2025 Rush/Rec Stats
ATT
106
YDS
605
TD
2
YDS
121
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.
In line for lead role
Dowdle is expected to start Sunday's game at Green Bay and take a majority of carries, with Chuba Hubbard still part of the offense in a lesser role, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
The writing was on the wall Monday when Panthers coach Dave Canales told reporters, "we cannot ignore the fact that [Dowdle] has been exceptional." Canales also mentioned how much Hubbard has meant to the organization, which is perhaps a hint that Dowdle won't have strong job security even if he does take on much larger workloads short-term. Dowdle and Hubbard largely alternated drives the past two weeks, with neither providing much fantasy production even though Dowdle's per-touch efficiency remained strong. Maintaining that efficiency in Week 9 will be difficult, to say the least, as the Panthers are dealing with a slew of offensive line injuries while facing a top defense on the road.
The writing was on the wall Monday when Panthers coach Dave Canales told reporters, "we cannot ignore the fact that [Dowdle] has been exceptional." Canales also mentioned how much Hubbard has meant to the organization, which is perhaps a hint that Dowdle won't have strong job security even if he does take on much larger workloads short-term. Dowdle and Hubbard largely alternated drives the past two weeks, with neither providing much fantasy production even though Dowdle's per-touch efficiency remained strong. Maintaining that efficiency in Week 9 will be difficult, to say the least, as the Panthers are dealing with a slew of offensive line injuries while facing a top defense on the road.
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 %
17.0%Positive Run %
86.8%% Yds After Contact
63.6%Avg Yds After Contact
3.6Rushing TD %
1.9%Touches Per Game
14.9% Snaps w/Touch
46.7%Air Yards Per Game
1.3Air Yards Per Snap
0.04% Team Air Yards
0.6%% Team Targets
6.6%Avg Depth of Target
0.6 YdsCatch Rate
76.5%Drop Rate
0.0%Avg Yds After Catch
8.7% Targeted On Route
17.3%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2025 NFL Game Log
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2024
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2022
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2020
2025 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Panthers 2025 RB Snap DistributionLoading Weekly Snap Counts...
#1 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 Packers 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.
@ Packers
Sunday, Nov 2nd at 1:00PM
Overall QB Rating Against
84.2
Cornerbacks
88.5
Safeties
72.5
Linebackers
86.0
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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.
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Poised to take over as lead option
Head coach Dave Canales hinted Monday that he's inclined to give Dowdle the bulk of the Panthers' carries rather than having him split work evenly with Chuba Hubbard, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports. "Chuba has meant a lot to this organization and certainly to the identity that we want to build and we wanted to give him the opportunity to go out there and to continue to impact our team in a positive way," Canales said. "But we cannot ignore the fact that Rico has been exceptional... We love tempo and violence that he is running with. These are things we are looking back on the last four games and really taking a snapshot of what has been successful for us."
ANALYSIS
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Efficient with limited opportunity
Dowdle rushed eight times for 54 yards and wasn't targeted in the Panthers' 40-9 loss to the Bills on Sunday. He also returned one kickoff for 29 yards.
ANALYSIS
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Alternates possessions with Hubbard
Dowdle rushed the ball 17 times for 79 yards in Sunday's 13-6 win over the Jets. He added one reception on two targets for 17 yards.
ANALYSIS
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Team won't reveal lead back
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Friday that he's already decided between Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard as the lead runner for Sunday's game against the Jets but won't reveal his plan, Steve Reed of The Associated Press reports.
ANALYSIS
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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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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Splits with Hubbard in Week 7
Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard alternated possessions during Sunday's 13-6 win over the Jets, per Kassidy Hill of the Panthers' official site.
ANALYSIS
Hubbard took snaps on the Panthers' opening drive in his return from a calf injury, but Dowdle played on the second drive, and the pair continued to alternate from there. Dowdle finished the game with 96 scrimmage yards on 18 touches compared to Hubbard's 55 scrimmage yards on 16 touches. Hubbard is on a four-year, $33.2 million contract compared to Dowdle's one-year, $2.75 million pact, but Dowdle's success during Hubbard's two-game absence has forced a timeshare in Carolina's backfield.
Hubbard took snaps on the Panthers' opening drive in his return from a calf injury, but Dowdle played on the second drive, and the pair continued to alternate from there. Dowdle finished the game with 96 scrimmage yards on 18 touches compared to Hubbard's 55 scrimmage yards on 16 touches. Hubbard is on a four-year, $33.2 million contract compared to Dowdle's one-year, $2.75 million pact, but Dowdle's success during Hubbard's two-game absence has forced a timeshare in Carolina's backfield.