Rico Dowdle's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Dallas Cowboys running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle have both gotten their share of first-team reps in training camp this summer. In the joint scrimmage with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Dowdle looked very good with his opportunities. With that said, it might've been the best day of camp so far for Elliott, who was decisive in his cuts. His burst was on display as well to hit running lanes and quickly make it to the second and, at times, to the third level of the defense. Dallas' backfield is becoming a compelling storyline to watch for fantasy managers entering 2024, and Sunday's preseason opener against the Rams should help provide some clarity on this situation. As it stands, Elliott should be deemed the early favorite to lead Cowboys backs in snaps and carries this season, as his value in pass protection figures to be invaluable, while Dowdle remains a late-round sleeper with plenty of upside.

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle has had a very good training camp to this point and could be the leader in rushing for the team this season, per The Athletic's Jon Machota and his latest 53-man roster projection. The Cowboys recently signed Royce Freeman (groin), who left camp on Monday with a groin injury with an unclear timeline for a return. Dowdle provides a bit of juice into the Cowboys' backfield, and along with the returning Ezekiel Elliott, should provide a solid one-two combination of backs in an elite offense this season. While Elliott is the current clubhouse leader for the highest number of touches among Dallas running backs, Dowdle may win out in efficiency this season. This Sunday's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams should help to paint a clearer picture for fantasy managers, but draft Dowdle as an upside RB4 in drafts in the meantime.

Dallas Cowboys running back Royce Freeman (groin) might remain out of practice on Tuesday, and Deuce Vaughn (hamstring) likely won't practice either, head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters. It adds fuel to the breakout case for late-round sleeper Rico Dowdle, who "has been the face of the committee and could be the lead guy during the season. In practices, he's had solid showings in pass protection, flashed receiving ability, and gotten the call to run in high-leverage situations." Starter Ezekiel Elliott remains the best bet for touches and the favorite to lead the Cowboys in carries this year as the incumbent veteran during the early stages of the season, but the speedier Dowdle has stood out at training camp and could push him for work in Dallas' backfield this fall. Sunday's preseason opener against the hosting Los Angeles Rams should offer fantasy managers a clearer picture on the hierarchy here.

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle has been a popular fantasy football sleeper this offseason after the departure of Tony Pollard. The team brought back Ezekiel Elliott, and many assume Dowdle and Elliott will split backfield duties in 2024. However, in a radio interview, Cowboys executive Stephen Jones suggested that Royce Freeman is likely to make the roster, while Dowdle and Malik Davis could be competing to be the third active running back in the regular season. [Freeman will] be a good addition and great complement to (Ezekiel Elliott)," Jones said. "And then we'll let these young guys between (Rico Dowdle and Malik Davis) and those guys battle it out." It's too early to draw any conclusions, but this is not a great look for Dowdle, who rushed 89 times for 361 yards and two touchdowns in 2023.

The Dallas Cowboys are re-signing running back Rico Dowdle to an undisclosed deal on Monday. With Tony Pollard moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, Dowdle is now No. 1 on the Cowboys' RB depth chart, for now. The 25-year-old former undrafted free agent out of South Carolina entered the league in 2020 with the Cowboys and has just 96 carries for 385 yards and two rushing touchdowns in his three NFL seasons, adding 17 receptions (22 targets) for 144 yards and two more touchdowns through the air. Eighty nine of his career carries came in 2023, when he rushed for 361 yards and two TDs in 16 regular-season contests. Depending on what Dallas does at the position in the upcoming NFL draft, Dowdle could see a substantial role increase in his fourth NFL campaign.