2025 Rush/Rec Stats
ATT
3
YDS
12
TD
0
YDS
4
TD
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
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
Signed a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Panthers in March of 2025.
Five touches in Week 1
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
The first-year Panther underwhelmed in his regular-season debut, playing just 22 of the team's 64 offensive snaps. Dowdle, who rushed for 1,079 yards with the Cowboys last season, appears firmly behind Chuba Hubbard in Carolina's backfield. Hubbard's 43 offensive snaps led to 19 touches for 89 total yards and one touchdown. However, the game script favored the pass, which likely limited Dowdle's opportunities, as the Panthers trailed by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss. Dowdle is expected to serve as the Panthers' top backup running back again Week 2 against the Cardinals.
The first-year Panther underwhelmed in his regular-season debut, playing just 22 of the team's 64 offensive snaps. Dowdle, who rushed for 1,079 yards with the Cowboys last season, appears firmly behind Chuba Hubbard in Carolina's backfield. Hubbard's 43 offensive snaps led to 19 touches for 89 total yards and one touchdown. However, the game script favored the pass, which likely limited Dowdle's opportunities, as the Panthers trailed by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss. Dowdle is expected to serve as the Panthers' top backup running back again Week 2 against the Cardinals.
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 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. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Broken Tackle %
0.0%Positive Run %
66.7%% Yds After Contact
25.0%Avg Yds After Contact
1.0Rushing TD %
0.0%Touches Per Game
5.0% Snaps w/Touch
22.7%Air Yards Per Game
-1.0Air Yards Per Snap
-0.05% Team Air Yards
-0.4%% Team Targets
9.1%Avg Depth of Target
-0.3 YdsCatch Rate
66.7%Drop Rate
0.0%Avg Yds After Catch
4.0% Targeted On Route
23.1%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2025 NFL Game Log
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2025 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Panthers 2025 RB Snap DistributionLoading Weekly Snap Counts...
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 Cardinals 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.
@ Cardinals
Sunday, Sep 14th at 4:05PM
Overall QB Rating Against
49.6
Cornerbacks
41.7
Safeties
53.9
Linebackers
70.1
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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 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.54 secVertical Jump
38.0 inBroad Jump
127 inBench Press
0 repsHand Length
9.50 inArm Length
31.38 in
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.
More Fantasy News
Three touches in preseason loss
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
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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Strikes deal with Carolina
Dowdle agreed to a one-year, $2.7 million contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Wanted in Dallas
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
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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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Cowboys could feel absence
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.
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.