Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Jaylen Wright

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.

Monday, June 9, 6:05 PM

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright worked hard on his body in the offseason after fading down the stretch in his rookie season in 2024 with just nine carries for six yards in the final five games. "Just working hard in the offseason, working on my body," Wright said. "I probably added about, probably six pounds. I lost a lot of body fat. I gained a lot of muscle. That's why it might look like I'm a little bigger, but yeah, just off-season, working hard, focusing on my body, getting prepared for the season, so." The 22-year-old was taken in the fourth round (120th overall) last year out of Tennessee but had a limited role down the stretch behind De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert, finishing with 249 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 68 total carries in 15 games (one start). With Mostert out of town, Wright has a clear path to RB2 duties, and his big-play abilities make him a nice handcuff option to Achane.