2025 Rush/Rec Stats
ATT
229
YDS
1066
TD
6
YDS
277
TD
1
Rest-of-Season 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
Signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Panthers in March of 2025.
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
Canales termed Dowdle's absence as a rest day and labeled him day-to-day, which suggests the Panthers aren't too concerned about the running back's availability for Saturday's regular-season finale at Tampa Bay. The Panthers will wait and see if Dowdle is able to get back on the practice field in some fashion Wednesday and/or Thursday before determining his status for Saturday. Given that the NFC South title will be at stake this weekend, expect Dowdle to do everything in his power to suit up against the Buccaneers.
Canales termed Dowdle's absence as a rest day and labeled him day-to-day, which suggests the Panthers aren't too concerned about the running back's availability for Saturday's regular-season finale at Tampa Bay. The Panthers will wait and see if Dowdle is able to get back on the practice field in some fashion Wednesday and/or Thursday before determining his status for Saturday. Given that the NFC South title will be at stake this weekend, expect Dowdle to do everything in his power to suit up against the Buccaneers.
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 2025 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 %
13.1%Positive Run %
86.5%% Yds After Contact
65.9%Avg Yds After Contact
3.1Rushing TD %
2.6%Touches Per Game
16.6% Snaps w/Touch
47.6%Air Yards Per Game
-2.3Air Yards Per Snap
-0.07% Team Air Yards
-1.2%% Team Targets
10.4%Avg Depth of Target
-0.8 YdsCatch Rate
77.1%Drop Rate
4.2%Avg Yds After Catch
8.5% Targeted On Route
23.0%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2025 NFL Game Log
2025
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2023
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2020
2025 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Panthers 2025 RB Snap DistributionLoading Weekly Snap Counts...
#1 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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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Buccaneers pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?
The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is. The team and position group ratings only include players that are currently on the roster and not on injured reserve. The list of players in the table only includes defenders with at least 3 attempts against them.
@ Buccaneers
Saturday, Jan 3rd at 4:30PM
Overall QB Rating Against
73.2
Cornerbacks
65.5
Safeties
72.2
Linebackers
85.6
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2025 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
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
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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Over 40 scrimmage yards in win
Dowdle rushed nine times for 29 yards and brought in four of six targets for 14 yards in the Panthers' 23-20 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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Touchdown saves inefficient showing
Dowdle rushed the ball 16 times for 49 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Saints. He added one reception on one target for five yards.
ANALYSIS
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Takes back seat to Hubbard
Dowdle carried the ball 18 times for 58 yards and caught both his targets for 21 yards in Sunday's 31-28 win over the Rams.
ANALYSIS
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Efficient with 10 touches
Dowdle rushed six times for 38 yards and brought in all four targets for 36 yards in the Panthers' 20-9 loss to the 49ers on Monday night.
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.