Rico Dowdle DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Carolina Panthers have signed free-agent running back Rico Dowdle on Wednesday. The two sides have agreed on a one-year, $6.25 million deal for the upcoming season. On paper, Dowdle is a good fit with the Panthers who certainly need depth behind Chuba Hubbard. Last season, Dowdle rushed for over 1,000 yards across 15 games with the Dallas Cowboys. It's also worth noting that Dowdle hauled in 39 receptions for 249 yards and three touchdowns through the air. This is a low-risk move that should help the Panthers while former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks (knee) recovers from injury.

According to a person with knowledge of the Dallas Cowboys' thinking, the team signing former Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams in free agency means that RB Rico Dowdle won't return in 2025. Williams is regarded as a comparable talent to Dowdle and is more cost effective, according to the Dallas Morning News' David Moore. The Cowboys are committed to selecting a running back in April's draft as well, and they will likely compete with Williams for backfield touches in 2025. This news comes after executive Stephen Jones said at the end of last month that Dallas was hoping to re-sign Dowdle, who had his first 1,000-yard rushing season and two touchdowns on 235 rushing attempts as the team's lead back in 2024. Meanwhile, Williams averaged a mediocre 3.7 yards per carry and had 513 rushing yards and four touchdowns in Denver while losing the starting gig midway through the season.

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle rushed 22 times for 72 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders. He also caught two of his three targets for an additional 12 yards through the air. Dowdle was quite impressive throughout the 2024 season, supplanting Ezekiel Elliott as the Cowboys' undisputed No. 1 running back. He finished the campaign with 1,079 rushing yards, 249 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns through 16 games, ranking as a low-end RB2 in fantasy football. There has been plenty of speculation that the Cowboys could take an aggressive approach with their pursuit of a running back this offseason, such as drafting Ashton Jeanty. However, there's also a real possibility they feel confident in Dowdle and don't take as big of a swing for a backfield addition within the upcoming months. The 26-year-old currently still has appeal as a mid-range RB3 option heading into the 2025 campaign, and until Dallas brings in competition, this backfield belongs to Dowdle.