Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Michael Carter

Saturday, December 27, 2:10 PM

Rico Dowdle had nine carries for 29 yards in Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also added 14 yards on four receptions, totaling 8.3 PPR points. It was Dowdle's lowest fantasy total in a game since Week 8. Carolina will face the Seattle Seahawks, the NFC's current No. 1 seed, in Week 17. Seattle ranks seventh in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the RB position this season. Over the last four games, Dowdle has been cold, earning 12.4 PPR points or less with only one rushing touchdown. Considering that Seattle is one of the roughest matchups for RBs and Dowdle's underwhelming recent totals, fantasy players should not start the Carolina running back in their fantasy championship games. The Seahawks have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 24 consecutive games.

Friday, December 26, 11:46 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter has seen double-digit carries in back-to-back games for the first time this season. The 26-year-old finds himself as the Cardinals' RB1 after the team has lost fellow backs James Conner (foot), Trey Benson (knee), and Bam Knight (ankle) to season-ending injuries. Carter enters Week 17 as RotoBaller's 23rd-ranked running back in Half-PRR formats with a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals' defense has struggled to stop running backs on the ground and in the air this year. They have allowed the most fantasy points to running backs and have given up 25.9 fantasy points per game this season, according to Pro-Football-Reference. Carter is an RB2 with upside that can be fired up as a flex option in fantasy championships in Week 17.