Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Javonte Williams

BENCH

Week 5 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 Making Progress From Toe Injury

Monday, October 5, 11:53 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) is making progress after missing the past two games. Head coach Mike McCarthy told Nick Farabaugh on Monday that Dowdle is working his way back, though there still isn't a firm return date. Jaylen Warren has made the most of Dowdle's absence, piling up 302 scrimmage yards over the last two games while getting 17 carries in each. That workload could change once Dowdle is ready. McCarthy said he still expects the two backs to operate as a "one-two punch," pointing toward a shared backfield rather than Warren continuing to handle the same amount of work. Dowdle had 15 carries for 37 yards and four catches for 28 yards before the toe injury. His practice participation this week should give a better idea of when that committee might be back together.

START

Week 5 Projections

Fant.
Pts.		 Rush.
Yds.		 Rush
TD		 Rec. Rec.
Yds.		 Rec
TD
14.7 63.0 0.6 2.6 15.0 0.1

Javonte Williams News

Javonte Williams Tallies Three Touchdowns in Week 4 Win

Sunday, October 4, 5:37 PM

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams had a big day in his team's 34-30 Week 4 win over the Houston Texans. While Williams rushed for an inefficient 62 yards on 19 carries, he logged three rushing touchdowns. The 26-year-old also chipped in as a receiver, hauling in all five of his targets for 21 yards. Through four weeks this season, Williams has now recorded 231 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 62 carries, along with 15 catches for 77 yards and a score on 17 targets. Williams hasn't been quite as productive on a per-touch basis as he was in 2025, as he's averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. However, he remains the clear workhorse back in Dallas, and the Cowboys clearly trust him in goal-to-go situations. As long as he remains healthy, Williams profiles as a must-start running back for fantasy managers.

Rico Dowdle vs. Javonte Williams

Still trying to decide between Dowdle and Williams? 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 Javonte Williams is projected to score 14.7 points.