Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Malik Nabers

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.

Saturday, June 21, 1:01 PM

The New York Giants are "just playing it super cautious" with wide receiver Malik Nabers (toe) this offseason, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. Nabers missed organized team activities and mandatory minicamp with a toe injury that has bothered him since college, but the Giants have no concerns and he's expected to be ready for the start of training camp in late July. The 21-year-old former first-rounder didn't miss a single game in his rookie campaign in 2024 due to his toe ailment and finished as the WR7 in half-PPR scoring with 109 receptions on 170 targets for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games played. Those numbers are impressive on their own before considering the shaky QB play Nabers dealt with. Russell Wilson may not be much better in 2025, but Nabers should once again be heavily targeted and should be a safe WR1 target for fantasy managers entering his second year.