Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Kendre Miller

Monday, October 6, 3:07 PM

With Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (calf) viewed as day-to-day with the calf injury that kept him out of Sunday's win against the Dolphins, and Rico Dowdle coming off the first 200-yard game of his career, the Panthers' backfield situation is suddenly looking cloudy for fantasy managers. In speaking with reporters on Monday, head coach Dave Canales said the team has two good running backs and that, "It's a good problem to have." There were some fears that the 73% running back rush share that made Hubbard a fantasy darling in 2024 would be unsustainable, especially after the team signed Dowdle in free agency. Prior to Hubbard's injury, Dowdle had seen a steadily increasing involvement in Canales' offense. As long as Hubbard is out, Dowdle can be started with confidence, but fantasy managers who can afford to do so should take a longer-term approach to seeing how carries are divvied up when both backs are healthy.

Saturday, October 4, 9:11 AM

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller broke out in Week 4 against the Bills, rushing 11 times for 65 yards and a touchdown. After battling injuries through his first two seasons and never carving out a consistent role, Miller finally flashed his upside in the Saints' backfield. He'll look to build on that momentum in Week 5 against a Giants defense that is allowing a league-worst 6.1 yards per carry. Miller enters the matchup as an RB3/Flex option with upside, especially if his touches continue to rise.