2025 Rush/Rec Stats
ATT
81
YDS
472
TD
2
YDS
104
TD
1
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, $2.75 million contract with the Panthers in March of 2025.
Team won't reveal lead back
Panthers coach Dave Canales said Friday that he's already decided between Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard as the lead runner this week but won't reveal his plan before facing the Jets on Sunday, Steve Reed of The Associated Press reports.
ANALYSIS
Hubbard missed the previous two games due to a calf injury but has been cleared to return after practicing this week. In Hubbard's absence, Dowdle became one of a handful of running backs in NFL history to exceed 230 yards from scrimmage and score a touchdown in consecutive games. The recent success makes Dowdle at least a slight favorite to lead Carolina's backfield Week 7, though not necessarily beyond that.
Hubbard missed the previous two games due to a calf injury but has been cleared to return after practicing this week. In Hubbard's absence, Dowdle became one of a handful of running backs in NFL history to exceed 230 yards from scrimmage and score a touchdown in consecutive games. The recent success makes Dowdle at least a slight favorite to lead Carolina's backfield Week 7, though not necessarily beyond that.
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 %
17.3%Positive Run %
86.4%% Yds After Contact
60.2%Avg Yds After Contact
3.5Rushing TD %
2.5%Touches Per Game
15.5% Snaps w/Touch
46.5%Air Yards Per Game
1.8Air Yards Per Snap
0.06% Team Air Yards
0.8%% Team Targets
7.9%Avg Depth of Target
0.7 YdsCatch Rate
80.0%Drop Rate
0.0%Avg Yds After Catch
7.9% Targeted On Route
19.0%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2025 NFL Game Log
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2025 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Panthers 2025 RB Snap DistributionLoading Weekly Snap Counts...
#2 RB
PanthersReceiving 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 Jets 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.
@ Jets
Sunday, Oct 19th at 1:00PM
Overall QB Rating Against
95.2
Cornerbacks
90.7
Safeties
90.6
Linebackers
120.2
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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
No assurance of starting Week 7
Panthers coach Dave Canales didn't answer Wednesday when reporters asked him if Dowdle will start Sunday's game against the Jets, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.
ANALYSIS
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Massive workload, yardage Sunday
Dowdle rushed 30 times for 183 yards and brought in four of five targets for 56 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers' 30-27 win over the Cowboys on Sunday. He also fumbled once but recovered.
ANALYSIS
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Making second straight start
Dowdle will start Sunday's game against the Cowboys, as David Newton of ESPN.com reports that Chuba Hubbard (calf) has been ruled out.
ANALYSIS
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Spectacular in spot start
Dowdle rushed 23 times for 206 yards and a touchdown and brought in three of four targets for 28 yards in the Panthers' 27-24 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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Set to start Sunday
Coach Dave Canales said Dowdle will start Sunday against the Dolphins with fellow RB Chuba Hubbard (calf) ruled out for the contest, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
May share Week 7 backfield
Dowdle may see Chuba Hubbard, who's missed the last two games due to a calf injury, return to active status for Sunday's Week 7 game against the Jets, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Hubbard was able to practice on a limited basis Wednesday and said he expects to play Sunday. However, after Dowdle put up 473 total scrimmage yards in Hubbard's stead over the past two games, head coach Dave Canales was unsurprisingly peppered with questions about how the backfield pecking order might shake out once both players are available. While Canales was evasive with his answers, Dowdle was direct and diplomatic about potentially sharing time. "It's going to allow us both to be fresh throughout the whole game,'' Dowdle said. "We've seen the past two games. I've cramped up late.''
Hubbard was able to practice on a limited basis Wednesday and said he expects to play Sunday. However, after Dowdle put up 473 total scrimmage yards in Hubbard's stead over the past two games, head coach Dave Canales was unsurprisingly peppered with questions about how the backfield pecking order might shake out once both players are available. While Canales was evasive with his answers, Dowdle was direct and diplomatic about potentially sharing time. "It's going to allow us both to be fresh throughout the whole game,'' Dowdle said. "We've seen the past two games. I've cramped up late.''