2024 Rush/Rec Stats
ATT
236
YDS
1076
TD
6
YDS
297
TD
1
2025 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
Another quiet showing
Dowdle recorded five rushes for nine yards in Saturday's 34-31 wild-card loss to the Rams. He added one reception on two targets for six yards.
ANALYSIS
Dowdle has been particularly inefficient to close the season, averaging only 3.3 yards per carry across Carolina's final four regular-season contests. He also lost his status as the team's lead back in the playoff loss, with Chuba Hubbard out-touching Dowdle 15-6. Dowdle is headed to free agency for the second consecutive offseason, and he is likely to be signed as a complementary back given his fade down the stretch after a strong start to 2025.
Dowdle has been particularly inefficient to close the season, averaging only 3.3 yards per carry across Carolina's final four regular-season contests. He also lost his status as the team's lead back in the playoff loss, with Chuba Hubbard out-touching Dowdle 15-6. Dowdle is headed to free agency for the second consecutive offseason, and he is likely to be signed as a complementary back given his fade down the stretch after a strong start to 2025.
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 2024 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 %
15.7%Positive Run %
87.7%% Yds After Contact
62.7%Avg Yds After Contact
2.9Rushing TD %
0.9%Touches Per Game
17.1% Snaps w/Touch
45.4%Air Yards Per Game
-0.9Air Yards Per Snap
-0.02% Team Air Yards
-0.3%% Team Targets
7.9%Avg Depth of Target
-0.3 YdsCatch Rate
79.6%Drop Rate
2.0%Avg Yds After Catch
7.1% Targeted On Route
17.5%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
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#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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2024 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
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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
Forgettable afternoon in loss
Dowdle rushed seven times for 10 yards and brought in both targets for 20 yards in the Panthers' 16-14 loss to the Buccaneers on Saturday. He also lost a fumble and recovered another.
ANALYSIS
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Logs full practice Wednesday
Dowdle (toe) practiced fully Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Returns to practice Wednesday
Dowdle (toe) is participating in practice Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Misses practice with sore toe
Head coach Dave Canales said that Dowdle was held out of Tuesday's walk-through practice due to a sore toe, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Tough sledding against Seattle
Dowdle carried the ball 12 times for 59 yards and caught three of five targets for four yards in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Close to $1 million incentive
Dowdle needs just 70 more yards from scrimmage over the final two games of the regular season to reach a contract incentive that would earn him an extra $1 million, per Fox Sports.
ANALYSIS
Dowdle is up to 1,280 scrimmage yards through 15 regular-season games and needs to reach 1,350 yards to earn that contract incentive. That could come as soon as this Sunday against the Seahawks, though Dowdle has averaged just 48.5 scrimmage yards across the two games since the Panthers' Week 14 bye. Even with Chuba Hubbard in the mix, Dowdle should still get plenty of touches over the final two games of the regular season as the Panthers look to win the NFC South division for the first time since 2015.
Dowdle is up to 1,280 scrimmage yards through 15 regular-season games and needs to reach 1,350 yards to earn that contract incentive. That could come as soon as this Sunday against the Seahawks, though Dowdle has averaged just 48.5 scrimmage yards across the two games since the Panthers' Week 14 bye. Even with Chuba Hubbard in the mix, Dowdle should still get plenty of touches over the final two games of the regular season as the Panthers look to win the NFC South division for the first time since 2015.