Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Hassan Haskins

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.

Tuesday, April 29, 12:04 AM

The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins is the leader in the clubhouse for the third running back spot on the 53-man roster this year behind Najee Harris and first-round rookie Omarion Hampton because of his versatility on special teams. Haskins played the third-most special-teams snaps of any Charger last year. Kimani Vidal will have to come to training camp ready to perform to make it more of a competition for the No. 3 job. The 25-year-old Haskins won't be on the fantasy radar in single-year leagues as long as both Harris and Hampton are healthy for the Bolts. The former fourth-rounder by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 out of Michigan had only 34 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns for L.A. in 17 games last year while also adding three catches for 49 yards and a touchdown.