. Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) is typically Houston's clear-cut workhorse back when healthy, but he opened the year on the Non-Football Injury list, and it's unclear when he might be able to return this year. It's possible that Pierce could be active in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but for now, he has no business being rostered in single-year fantasy leagues.