FantasyPros Articles on Rico Dowdle
From the article
Once Dowdle became the starter in Carolina during 2025 after Week 5, he averaged nearly 19 touches per game and just shy of 90 total yards from scrimmage each week. Dowdle should lead the Steelers in carries when all is said and done. Short-yardage and goal-line situations will go to Dowdle, and there is room for another spectacular finish, if this offense is able to take a step forward under McCarthy.
STACKED’s take
Dowdle should lead Steelers in carries; RB31 ranking offers breakout upside over Warren.
For the second time in his career, Dowdle outplayed the incumbent ahead of him to ascend to fantasy relevance, finishing as RB17 last year. He now has consecutive 1,000-rushing-yard seasons with modest passing-game usage to inflate his weekly point floor. Dowdle signed with Pittsburgh as a member of the Steelers, with Mike McCarthy replacing Mike Tomlin as head coach—a move likely factored into his decision given his success under McCarthy with Dallas. Once he became the starter in Carolina after Week 5, he averaged nearly 19 touches per game and just shy of 90 total yards from scrimmage each week. His ability to generate missed tackles and run through defenders was impressive, especially with Chuba Hubbard struggling. In Pittsburgh, Dowdle will compete with Jaylen Warren in a similar scenario. Warren has maximized per-touch productivity and has above-average pass protection skills and rapport with Aaron Rodgers, allowing him to remain on field during third downs and obvious passing situations. However, Dowdle is a superior short-yardage option and should lead the Steelers in carries. Currently ranked RB31 (compared to Warren at RB27), Dowdle has definite breakout potential, especially if anything happened to Warren, with short-yardage and goal-line situations going to him.
Rico DowdleRB · PITPlayer page — value, ADP, projections, and every insight