The Carolina Panthers have signed free-agent running back Rico Dowdle on Wednesday. The two sides have agreed on a one-year, $6.25 million deal for the upcoming season. On paper, Dowdle is a good fit with the Panthers who certainly need depth behind Chuba Hubbard. Last season, Dowdle rushed for over 1,000 yards across 15 games with the Dallas Cowboys. It's also worth noting that Dowdle hauled in 39 receptions for 249 yards and three touchdowns through the air. This is a low-risk move that should help the Panthers while former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks (knee) recovers from injury.
According to a person with knowledge of the Dallas Cowboys' thinking, the team signing former Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams in free agency means that RB Rico Dowdle won't return in 2025. Williams is regarded as a comparable talent to Dowdle and is more cost effective, according to the Dallas Morning News' David Moore. The Cowboys are committed to selecting a running back in April's draft as well, and they will likely compete with Williams for backfield touches in 2025. This news comes after executive Stephen Jones said at the end of last month that Dallas was hoping to re-sign Dowdle, who had his first 1,000-yard rushing season and two touchdowns on 235 rushing attempts as the team's lead back in 2024. Meanwhile, Williams averaged a mediocre 3.7 yards per carry and had 513 rushing yards and four touchdowns in Denver while losing the starting gig midway through the season.
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle rushed 22 times for 72 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders. He also caught two of his three targets for an additional 12 yards through the air. Dowdle was quite impressive throughout the 2024 season, supplanting Ezekiel Elliott as the Cowboys' undisputed No. 1 running back. He finished the campaign with 1,079 rushing yards, 249 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns through 16 games, ranking as a low-end RB2 in fantasy football. There has been plenty of speculation that the Cowboys could take an aggressive approach with their pursuit of a running back this offseason, such as drafting Ashton Jeanty. However, there's also a real possibility they feel confident in Dowdle and don't take as big of a swing for a backfield addition within the upcoming months. The 26-year-old currently still has appeal as a mid-range RB3 option heading into the 2025 campaign, and until Dallas brings in competition, this backfield belongs to Dowdle.
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle will look to top off his surprising breakout season in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders with a splash. The 26-year-old has rushed for over 100 yards in four of his last five games and now faces a solid matchup against Washington's 20th-ranked run defense. He will look to solidify his finish as an RB2 on the season. Dowdle is in RB1 territory heading into the season's finale and should be started in any leagues that run into Week 18.
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle was one of the lone bright spots in the Week 17 blowout loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. The fifth-year running back carried the ball 23 times for 104 yards while catching his lone target for four yards. Dowdle also lost a fumble, his second lost fumble of the year. The South Carolina product has come along nicely down the stretch for the Cowboys, rushing for over 100 yards in four of his last five outings. He will look to extend that streak in the season's finale against the Washington Commanders next week. The running back has earned himself a solid payday this upcoming offseason after a strong first year as a starter.
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle rushed for just 23 yards last week after a three-week stretch of 100+ yards on the ground. The 26-year-old out of South Carolina has generally performed better when facing easier matchups, and this week's matchup against Philadelphia's top-ranked defense against running backs is far from easy. Dowdle will see heavy volume per usual as the workhorse in Dallas' offense, but his production may not be as strong as it has in recent weeks due to the tough matchup. He is a low-end RB2 solely based on projected volume.
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle rushed for just 23 yards on 13 carries during Sunday's Week 16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also caught each of his three targets for an additional 28 yards through the air. Although Dowdle's pass-catching work was solid, his inefficiency on the ground counteracted some of the production he delivered through the air. Even in PPR leagues, this was Dowdle's worst fantasy outing since he took over as the Cowboys' No. 1 running back over veteran Ezekiel Elliott. The 26-year-old gets another tough matchup next week against the Philadelphia Eagles, who held Brian Robinson Jr. to just 24 rushing yards and two fumbles on Sunday.
Rico Dowdle A High-End RB2 In Week 16 Against Tampa
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (knee) will be facing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense on Sunday Night Football in Week 16 that has allowed the fewest half-PPR points to opposing RBs in the last five weeks, which includes just one rushing touchdown given up. However, because of the high volume that Dowdle has been seeing of late as Dallas' clear-cut No. 1 RB, he'll carry high-end RB2 value for fantasy managers still alive in the playoffs. The 26-year-old is coming off a a career-best 149 rushing yards on 25 carries in last week's win over the Carolina Panthers after setting a previous career-best with 131 rushing yards the week prior. In the last four games, Dowdle has really been eating, seeing at least 18 carries per game and averaging 5.69 yards per attempt with a touchdown. Fantasy managers may not want to expect another career performance on Sunday night, but Dowdle is certainly trending up.
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle has now run for a career-high amount of rushing yards in three straight weeks. The 26-year-old is enjoying a breakout in his fifth NFL season, his first with an extended role. Dowdle rushed 25 times for 149 yards in the Week 15 win over the Carolina Panthers, taking advantage of a strong rushing matchup. He did not record a target in the dominant victory. Dowdle and the Cowboys will be back in action next Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a tougher matchup on the ground than the previous few.
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (knee) fully practiced all week but was on the injury report as a full participant. He will enter Week 15's matchup with the Carolina Panthers with no injury designation. Carolina has allowed the most points to the running back position this season, making Dowdle an RB1 option coming off of back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances. Fantasy managers should not hesitate to plug him into lineups this week.
Rico Dowdle
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Panthers
