Dowdle comes into Week 16 against Tampa Bay with three games in a row with at least 112 rushing yards, and he scored at least 14.9 PPR points in each outing. He also has four games in a row with at least 19 total touches, and the Cowboys are leaning on him as a featured running back. The Buccaneers' run defense has improved in their past three games against Carolina, Las Vegas, and the Chargers, but I'll take my chances with Dowdle right now as a No. 2 running back in all leagues, given his recent level of play.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Career-best 149 yards
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Dowdle rushed the ball 25 times for 149 yards in Sunday's 30-14 win over the Panthers. He was not targeted.
Dowdle was coming off a career-best 131 rushing-yard performance, but he outpaced that mark in Sunday's blowout win. He had a solid first half but was relied upon to burn clock in the final two quarters, when he tallied 14 attempts for 91 yards. The only downside to Dowdle's performance was that he couldn't find the end zone, but he's suddenly one of the league's most productive backs, having topped 100 yards on the ground in three straight contests.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: RBs to Start
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Finally, Dowdle is looking like a featured running back with three games in a row with at least 19 total touches, and he has at least 98 total yards in each outing against Washington, the Giants and Cincinnati. In his past two games, Dowdle has scored at least 15.1 PPR points in each contest, which includes consecutive games of at least 112 rushing yards. The Panthers are No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and four running backs in their past five games have rushed for at least 103 yards. Those same four running backs (Alvin Kamara, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Bucky Irving and Saquon Barkley) also scored at least 12.4 PPR points in each game.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Stars in MNF loss
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Dowdle rushed 18 times for 131 yards and brought in one of two targets for 10 yards in the Cowboys' 27-20 loss to the Bengals on Monday night.
Dowdle consistently gashed the Bengals' lackluster run defense throughout the night, recording a game-long 27-yard run and finishing with a career-high rushing yardage total in the process. The 26-year-old now has back-to-back 100-yard performances and no fewer than 86 rushing yards in three straight games heading into a highly favorable Week 15 road matchup against the Panthers.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: RBs to Start
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The Bengals were without linebacker Logan Wilson (knee) and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (illness) in Week 13 against the Steelers, and it showed. Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Cordarrelle Patterson combined for 22 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown and 13 catches for 146 yards on 13 targets. We'll see what Cincinnati's defense looks like for Monday's game against the Cowboys, but the Bengals have now allowed a running back to score at least 14.1 PPR points in three games in a row. Dowdle is coming off his best game of the season in Week 13 against the Giants with 22 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 11 yards on three targets. He's worth starting as a No. 2 running back in all leagues.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Tops 100 yards on ground
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Dowdle rushed the ball 22 times for 112 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's 27-20 win over the Giants. He added three receptions on three targets for 11 yards
Dowdle found plenty of running room with a season-high 22 carries and ripped off long gains of 22, 18, 17 and 13 yards. That led to the first 100-yard rushing game of his career and also marked the first time a Cowboys running back has topped the century mark since Week 3 of the 2023 campaign, per Saad Yousuf of The Athletic. Dowdle added to his impressive performance with a four-yard touchdown scamper late in the fourth quarter to ice the game for the Cowboys.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: RBs to Start
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Dowdle had one of his best games of the season in Week 12 at Washington with 19 carries for 86 yards and three catches for 12 yards on three targets, although he lost a fumble. I loved seeing him get 22 total touches, and I hope that happens again on Thanksgiving against the Giants, who are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Three Tampa Bay running backs just scored touchdowns against the Giants in Week 12, and four running backs scored at least 16.1 PPR points against the Giants in their past four games. Dowdle has top-20 upside in all leagues in Week 13.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Garners 98 total yards in win
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Dowdle rushed 19 times for 86 yards and brought in all three targets for 12 yards in the Cowboys' 34-26 win over the Commanders on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.
Dowdle operated as the unquestioned lead back, as backfield mate Ezekiel Elliott logged only three carries. The former fittingly parlayed his second-highest carry total of the season into his second-highest rushing yardage tally, and he also extended his streak of multi-catch efforts to six games. Dowdle heads into a favorable Thanksgiving Day home matchup against the Giants with a secure grip on the top job in Dallas' ground attack.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: RBs to Sit
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Dowdle has struggled in two games without Dak Prescott (hamstring), and now the Cowboys offensive line is banged up heading into Week 12 against Washington. Dowdle has combined for 14 PPR points in his past two outings against Philadelphia and Houston, and it was disappointing to see him get just five catches for 9 yards on eight targets combined over that span. The Commanders run defense isn't a difficult matchup, but Dan Quinn should know how to limit what Dallas wants to do as the former defensive coordinator. Dowdle is just a flex option at best in the majority of leagues.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Lead back moving forward
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Coach Mike McCarthy called Dowdle the Cowboys' "lead back" Thursday, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Dallas has operated with a committee approach to its backfield so far this season but ranks 31st in rushing yards per game (83.7). Dowdle has been by far the most productive option, recording 4.5 YPC versus Ezekiel Elliott's 3.7, Dalvin Cook's 2.5, Deuce Vaughn's 2.9 and Hunter Luepke's 3.2. In eight appearances, Dowdle has averaged 13.4 touches per game, a number that should increase following McCarthy's comments.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: RBs to Sit
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Dowdle was OK in Week 10 against the Eagles given that the offense was putrid in the first start for Cooper Rush in place of Dak Prescott (hamstring). Dowdle had 12 carries for 53 yards and three catches for 3 yards on three targets. This is another tough matchup for Dowdle since the Texans are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and I would only consider using Dowdle as a flex option in the majority of leagues.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Leads DAL RBs with 12 carries
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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.
Dowdle was off to a good start on the ground before the score got out of hand and forced the team to abandon the run in the second half. Ezekiel Elliott (suspension) returned following a one-game absence, but he produced just 22 yards on six carries while losing a fumble. Dowdle should continue to serve as the Cowboys' top RB despite the team being in disarray at the QB position heading into next Monday's tilt against Houston.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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I liked Dowdle heading into Week 9 at Atlanta, and he delivered a standout stat line with 12 carries for 75 yards, five catches for 32 yards, and a touchdown on six targets. He's now caught five passes in each of his past two games, and he has three receiving touchdowns in his past four outings. I'm hopeful he'll continue to play well with Cooper Rush taking over for the injured Dak Prescott (hamstring), but I would only use Dowdle as a flex option in Week 10 against the Eagles, who are No. 4 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Philadelphia has allowed just two total touchdowns to running backs this season, and Chase Brown's 11.4 PPR points in Week 8 is the best performance against the Eagles for a running back since Week 4.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Moves past illness
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Dowdle (illness) isn't listed on the Cowboys' first Week 9 practice report issued Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Prior to this past Sunday's game at San Francisco, Dowdle was reported to have an illness that left him questionable to suit up. He was inactive for the Week 8 loss, but the backfield trio of Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook and Hunter Luepke didn't fare well in his stead, combining for 17 carries for 46 yards (2.7 per) and two catches (on two targets) for 14 yards. Dowdle told Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he had a fever of 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit to go with chills Sunday, but his lack of listing Wednesday indicates he's past the ailment and is in line to retain his No. 1 role out of the Cowboys backfield Week 9 in Atlanta.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Sitting out Sunday due to illness
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Dowdle (illness) is listed as inactive Sunday at San Francisco.
As Dowdle arrived at Levi's Stadium, he was diagnosed with an illness and deemed questionable to suit up Week 8. With Dowdle's lack of availability confirmed Sunday, the Cowboys backfield will be composed of Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook and Deuce Vaughn. Elliott seems like the best bet to be the team's leading runner, but Cook and Vaughn will be on hand for any reps that linger.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Expected to be inactive for SNF
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Dowdle (illness) isn't expected to play Sunday night against the 49ers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Official confirmation of Dowdle's absence will come when the Cowboys release their inactive list, but any fantasy managers relying on Dowdle can start lining up a replacement. In Dowdle's absence, Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn and Dalvin Cook -- the latter of whom was elevated from the practice squad Saturday -- will comprise Dallas' backfield.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Comes down with illness
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Dowdle has an illness and now is considered questionable for Sunday's game at San Francisco.
Dowdle led the Cowboys backfield during the first six contests of the season, averaging 12.5 touches for 62.8 yards from scrimmage per game while scoring two TDs through the air. With Dowdle's status now up in the air for Week 8, Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook and Deuce Vaughn are the other running backs on the team's roster.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Usage shifts again
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Dowdle recorded five rushes for 25 yards in Sunday's 47-9 loss to the Lions. He added five receptions on six targets for 30 yards.
After a breakout game in Week 5, Dowdle was surprisingly thrust back into a split backfield with Ezekiel Elliott. Dowdle managed to out-touch Elliott thanks to his work as a pass catcher and also remained the far more efficient back. While their skill profiles suggest that Dowdle should serve as the clear leader of the backfield moving forward, the Cowboys have been hesitant to fully rely on him heading into their Week 7 bye.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Dowdle has taken over the Cowboys backfield, which is awesome. He's scored at least 13.1 PPR points in each of his past two games against the Giants and Steelers, and he's creeping into No. 2 running back territory. But this week against the Lions, Dowdle could struggle given the matchup since Detroit is No. 3 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Kyren Williams and Kenneth Walker III each scored at least 14.4 PPR points against the Lions, but Detroit also held Rachaad White and James Conner to a combined 6.8 PPR points. I would only use Dowdle as a flex option at best in most leagues for Week 6.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Shines in SNF victory
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Dowdle rushed 20 times for 87 yards while catching both of his targets for 27 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Steelers.
Dowdle went over the century mark in yards from scrimmage while catching his second touchdown in as many weeks on Sunday Night Football. The 26-year-old was quietly leading a poor Dallas rushing attack in touches leading up to his breakout Sunday, so savvy fantasy managers may have already snagged him off the wire. If not, make sure to put in a claim for Dowdle ahead of next Sunday's tilt against the Lions, as it has become apparent that he is the starting running back for the Cowboys this season.
