Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Rhamondre Stevenson

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, July 26, 11:37 AM

The Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan reports that New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is missing at Saturday's training camp practice, and no reason was given for his absence. We should have an update to pass along shortly on why Stevenson isn't practicing, but it could be just a day off for him early in camp with the players just wearing shells and not full pads. Stevenson's fantasy stock has definitely fallen going into the 2025 campaign, even though he ran for 801 yards on 207 carries for a career-high seven rushing touchdowns in 15 games (14 starts). The 27-year-old continued to have ball-security issues and averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry. If his fumbling issues don't improve, the Pats will surely bench Stevenson in 2025 after they drafted TreVeyon Henderson in the second round in April. He has become a volatile RB3/flex in fantasy.