Rico

Dowdle

Dowdle set career-highs in rushing in consecutive games after his 112 yards a week ago. He has also seen 20 or more running back opportunities in three straight games after doing so just once in his first nine contests, finally giving the Cowboys a hint of dependability on the ground. Dowdle gets another solid matchup on the ground against the Panthers in Week 15.

Not only was this Dowdle’s first game over the century mark, it was the first time in 26 contests that any Dallas runner has reached that club. He saw some open lanes, but 80 of the yards were created after contact, and most if not all the credit goes to Dowdle. No other Cowboys’ runner had more than three carries, so calling him the top option in this rushing attack is quite the understatement. Dowdle will try and keep it up in Week 14 against the Bengals on Monday.

Dowdle handled 19 of the Cowboys’ 28 rush attempts in Sunday’s win. His longest gain came on a nine-yard carry, but Dowdle kept the ball moving forward with one physical run after another to keep the offense on schedule. Dowdle has now handled 29 rush attempts in the last two weeks and has 114 yards to show for his volume. He’s also caught five passes for 18 yards over that span. The Cowboys have proven more than willing to make him the staple of their backfield. He’ll make for a nice volume-based RB3 in Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Giants.

Dowdle played the bulk of the first half snaps for an underperforming backfield but committed three costly drops before the break that saw both Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn find their way into snaps during the final two quarters. All fantasy value left in this backfield likely went with the wind with the injury to quarterback Dak Prescott.

On one hand, this doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Dowdle has handled 33 of the Cowboys’ last 64 running back opportunities, and that’s after missing Week 8’s game against the 49ers due to an illness. Still, this is the first time McCarthy has gone out of his way to endorse Dowdle as the team’s lead back. Dowdle has earned 15 or more opportunities in his last two games and has totaled 163 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown over that span. He’ll have some RB3/FLEX appeal in Week 11 against the Texans.

Dowdle led the Cowboys’ backfield with 12 rush attempts but fell victim to the team’s offensive struggles. He averaged a solid 4.4 YPC on the afternoon, although it’s worth noting one of his runs went for 19 yards. Dowdle caught another three passes for three yards, and will be hard to trust as anything more than an RB3 in Week 11 against the Texans.

Cured from his illness, Dowdle again looked like the best back on the field with Ezekiel Elliott inactive. His touchdown catch came on a Prescott scramble. Prescott lobbed it to Dowdle, and after he got a hand on the ball to tip it up in the end zone, then caught it as it fell directly into his lap as he was on the ground. If the Cowboys are going to be this screen-focused, Dowdle should make for a PPR scheme as long as he continues to have this level of workload. He out-touched Dalvin Cook 17 to two today.

Dowdle was a late scratch on Sunday after being added to the injury report with an illness just hours before kickoff. He told reporters today that he had a fever of 102.4 degrees. Dowdle said he wanted to play through the illness but the risk factors associated with such a high fever forced the team to sit him. He is good to go for Week 9 against the Falcons. With Dalvin Cook potentially in the mix, Dowdle is stuck at the back of the RB3 ranks this week.

Reports surfaced Sunday morning of an illness being dealt with by the Cowboys’ starting running back, which will ultimately hold him out for the team’s Week 8 meeting with the 49ers on Sunday Night Football. Dalvin Cook was elevated to the active roster on Saturday and should see significant run in conjunction with Ezekiel Elliott out of the backfield. Also inactive for the Cowboys are DE Micah Parsons, QB Trey Lance, CB Caelen Carson, CB Andrew Booth, and OT Matt Waletzko.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Dowdle “became sick upon arriving to Levi’s stadium.” Players rarely miss games because of illnesses, but Dowdle being added to the report this late in the process is an obvious concern. Dalvin Cook, who was elevated from the practice squad this week, would be in line for a share of the Cowboys’ backfield by committee if Dowdle doesn’t suit up. Ezekiel Elliott led the Cowboys with eight carries last week and would be the starter without Dowdle.