Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Jake Ferguson

Tuesday, July 1, 9:24 PM

The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow writes that Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle will split carries with rookie Trevor Etienne as the backups to lead back Chuba Hubbard in 2025. Dowdle is coming of a 1,000-yard season with the Dallas Cowboys in his first year as a lead back, but he'll be working behind Hubbard. As the RB2 last year in Carolina, Miles Sanders only had 55 carries, although he was mostly injured and ineffective. Zietlow adds that the Panthers will want to find out what they have in Etienne before Jonathon Brooks (knee) returns in 2026. If anything, the 27-year-old Dowdle will take away valuable pass-catching opportunities from Hubbard on third downs in his first year in Carolina, but it's going to be hard to justify him as an every-week fantasy starter as long as Hubbard stays healthy. Dowdle is ranked as RotoBaller's RB50 going into the 2025 season.

Sunday, July 27, 11:05 AM

The Dallas Cowboys and standout tight end Jake Ferguson agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension on Sunday worth $52 million in new money with $30 million total guaranteed, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Ferguson will receive a $12 million signing bonus. The 26-year-old took a step back in 2024, catching 59 of 86 targets for 494 yards and no touchdowns in 14 starts after going for a 71-761-5 line in 17 games in 2023. He was unable to take the next step due to quarterback Dak Prescott's season-ending hamstring injury. Receiver George Pickens will take valuable targets away from Ferguson in 2025, but as long as both he and Prescott stay healthy, Ferguson should improve on his numbers from a year ago. Fantasy managers should target him as a low-end TE1 if they decide to wait on the position.