Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Jahmyr Gibbs

Saturday, November 1, 12:40 AM

Rico Dowdle is a risky option in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers, but with four teams on a bye, you may not have a viable alternative. The Packers' run defense has allowed 16.73 fantasy points per game to RBs this season, ranking third-best in the league. Dowdle was in a timeshare with Chuba Hubbard through the last two weeks, with Hubbard getting the majority of snaps. Head coach Dave Canales said that Dowdle will be the starter and will get the bulk of the touches this week over Hubbard. While Hubbard will be a part of the Carolina running game this week, Dowdle outperformed him at 5.7 yards per carry to Hubbard's 2.5 over the last two weeks, despite having the lower snap count. The matchup against Green Bay is not favorable, but with Dowdle expected to see the majority of snaps, he is a fantasy RB2 for Week 9. The potential volume signals that he should be kept in lineups.

Friday, October 31, 4:21 PM

Through his first seven games of 2025, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has recorded 720 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns on 130 touches. In his final outing before Detroit's Week 8 bye, Gibbs racked up 218 scrimmage yards and two scores in 20 touches against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Week 9, Gibbs and the Lions will face a Minnesota Vikings defense that has been roughly mid-pack against the run. Through eight weeks, Minnesota ranks 20th in rushing yards allowed (913) and 10th in rushing touchdowns allowed (five). Gibbs had two monster performances against the Vikings in 2024, recording a combined 327 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns on 47 touches. Lions RB2 David Montgomery did not play in one of those games, but Gibbs' history of success against Minnesota is still noteworthy. He profiles as a must-start fantasy running back in Week 9.