Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Omarion Hampton


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
10.7 48.6 0.3 2.0 14.5 0.1

Rico Dowdle News

Rico Dowdle Still Has a Real Shot to Lead Pittsburgh's Backfield

Sunday, August 16, 9:35 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle has a real chance to come out of camp with the larger share of this backfield. He rushed for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns on 236 carries with Carolina last season, added 39 catches for 297 yards and another score, and has now cleared 1,000 rushing yards in back-to-back years. Pittsburgh did not bring him in to sit, but Jaylen Warren is not going away either. Warren is still listed first on the initial depth chart, and the Steelers have continued giving both backs first-team work. The interesting part is that Pittsburgh itself has called Warren's No. 1 designation temporary while the coaching staff sorts out the split. Both backs have been described as capable of handling every down, so this could change by game plan or even by who has the hot hand. RotoBaller has Dowdle at RB29. That's a fair spot for the uncertainty, but there is more upside here if Dowdle ends up getting the heavier side of the workload. He looks like a solid middle-round target rather than someone to fade because of the committee.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
15.1 61.0 0.5 3.0 21.3 0.1

Omarion Hampton News

Omarion Hampton Sets the Tone in Joint Practice

Wednesday, August 19, 6:37 AM

The Los Angeles Chargers hosted the San Francisco 49ers for a joint practice on Tuesday, and the loudest ovation of the day came on a tone-setting run from second-year running back Omarion Hampton. Reportedly welcoming contact all day, Hampton drew the attention of onlookers and teammates alike by plowing through 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown during a full-team drill, later earning the praise of quarterback Justin Herbert. "He's incredibly tough. He leads by example and doesn't say much, but what he does on the field is so loud," Herbert told reporters after practice. "Guys respect him and it's so cool to hand him the ball and see what he's able to do. He's an incredible athlete, incredible competitor and I'm glad he's on my side of the ball." Hampton missed eight games as a rookie with an ankle injury, but a popular breakout candidate in a revamped Chargers offense, he is RotoBaller's RB11 in 2026.


Rico Dowdle vs. Omarion Hampton

Still trying to decide between Dowdle and Hampton? 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 10.7 points this week while Omarion Hampton is projected to score 15.1 points.