Dowdle rushed the ball 25 times for 149 yards in Sunday's 30-14 win over the Panthers. He was not targeted. Dowdle was coming off a career-best 131 rushing-yard performance, but he outpaced that mark in Sunday's blowout win. He had a solid first half but was relied upon to burn clock in the final two quarters, when he tallied 14 attempts for 91 yards. The only downside to Dowdle's performance was that he couldn't find the end zone, but he's suddenly one of the league's most productive backs, having topped 100 yards on the ground in three straight contests.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Rico Dowdle news
Team
Dallas Cowboys
Birthdate
6/14/1998 (26)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'0", 215 lbs
Birthplace
Asheville, NC, USA
Position
RB
College
South Carolina
Experience
5 seasons
Career History
Dallas Cowboys
2020-Present
(5 seasons)
Dowdle rushed the ball 25 times for 149 yards in Sunday's 30-14 win over the Panthers. He was not targeted. Dowdle was coming off a career-best 131 rushing-yard performance, but he outpaced that mark in Sunday's blowout win. He had a solid first half but was relied upon to burn clock in the final two quarters, when he tallied 14 attempts for 91 yards. The only downside to Dowdle's performance was that he couldn't find the end zone, but he's suddenly one of the league's most productive backs, having topped 100 yards on the ground in three straight contests.
Dowdle rushed 18 times for 131 yards and brought in one of two targets for 10 yards in the Cowboys' 27-20 loss to the Bengals on Monday night. Dowdle consistently gashed the Bengals' lackluster run defense throughout the night, recording a game-long 27-yard run and finishing with a career-high rushing yardage total in the process. The 26-year-old now has back-to-back 100-yard performances and no fewer than 86 rushing yards in three straight games heading into a highly favorable Week 15 road matchup against the Panthers.
Dowdle rushed the ball 22 times for 112 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's 27-20 win over the Giants. He added three receptions on three targets for 11 yards Dowdle found plenty of running room with a season-high 22 carries and ripped off long gains of 22, 18, 17 and 13 yards. That led to the first 100-yard rushing game of his career and also marked the first time a Cowboys running back has topped the century mark since Week 3 of the 2023 campaign, per Saad Yousuf of The Athletic. Dowdle added to his impressive performance with a four-yard touchdown scamper late in the fourth quarter to ice the game for the Cowboys.
Dowdle rushed 19 times for 86 yards and brought in all three targets for 12 yards in the Cowboys' 34-26 win over the Commanders on Sunday. He also lost a fumble. Dowdle operated as the unquestioned lead back, as backfield mate Ezekiel Elliott logged only three carries. The former fittingly parlayed his second-highest carry total of the season into his second-highest rushing yardage tally, and he also extended his streak of multi-catch efforts to six games. Dowdle heads into a favorable Thanksgiving Day home matchup against the Giants with a secure grip on the top job in Dallas' ground attack.
Dowdle rushed 10 times for 28 yards while catching two of five targets for six yards in Monday's 34-10 win over Houston. Dowdle got his head coach's vote of confidence prior to Monday's kickoff, and Mike McCarthy's words rang true after the tailback led Dallas in carries. That's where the good news ended, as the 26-year-old struggled to generate any room to operate in a blowout loss. Unlike star teammate CeeDee Lamb, Dowdle's value may have taken a significant hit by Dak Prescott's (hamstring) season-ending injury. With little threat of a passing attack, opposing defenses can stack the box against Dowdle and Co. like the Texans successfully accomplished Monday. Dowdle should still carry deep-league value, but those in standard formats may have to make difficult decisions as the fantasy playoffs inch closer.
Coach Mike McCarthy called Dowdle the Cowboys' "lead back" Thursday, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Dallas has operated with a committee approach to its backfield so far this season but ranks 31st in rushing yards per game (83.7). Dowdle has been by far the most productive option, recording 4.5 YPC versus Ezekiel Elliott's 3.7, Dalvin Cook's 2.5, Deuce Vaughn's 2.9 and Hunter Luepke's 3.2. In eight appearances, Dowdle has averaged 13.4 touches per game, a number that should increase following McCarthy's comments.
Dowdle carried the ball 12 times for 53 yards while catching all three of his targets for as many yards in Sunday's 34-6 loss to Philadelphia. Dowdle was off to a good start on the ground before the score got out of hand and forced the team to abandon the run in the second half. Ezekiel Elliott (suspension) returned following a one-game absence, but he produced just 22 yards on six carries while losing a fumble. Dowdle should continue to serve as the Cowboys' top RB despite the team being in disarray at the QB position heading into next Monday's tilt against Houston.
Dowdle carried the ball 12 times for 75 yards and caught five of six targets for 32 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-21 loss to the Falcons. The running back produced more than 100 combined yards for the second time in his last three games, and his three-yard TD catch from Dak Prescott (hamstring) in the second quarter was Dowdle's third touchdown reception in his last four contests. He's still looking for his first rushing score of the season, but Dowdle continues to solidify his hold on the starting job in the Cowboys' backfield. Prescott is headed for an MRI on Monday, and if he ends up missing a Week 10 clash with the Eagles, Dallas could lean more heavily on Dowdle with Cooper Rush under center instead.
Dowdle (illness) isn't listed on the Cowboys' first Week 9 practice report issued Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports. Prior to this past Sunday's game at San Francisco, Dowdle was reported to have an illness that left him questionable to suit up. He was inactive for the Week 8 loss, but the backfield trio of Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook and Hunter Luepke didn't fare well in his stead, combining for 17 carries for 46 yards (2.7 per) and two catches (on two targets) for 14 yards. Dowdle told Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he had a fever of 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit to go with chills Sunday, but his lack of listing Wednesday indicates he's past the ailment and is in line to retain his No. 1 role out of the Cowboys backfield Week 9 in Atlanta.