Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Ray Davis

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.

Friday, January 24, 10:48 PM

Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis is an unreliable fantasy option heading into Sunday's AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. Splitting the backup role with Ty Johnson has been hard enough for Davis this year. Now, he has to split the backup role while also facing off against one of the NFL's best run defenses. The Chiefs have been lethal against running backs this year, allowing the third-fewest rushing yards, fifth-fewest catches, and fourth-fewest receiving yards to the position during the 2024 regular season. Furthermore, they didn't surrender a single receiving touchdown to running backs. In Bills-Chiefs during Week 11, Davis was highly efficient, tallying just 11 rushing yards on five carries. With Cook in the lead-back role and Johnson serving as a key weapon for Josh Allen in the passing game, Davis needs to make the most of his limited opportunities in Buffalo's backfield. That won't be easy this week against the Chiefs. Cook remains the top Bills running back in fantasy football, and Johnson currently ranks ahead of Davis, too.