Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Leads DAL RBs with 12 carries
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Dowdle carried the ball 12 times for 53 yards while catching all three of his targets for as many yards in Sunday's 34-6 loss to Philadelphia.
Dowdle was off to a good start on the ground before the score got out of hand and forced the team to abandon the run in the second half. Ezekiel Elliott (suspension) returned following a one-game absence, but he produced just 22 yards on six carries while losing a fumble. Dowdle should continue to serve as the Cowboys' top RB despite the team being in disarray at the QB position heading into next Monday's tilt against Houston.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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I liked Dowdle heading into Week 9 at Atlanta, and he delivered a standout stat line with 12 carries for 75 yards, five catches for 32 yards, and a touchdown on six targets. He's now caught five passes in each of his past two games, and he has three receiving touchdowns in his past four outings. I'm hopeful he'll continue to play well with Cooper Rush taking over for the injured Dak Prescott (hamstring), but I would only use Dowdle as a flex option in Week 10 against the Eagles, who are No. 4 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Philadelphia has allowed just two total touchdowns to running backs this season, and Chase Brown's 11.4 PPR points in Week 8 is the best performance against the Eagles for a running back since Week 4.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Sleeper RBs
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Dowdle missed Week 8 at San Francisco with an illness, but he's expected to return in Week 9 at Atlanta. I like him as a flex in all leagues against the Falcons, and hopefully he continues his role as the lead running back for the Cowboys. Prior to Dallas' bye in Week 7, Dowdle scored at least 13.1 PPR points in two of his previous three games, and Atlanta has allowed four running backs in the past three games to score at least 15.3 PPR points. The Falcons are No. 4 in most receptions allowed to running backs, and I hope Dowdle is a factor in the passing game in Week 9.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Moves past illness
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Dowdle (illness) isn't listed on the Cowboys' first Week 9 practice report issued Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Prior to this past Sunday's game at San Francisco, Dowdle was reported to have an illness that left him questionable to suit up. He was inactive for the Week 8 loss, but the backfield trio of Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook and Hunter Luepke didn't fare well in his stead, combining for 17 carries for 46 yards (2.7 per) and two catches (on two targets) for 14 yards. Dowdle told Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he had a fever of 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit to go with chills Sunday, but his lack of listing Wednesday indicates he's past the ailment and is in line to retain his No. 1 role out of the Cowboys backfield Week 9 in Atlanta.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Sitting out Sunday due to illness
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Dowdle (illness) is listed as inactive Sunday at San Francisco.
As Dowdle arrived at Levi's Stadium, he was diagnosed with an illness and deemed questionable to suit up Week 8. With Dowdle's lack of availability confirmed Sunday, the Cowboys backfield will be composed of Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook and Deuce Vaughn. Elliott seems like the best bet to be the team's leading runner, but Cook and Vaughn will be on hand for any reps that linger.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Expected to be inactive for SNF
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Dowdle (illness) isn't expected to play Sunday night against the 49ers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Official confirmation of Dowdle's absence will come when the Cowboys release their inactive list, but any fantasy managers relying on Dowdle can start lining up a replacement. In Dowdle's absence, Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn and Dalvin Cook -- the latter of whom was elevated from the practice squad Saturday -- will comprise Dallas' backfield.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Comes down with illness
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Dowdle has an illness and now is considered questionable for Sunday's game at San Francisco.
Dowdle led the Cowboys backfield during the first six contests of the season, averaging 12.5 touches for 62.8 yards from scrimmage per game while scoring two TDs through the air. With Dowdle's status now up in the air for Week 8, Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook and Deuce Vaughn are the other running backs on the team's roster.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Usage shifts again
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Dowdle recorded five rushes for 25 yards in Sunday's 47-9 loss to the Lions. He added five receptions on six targets for 30 yards.
After a breakout game in Week 5, Dowdle was surprisingly thrust back into a split backfield with Ezekiel Elliott. Dowdle managed to out-touch Elliott thanks to his work as a pass catcher and also remained the far more efficient back. While their skill profiles suggest that Dowdle should serve as the clear leader of the backfield moving forward, the Cowboys have been hesitant to fully rely on him heading into their Week 7 bye.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Dowdle has taken over the Cowboys backfield, which is awesome. He's scored at least 13.1 PPR points in each of his past two games against the Giants and Steelers, and he's creeping into No. 2 running back territory. But this week against the Lions, Dowdle could struggle given the matchup since Detroit is No. 3 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Kyren Williams and Kenneth Walker III each scored at least 14.4 PPR points against the Lions, but Detroit also held Rachaad White and James Conner to a combined 6.8 PPR points. I would only use Dowdle as a flex option at best in most leagues for Week 6.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Shines in SNF victory
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Dowdle rushed 20 times for 87 yards while catching both of his targets for 27 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Steelers.
Dowdle went over the century mark in yards from scrimmage while catching his second touchdown in as many weeks on Sunday Night Football. The 26-year-old was quietly leading a poor Dallas rushing attack in touches leading up to his breakout Sunday, so savvy fantasy managers may have already snagged him off the wire. If not, make sure to put in a claim for Dowdle ahead of next Sunday's tilt against the Lions, as it has become apparent that he is the starting running back for the Cowboys this season.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: RBs to Sit
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Dowdle is coming off his best game of the season in Week 4 at the Giants with 13.1 PPR points, and he should be rostered in all leagues in case he's ready to take over the Dallas backfield completely. But that doesn't mean you need to start him in Week 5 at Pittsburgh. The Steelers are No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Pittsburgh has allowed just one touchdown to a running back this season. Dowdle is just a flex at best in Week 5 in the majority of leagues.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Garners 61 total yards, TD in win
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Dowdle rushed 11 times for 46 yards and brought in his only target for a 15-yard touchdown in the Cowboys' 20-15 win over the Giants on Thursday night.
Dowdle led the Cowboys in rush attempts and rushing yards, outpacing Ezekiel Elliott by six carries and 27 yards on the night. Dowdle also made good use of his one pass-catching opportunity via his 15-yard scoring reception late in the first quarter, his first touchdown of any kind since Week 14 of last season. Dowdle's rushing totals Thursday also were season highs, giving him some momentum heading into a tough Week 5 road matchup against the Steelers on Sunday, Oct. 6.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Dominates opportunity
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Dowdle carried the ball eight times for 32 yards in Sunday's 28-25 loss to the Ravens. He added three catches on five targets for 24 yards.
Dowdle's overall line is unremarkable, but the Cowboys attempted only 16 rushes in the game. Ezekiel Elliott saw just three of those attempts, and Dowdle was the more efficient runner of the duo. He also benefitted from his ability as a pass catcher, and he now has seven receptions for 53 yards across the last two games combined. While it didn't turn into much production Sunday, Dowdle looks to be improving his role in the Dallas backfield.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Leads backfield in Sunday's loss
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Dowdle carried the ball seven times for 30 yards and caught four of five targets for 29 yards in Sunday's 44-19 loss to the Saints.
The Cowboys used a backfield committee once again, but Dowdle got the start and saw 11 touches to Ezekiel Elliott's eight, and he out-gained the veteran, 59 scrimmage yards to 32. Neither back has separated himself from the other so far, making both unappealing fantasy options heading into a Week 3 tilt against the Ravens.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Outperformed in Week 1
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Dowdle carried the ball eight times for 26 yards in Sunday's 33-17 win over the Browns. He added one reception for six yards.
Ezekiel Elliott was on the field first for Dallas, though he way gave way to Dowdle for the second possession, and the duo alternated for the rest of the game. Dowdle's statistical output was poor, though he did have the team's only double-digit gain on the ground from a running back on the day. The Cowboys will presumably be willing to shift the touch allocation to the more effective back at some point in the campaign, and Elliott appears to have the leg up after Week 1.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Will focus on offense in 2024
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Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday that Dowdle will get less work on special teams this season due to an expected increase in his workload on offense, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The South Carolina product saw a career-high 106 touches over 16 regular-season games last season, leading to 505 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns, but those numbers figure to spike significantly in 2024. It's still unclear how the backfield workload will be divided between Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott and recent free-agent signee Dalvin Cook, who will begin the season on the practice squad, but it wouldn't be a surprise if Dowdle handled at least a plurality of the touches out of the gate given his versatility and three-down skill set.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Cameo in preseason opener
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Dowdle carried the ball three times for 14 yards in Sunday's 13-12 preseason loss to the Rams.
Ezekiel Elliott got the day off completely, while Dowdle saw only a handful of snaps on the Cowboys' opening drive before ceding the backfield to Malik Davis and other depth RBs. Dowdle and Elliott are expected to split the bulk of the touches at running back for Dallas this season, but the position is more likely to become a committee than one or the other emerging as a clear starter.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Could lead team in rushing
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Dowdle is on track for a roster spot and could even be considered the favorite to lead Dallas in rushing this year, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.
Dowdle was the team's No. 2 RB last year but didn't get much work outside of garbage time with Tony Pollard staying healthy all season. Pollard is gone, replaced by the man he once replaced, Ezekiel Elliott, who reportedly has taken fewer carries than Dowdle with the first-team offense this summer. Machota says Dowdle "has to be the favorite" to lead Dallas in rushing, but fantasy managers should also consider the possibility that Elliott is getting fewer reps because he already has so much experience, including three seasons as the starting RB (2020-22) under current Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Remaining with Dallas
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Dowdle is set to re-sign with the Cowboys, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Following the free-agent departure of Tony Pollard, Dowdle is poised to reclaim his role in a Dallas backfield that also currently includes Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis and Snoop Conner. Chances are, the Cowboys will add further RB depth via free agency or the draft, so until the team's personnel at the position is settled, Dowdle's fantasy upside for the 2024 season will be difficult to gauge.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Strong season in backup role
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Dowdle finished the regular season with 361 yards and two touchdowns on 89 carries while catching 17 of 22 targets for 144 yards and two more TDs over 16 games.
The 25-year-old running back made his NFL debut with the Cowboys in 2020 but had only seven career carries coming into 2023. Dowdle won the No. 2 job in the backfield behind Tony Pollard in camp and never looked back, setting career highs across the board and posting a couple big performances in blowouts, including 79 yards and a TD on 12 totes against the Giants in Week 10. Dowdle is a restricted free agent this offseason while Pollard is unrestricted, but even if the former stays and the latter departs it's unlikely Dallas would simply hand Dowdle the starting role in 2024. A timeshare or committee role might be the best he can hope for.
