Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Javonte Williams

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.

Tuesday, July 22, 7:10 PM

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams good a lot of work with the first-team offense at training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Williams signed a one-year deal with Dallas in free agency this offseason and is expected to share backfield duties in 2025 with Miles Sanders. The Cowboys also drafted Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, but they probably have a ways to go before threatening either Williams or Sanders for serious playing time in 2025. Williams, who was a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2021 out of North Carolina, impressed with 903 rushing yards in his first season, but he hasn't been the same tackle-breaking RB since tearing his ACL in his sophomore season in 2022. He should be the favorite to lead Dallas' backfield in touches, but for fantasy purposes, he's merely an RB3/flex target.