Panthers running back Rico Dowdle is set to play in a juicy matchup vs. the Saints.
Rico Dowdle has been tearing it up in fantasy football. He has 3 games as the RB2 or better and is due for a big game versus the Saints. With his injury status now clear, expect a big game for Dowdle.
The Panthers just got bad news that Tetairoa McMillan is questionable with a hamstring injury. Should McMillan miss, this will only give more opportunity to Dowdle and the Panthers running game. Fire up Dowdle with confidence as a top-5 play this week!
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
In Week 11, Rico Dowdle totaled 100 scrimmage yards, with ...
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle had 25 rushing ...
Rico Dowdle is in line for a potentially favorable matchup ...
After missing practice on Wednesday, Rico Dowdle (quad) put in a limited session on Thursday for the Panthers
Fresh off a 25-tote, 130-yard performance with two touchdowns in Week 9, Rico Dowdle was a surprise name on the Panthers Wednesday injury report. Dowdle aggravated his quad on Sunday, presumably while running away from backfield-mate Chuba Hubbard with all the carries.
Just days after Dowdle had cemented his lead in the backfield, per head coach Dave Canales, he out-touched Hubbard 27 to five, continuing his hot streak that began when the latter went down with an injury. The team downplayed Dowdle’s quadriceps issue after the game, and he did little more than work drills with the trainers on Wednesday, sans helmet.
By Thursday, the running back was on the practice field with the team, going through stretches, and had his helmet in tow. He put in a limited practice, setting the stage to go full on Friday and be without an injury designation for Week 10, barring anything unforeseen. Carolina fans and fantasy managers alike can exhale with the news.
Fantasy Lowdown: Dowdle is third in the NFL (first in the NFC) in rushing yards with 735. He trails only Jonathan Taylor and James Cook. Provided nothing surprising occurs before Sunday, he’s an auto-play RB1 against a Saints team that allows the sixth-most yards to backs on the season. Hubbard’s usage was even less than expected, as he has been reduced to a handcuff role. However, if the Panthers blow out the hapless Saints, he could see meaningful garbage-time snaps as the coaches monitor Dowdle’s quad.
Author: Samwise (@BuyAndSellYou)
Rico Dowdle has a big day as the Panthers get the win, and he outshines Hubbard in the Panthers’ backfield battle.
Rico Dowdle had a massive day on the ground against a Green Bay Packers team which ranks third in the NFL as a rushing defense. Dowdle finished the day with 25 carries for 130 yards and two scores, solidifying himself as the lead back moving forward.
“From carry one, it was attitude, it was aggression and violence at the end of it,” Canales said. “It really does affect the group. It affects the whole sideline when they see that kind of energy. That kind of violence, it gives them confidence. It’s who we want to be.” Canales said earlier in the week that Dowdle would be getting the majority of the reps, and it paid off as Dowdle finished as one of the best running backs in fantasy formats. He now has three top-5 finishes in the past five weeks, remaining a viable starting option for fantasy managers.
Author: Dane Madoche(@FF_DaMaddog)
The Carolina Panthers intend to feature Rico Dowdle over Chuba Hubbard in Week 9
Head coach Dave Canales of the Carolina Panthers confirmed on Friday that the ‘exceptional’ Rico Dowdle is going to be more involved. Namely, Dowdle will assume the lead back role over the previous starter, Chuba Hubbard.
The two have alternated reps since Hubbard’s return from injury. Neither one jumped off the page, though Dowdle’s efficiency, which was his hallmark during Hubbard’s absence, remained high. Presumably, that was a large factor in making the shift. Dowdle’s reward in the starting gig is a date at Lambeau Field with the Packers. Green Bay has one of the top defensive units against the run this season.
Hubbard will remain a part of the offensive game plan; to what degree is unknown. Fantasy managers who currently roster Dowdle can continue running him out as a back-end RB1 this week. Hubbard managers might be wise to avoid the matchup in Week 9 until there is a better understanding of his utilization and against a lesser front seven.
Author: Samwise (@BuyAndSellYou)
On Monday, head coach Dave Canales addressed the “backfield-by-committee” situation for his team. It appears that the running back system of Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle will remain for the Panthers… for now.
It seems that the shared running back duties of Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle will stay in place for the Carolina Panthers. Head coach Dave Canales expressed admiration for what the duo accomplished on Sunday, when Hubbard returned from a two-game absence.
“It felt great for me to know, whoever I was calling the run for, I expect great execution out of these guys…”, he said.
While coach Canales stopped short of saying that there would be an even split of the carries as the season progresses, he declined to give a definitive answer. He said he liked the way the rotation of Hubbard (14 carries, two receptions) and Dowdle (17 carries, one reception) worked for the team with differing styles. Each is coming off seasons that broke the 1,000-yard milestone, with the former gaining 1,195 yards en route to a new contract with the Panthers, and the latter rushing for 1,079 with the Cowboys before signing with Carolina as a free agent.
Fantasy football managers were banging the table for Dowdle to take over the lead role after he amassed 473 yards from scrimmage (7.5 yards per carry) and a pair of touchdowns in the two tilts that Hubbard (calf strain) sat out. For his part, Hubbard had just 311 scrimmage yards in four games (4.2 YPC). Numbers aside, Dowdle looked infinitely more explosive than Hubbard has this season and seemed to run with purpose. Distant RB3, rookie Trevor Etienne, actually doubled his own touches during the two games that Dowdle was the “man in charge.”
What does it mean for the remainder of the 2025 season? Fantasy managers will keep a watchful eye on one of their RB1s as he begins this chapter of sharing the workload. He has the benefit of loyalty from the franchise and a new contract, but the fact remains that at this time, Dowdle is more suited for the starting role. Managers who had Dowdle stashed or beat everyone to the waiver wire will likely be laughing all the way to the bank, as it would appear that Hubbard’s touches will likely dwindle during the next several games.
Neither of the two can currently be trusted for touches or goal-line work in the meantime, although the sheer number of injuries at the position (combined with bye weeks) means many fantasy managers will be forced to play them and cross their fingers until one takes over the job. The Panthers have a home matchup Sunday with the Buffalo Bills and will likely be without quarterback Bryce Young, so it’s an opportunity for one or the other to step forward right off the bat.
Author: Samwise (@BuyAndSellYou)
Carolina Panthers backup running back Rico Dowdle runs wild filling in as the starter in Week 5.
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle handled the workload in Week 5, against the Miami Dolphins. Starter Chuba Hubbard sat the game out dealing with an injured calf. Dowdle did not disappoint though delivering his best game of the season. Dowdle totaled 23 carries for 206 yards and a score, adding 3 catches for 28 yards. His strong vision and burst helped spark the Panthers offense and helped complete a comeback and beat the Dolphins 27-24.
With his performance, Dowdle made a strong case for an expanded role in the backfield moving forward. For rest of season, it will be more of a 50-50-time share with Dowdle and Hubbard.
Author: Jake Lewis (@Lewylewis5)
