Rico Dowdle 2025 Fantasy Preview
| Rico Dowdle | RB - Carolina Panthers | Bye:14 |
| Age: 27 | HT: 5-11 | WT: 215 |
2024: Attempting to move on from the Tony Pollard era, the Cowboys were reluctant to fully commit to Dowdle as their lead back. That finally changed in the team’s six games after Thanksgiving, where Dowdle piled up 133 of his 274 touches. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry during that season-closing timespan. For the year, Dowdle was reasonably efficient. He caught 39 total passes.
What’s changed: For whatever reason, the Cowboys didn’t want Dowdle back, opting for an even more tortured four-man pileup. Failing to secure a starting opportunity in free agency, Dowdle had to settle for No. 2 duties in Carolina, where Trevor Etienne was added in the fourth round one month later.
Outlook: With Chuba Hubbard the overwhelming favorite for early-down touches, Dowdle finds himself competing with Etienne for change-of-pace work. None of the three are elite pass-catching backs, but that role is Dowdle’s most obvious path to standalone value. Dowdle is a shaky late-round pick whose contingency value is probably best left on wires to begin the year.
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| Year | Team | G | CAR | YDS | AVG | YD/G | TD | REC | TAR | YDS | TD | TOTTD | PPR | HPPR | NPPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | DAL | 5 | 0 | 0 | nan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | DAL | 16 | 89 | 361 | 4.1 | 22.6 | 2 | 17 | 22 | 144 | 2 | 4 | 92 | 83 | 75 |
| 2024 | DAL | 16 | 235 | 1079 | 4.6 | 67.4 | 2 | 39 | 49 | 249 | 3 | 5 | 198 | 178 | 159 |
| PROJ.2025 | CAR | 17 | 112 | 447 | 4 | 26.3 | 3 | 37 | 51 | 214 | 1 | 4 | 128 | 109 | 91 |
**Projections from Spotlight Sports Group
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