Rico Dowdle
26-Year-Old
2024 Rush/Rec Stats
ATT
93
YDS
402
TD
0
YDS
172
TD
3
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
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. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Struggles with 12 touches on MNF
Dowdle rushed 10 times for 28 yards while catching two of five targets for six yards in Monday's 34-10 win over Houston.
ANALYSIS
Dowdle got his head coach's vote of confidence prior to Monday's kickoff, and Mike McCarthy's words rang true after the tailback led Dallas in carries. That's where the good news ended, as the 26-year-old struggled to generate any room to operate in a blowout loss. Unlike star teammate CeeDee Lamb, Dowdle's value may have taken a significant hit by Dak Prescott's (hamstring) season-ending injury. With little threat of a passing attack, opposing defenses can stack the box against Dowdle and Co. like the Texans successfully accomplished Monday. Dowdle should still carry deep-league value, but those in standard formats may have to make difficult decisions as the fantasy playoffs inch closer.
Dowdle got his head coach's vote of confidence prior to Monday's kickoff, and Mike McCarthy's words rang true after the tailback led Dallas in carries. That's where the good news ended, as the 26-year-old struggled to generate any room to operate in a blowout loss. Unlike star teammate CeeDee Lamb, Dowdle's value may have taken a significant hit by Dak Prescott's (hamstring) season-ending injury. With little threat of a passing attack, opposing defenses can stack the box against Dowdle and Co. like the Texans successfully accomplished Monday. Dowdle should still carry deep-league value, but those in standard formats may have to make difficult decisions as the fantasy playoffs inch closer.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Rico Dowdle's 2024 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.
The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Broken Tackle %
16.1%Positive Run %
86.0%% Yds After Contact
58.7%Avg Yds After Contact
2.5Rushing TD %
0.0%Touches Per Game
13.2% Snaps w/Touch
41.0%Air Yards Per Game
2.6Air Yards Per Snap
0.08% Team Air Yards
0.8%% Team Targets
8.5%Avg Depth of Target
0.7 YdsCatch Rate
76.5%Drop Rate
2.9%Avg Yds After Catch
6.5% Targeted On Route
26.8%Avg Yds Per Route Run
1.35Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Rico Dowdle lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Commanders 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.
@ Commanders
Sunday, Nov 24th at 1:00PM
Overall QB Rating Against
88.9
Cornerbacks
93.6
Safeties
83.4
Linebackers
62.8
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2024 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
6' 0"Weight
215 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.54 secVertical Jump
38.0 inBroad Jump
127 inBench Press
0 repsHand Length
9.50 inArm Length
31.38 in
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2021
2020
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.
More Fantasy News
Lead back moving forward
Coach Mike McCarthy called Dowdle the Cowboys' "lead back" Thursday, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
ANALYSIS
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Leads DAL RBs with 12 carries
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.
ANALYSIS
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Tops 100 scrimmage yards in loss
Dowdle carried the ball 12 times for 75 yards and caught five of six targets for 32 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-21 loss to the Falcons.
ANALYSIS
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Moves past illness
Dowdle (illness) isn't listed on the Cowboys' first Week 9 practice report issued Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Sitting out Sunday due to illness
Dowdle (illness) is listed as inactive Sunday at San Francisco.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Gets backfield competition
Dowdle could face additional competition for playing time, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports that the Cowboys signed Dalvin Cook to their practice squad Wednesday,
ANALYSIS
Dowdle was one of three running backs named to Dallas' 53-man roster Tuesday, along with Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn. While Dowdle will likely get a chance to earn a prominent role early, the Cowboys now have the option of signing Cook to their active roster if the team isn't impressed with the early returns from Dowdle, who has logged just 96 rushing attempts since entering the professional ranks in 2020.
Dowdle was one of three running backs named to Dallas' 53-man roster Tuesday, along with Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn. While Dowdle will likely get a chance to earn a prominent role early, the Cowboys now have the option of signing Cook to their active roster if the team isn't impressed with the early returns from Dowdle, who has logged just 96 rushing attempts since entering the professional ranks in 2020.