Rico Dowdle

Rico Dowdle

27-Year-Old Running BackRB
Carolina Panthers
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Dowdle's 2024 season was a major success as he ran for over 1,000 yards at 4.6 yards per carry, but the Cowboys didn't re-sign him even though it only took a one-year, $2.75 million contract for the Panthers to pry him away. Dowdle played college football at South Carolina, where persistent nicks and tweaks held him back from reaching his potential from 2016 to 2019. He then spent a few years bouncing between the Cowboys' practice squad and the bottom of their roster, before taking over the No. 2 RB role in 2023 and becoming the starter in 2024. With 4.54 speed at around 215 pounds, Dowdle is about average for an NFL running back in terms of size-adjusted athleticism, and he's proven capable on passing downs (78.9 percent catch rate, five receiving TDs) to boot. If starting running back Chuba Hubbard were to miss any time for the Panthers this year, Dowdle's 2024 performance gives reason to believe he can fill in capably as a three-down starter. The Panthers did draft Trevor Etienne in the fourth round this spring, but he's unlikely to unseat Dowdle as the No. 2 back to start the season. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#196.48
ADP
Signed a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Panthers in March of 2025.
Underwhelms in Week 4
RBCarolina Panthers
September 29, 2025
Dowdle rushed nine times for 32 yards and caught his only target for minus-2 yards in Sunday's 42-13 loss to the Patriots.
ANALYSIS
The first-year Panther has now received double-digit touches in each of his last two games. Although Sunday's loss was a blowout, seven of Dowdle's 10 touches came in the first half while the game was still competitive, suggesting he's carved out a valuable role in Carolina's offense. However, he still worked behind Chuba Hubbard, who tallied 69 yards on 13 touches over 34 offensive snaps. Dowdle was also inefficient with the ball in his hands Sunday, averaging just 3.0 yards per touch. He's expected to continue serving as the Panthers' No. 2 running back ahead of a Week 5 matchup against the Dolphins.
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Rico Dowdle's 2025 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Broken Tackle %
    The number of broken tackles divided by rush attempts.
  • Positive Run %
    The percentage of run plays where he was able to gain positive yardage.
  • % Yds After Contact
    The percentage of his rushing yards that came after contact.
  • Avg Yds After Contact
    The average rushing yards he gains after contact.
  • Rushing TD %
    Rushing touchdowns divided by rushing attempts. In other words, how often is he scoring when running the ball.
  • Touches Per Game
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) he is averaging per game
  • % Snaps w/Touch
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) divided by offensive snaps played.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Broken Tackle %
10.7%
 
Positive Run %
67.9%
 
% Yds After Contact
57.8%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
1.7
 
Rushing TD %
3.6%
 
Touches Per Game
8.3
 
% Snaps w/Touch
34.7%
 
Air Yards Per Game
-1.5
 
Air Yards Per Snap
-0.06
 
% Team Air Yards
-0.6%
 
% Team Targets
4.2%
 
Avg Depth of Target
-1.0 Yds
 
Catch Rate
83.3%
 
Drop Rate
0.0%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
5.8
 
% Targeted On Route
14.3%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.48
 
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Carolina PanthersPanthers 2025 RB Snap Distribution
#% of Team Snaps

17664%
9535%
176%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Rico Dowdle lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Dolphins pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?
The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is. The team and position group ratings only include players that are currently on the roster and not on injured reserve. The list of players in the table only includes defenders with at least 3 attempts against them.
MIA
vs Dolphins
Sunday, Oct 5th at 1:00PM
Overall QB Rating Against
116.7
 
Cornerbacks
118.1
 
Safeties
78.5
 
Linebackers
115.4
 
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2025 Rico Dowdle Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Rico Dowdle's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 11"
 
Weight
215 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.54 sec
 
Vertical Jump
38.0 in
 
Broad Jump
127 in
 
Bench Press
0 reps
 
Hand Length
9.50 in
 
Arm Length
31.38 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Rico Dowdle See More
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Rico Dowdle See More
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2021
2020
Dowdle is an interesting fringe prospect and a fine part of the Dallas roster, but he's probably not the type of backup who can truly take over for a starter if an emergency arises. He looks the part of a powerful runner at 5-11, 215, but he struggled with injuries at South Carolina and never lived up to the promise of his 2016 freshman season. That initial campaign produced his collegiate highs for touches (148), total yards (819) and touchdowns (seven), with Dowdle limited by injuries, fumbles and/or timeshares thereafter. He then hung around the back end of the Cowboys' roster and practice squad for three years after going undrafted in 2020, finally getting his big break in 2023 as the No. 2 back behind Tony Pollard (who didn't miss any games). There's another opportunity on hand with Pollard gone and replaced by 29-year-old Ezekiel Elliott, but Dowdle's mediocre work last season (4.1 YPC last season) leaves his depth chart standing in question, with anywhere from first to fourth looking possible as camp approaches.
The 25-year-old has just seven NFL carries since being signed as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2020, as injuries have disrupted his career so far, but Dowdle drew high marks in training camp for his football IQ and blocking ability. His value as a special-teams player could secure him a spot on the 53-man roster regardless of how much usage he sees on offense.
A 2020 undrafted free agent, Dowdle earned a spot on special teams and saw brief action on offense in a couple games but didn't impress with his seven carries. Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are locked into the top two spots on the depth chart, so Dowdle may not see a big increase in snaps in his second NFL campaign, but the Cowboys seem comfortable with him in the No. 3 role.
Dowdle never matched the 764 rushing yards and 5.7 YPC he posted as a freshman in 2016, and as a result he went undrafted out of South Carolina. He does possess adequate athleticism and a versatile skill set and could carve out a depth role in the NFL, but gameday snaps on offense will be hard to find in Dallas behind Ezekiel Elliott.
More Fantasy News
Role keeps growing
RBCarolina Panthers
September 21, 2025
Dowdle recorded 10 rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-0 win over the Falcons. He added one reception on one target for eight yards as well as one kick return for 21 yards.
ANALYSIS
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More touches in Week 2
RBCarolina Panthers
September 15, 2025
Dowdle rushed six times for nine yards and caught his only target for 10 yards during Sunday's 27-22 loss to the Cardinals.
ANALYSIS
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Five touches in Week 1
RBCarolina Panthers
September 8, 2025
Dowdle rushed three times for 12 yards and caught two of three targets for four yards during Sunday's 26-10 loss to the Jaguars.
ANALYSIS
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Three touches in preseason loss
RBCarolina Panthers
August 16, 2025
Dowdle rushed twice for two yards and secured his only target for 15 yards in the Panthers' 20-3 preseason loss to the Texans on Saturday afternoon.
ANALYSIS
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Makes impact as receiver Friday
RBCarolina Panthers
August 8, 2025
Dowdle gained seven rushing yards on three carries and caught his only target for 20 yards in Friday's 30-10 preseason loss to the Browns.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Cowboys could feel absence
RBCarolina Panthers
May 21, 2025
Dowdle's departure from the Cowboys to the Panthers this offseason has the potential to be one of the most impactful around the league, Nick Shook of NFL.com opines.
ANALYSIS
Dowdle was a a pleasant surprise for the Cowboys in 2024 after going into the campaign as the clear No. 2 back behind Ezekiel Elliott. The undrafted ball carrier compiled a career-high 1,079 yards and two touchdowns while adding a 39-249-3 line through the air over 16 regular-season games. Shook points out the fact the Cowboys seemingly made only a half-hearted attempt to replace him by bringing in a pair of recently underwhelming candidates in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders could ultimately reveal how valuable Dowdle was in the team's offensive scheme.
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