Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Keaton Mitchell
Week 1 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
Friday, March 27, 11:40 AM
Across 17 games with the Carolina Panthers in 2025, running back Rico Dowdle racked up 1,373 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 275 touches. After recording just 83 rushing yards over Carolina's first four games of the season, Dowdle took advantage of a mid-season injury to fellow Panthers back Chuba Hubbard and emerged as the team's RB1 through the remainder of the year. Dowdle's emergence in Carolina was enough to earn him a two-year, $12.25 million contract from the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. In Pittsburgh, Dowdle will likely split touches with incumbent Steelers back Jaylen Warren. Warren's presence limits Dowdle's fantasy upside, particularly as a receiver. However, Dowdle is the more physical of the two backs and could be the team's preferred early-down and red zone rusher. Overall, Dowdle profiles as a fringe starting running back option for fantasy managers in a split backfield in Pittsburgh.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Keaton Mitchell News
Thursday, March 19, 6:48 AM
The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that new Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell's "acceleration and threatening speed to the edge will thrive" in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme in 2026. The Bolts drafted Omarion Hampton in the first round last year, but the 24-year-old Mitchell runs with explosiveness and has been compared to Miami's De'Von Achane, whom McDaniel coached with the Dolphins. Mitchell has averaged a healthy 6.3 yards per carry in his three years in the NFL with Baltimore, but injuries have kept him from reaching his true potential, as his 13 games played in 2025 were a career-high. In his 26 NFL games (two starts), Mitchell has 767 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 121 carries, adding 19 receptions for 184 more yards on 24 targets. Mitchell will be a handcuff for Hampton at the very least, but he could also absolutely carve out standalone value as an RB3/flex in fantasy in 2026 if he can stay on the field in L.A.
Rico Dowdle vs. Keaton Mitchell
Still trying to decide between Dowdle and Mitchell? 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 Keaton Mitchell is projected to score 0.0 points.
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