Rico Dowdle

Rico Dowdle

26-Year-Old Running BackRB
Carolina Panthers
2025 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Rico Dowdle in 2025. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKS
$Signed a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Panthers in March of 2025.
Strikes deal with Carolina
RBCarolina Panthers
March 12, 2025
Dowdle agreed to a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
ANALYSIS
Dowdle emerged as the Cowboys' top running back last season and rushed for a career-high 1,079 yards on 235 carries (4.6 YPC) with two touchdowns while adding 249 yards on 39 catches and three touchdowns. In Carolina, he'll be joining a backfield headlined by Chuba Hubbard (calf/knee), who had his own breakout last season with a career-best 1,195 rushing yards on 250 carries and 10 touchdowns. Dowdle's fantasy stock may take a hit as a result of being part of a timeshare with Hubbard in a best-case scenario, but the signing gives the up-and-coming Panthers a potentially formidable 1-2 punch out of the backfield. Jonathon Brooks, whom the Panthers selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, is expected to miss most of next season while recovering from his second torn ACL.
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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. 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 %
15.7%
 
Positive Run %
87.7%
 
% Yds After Contact
62.7%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
2.9
 
Rushing TD %
0.9%
 
Touches Per Game
17.1
 
% Snaps w/Touch
45.4%
 
Air Yards Per Game
-0.9
 
Air Yards Per Snap
-0.02
 
% Team Air Yards
-0.3%
 
% Team Targets
7.9%
 
Avg Depth of Target
-0.3 Yds
 
Catch Rate
79.6%
 
Drop Rate
2.0%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
7.1
 
% Targeted On Route
17.5%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.89
 
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Carolina PanthersPanthers 2024 RB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

68269%
21622%
596%
414%
222%
30%
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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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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 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
 
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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
Wanted in Dallas
RBDallas Cowboys
February 25, 2025
Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said Monday that the team hopes to re-sign Dowdle, David Moore of The Dallas Morning News reports.
ANALYSIS
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Finishes season strong
RBDallas Cowboys
January 5, 2025
Dowdle rushed 22 times for 72 yards and a touchdown while catching two of three targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 23-19 loss to the Commanders.
ANALYSIS
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Hits season milestone in loss
RBDallas Cowboys
December 29, 2024
Dowdle rushed 23 times for 104 yards and brought in his only target for four yards in the Cowboys' 41-7 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.
ANALYSIS
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Struggles against Tampa Bay
RBDallas Cowboys
December 22, 2024
Dowdle rushed the ball 13 times for 23 yards in Sunday's 26-24 win over Tampa Bay. He added three receptions on three targets for 28 yards.
ANALYSIS
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Career-best 149 yards
RBDallas Cowboys
December 15, 2024
Dowdle rushed the ball 25 times for 149 yards in Sunday's 30-14 win over the Panthers. He was not targeted.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Likely done in Dallas
RBDallas Cowboys
March 10, 2025
Dowdle isn't expected to re-sign with the Cowboys after the team inked Javonte Williams to a one-year contract Monday, David Moore of The Dallas Morning News reports.
ANALYSIS
While there's still a chance Dowdle could be brought back to form a backfield tandem with Williams, it's more likely the former Bronco was signed to replace Dowdle, not work alongside him. Dowdle is coming of a career-best 2024 campaign that saw him rush for 1,079 yards over 16 regular-season games, but that performance may have priced him out of Dallas' plans. The Cowboys may also want to keep a spot open for a draft pick, as the 2025 class is deep in running back talent.
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