Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Jerome Ford

Friday, May 29, 12:11 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle is entering his first year with the team in 2026 after racking up 1,373 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 275 touches across 17 games with the Carolina Panthers in 2025. Dowdle began the year as the RB2 in Carolina but eventually took over the lead role following an early-season injury to Panthers back Chuba Hubbard. While Dowdle's season-long numbers are impressive, his production tailed off down the stretch of the season after Hubbard returned from injury. Dowdle failed to crack 60 rushing yards in any of his final eight games of the season and logged just six touches in the Panthers' playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Dowdle now enters a similar backfield dynamic in Pittsburgh, where he figures to split touches with Steelers back Jaylen Warren. Dowdle's upside in the event of an injury to Warren could be enormous, but his production figures to be limited as long as both backs are splitting touches. In dynasty formats, managers may want to consider selling high on Dowdle.