Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Keaton Mitchell

Friday, January 30, 12:35 PM

ESPN's David Newton writes that unless Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle wants to "return at a bargain price," he "appears headed to this third team in three seasons." General manager Dan Morgan said he had a good meeting with Dowdle after the season, but Dowdle was unhappy with the way the year ended -- he had seven carries for 10 yards in the Week 18 regular-season finale and only five carries for nine yards in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The 27-year-old has produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and was Carolina's leading rusher (1,076 yards), but he'd likely be in a committee backfield again with Chuba Hubbard if he were to re-sign. Hubbard is locked in through the 2028 campaign on a four-year, $33.2 million deal he signed in 2024. "I just want to be a guy who can go out there and just get the bulk [of the carries]," Dowdle said.

Friday, December 26, 11:31 AM

Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell has seen more and more snaps as each week goes on, but it hasn't exactly turned into enough production for fantasy managers. The past two games, he's seen a season-high 39% and 35% snap share, but has only produced finishes of RB35 and RB64. Derrick Henry should get plenty of work against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 with Tyler Huntley likely taking over for Lamar Jackson (doubtful - back). Mitchell could still see plenty of work mixed in, but the Packers are ranked eighth against opposing backfields, even without Micah Parsons (knee). RotoBaller's rankings project Mitchell as an RB49, which would make him more viable in very deep leagues, but harder to trust in most other leagues.