Just one year after Tony Pollard finally got his chance as the clear lead back, he’s gone. The Dallas Cowboys‘ top two running backs will be Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle.
Is Dowdle the one fantasy football managers want in 2024 drafts?
Should You Select Rico Dowdle at His Current ADP?
PPR Industry Consensus ADP: 151st Overall (RB46)
- Unlikely Path to Relevance: Dowdle, a 2020 UDFA with just seven career carries entering the 2023 season, earned the Cowboys’ RB2 role and outperformed Tony Pollard in terms of efficiency.
- Ambiguous Backfield: With Ezekiel Elliott set to start, Dowdle is poised to see a larger workload. However, Elliott’s role as a goal-line back limits Dowdle’s touchdown potential, though he could still contribute as a receiver.
- Value in Fantasy Drafts: Dowdle’s ADP is RB46, No. 151 overall, making him a low-risk pick with potential upside. While Elliott is the starter, Dowdle’s role in a high-scoring offense makes him worth considering as a late-round pick.
- ADP Analysis: I have Dowdle ranked as my RB42, slightly above consensus, but his upside depends on how the Cowboys’ backfield shakes out. He’s a solid bench option with multiple paths to fantasy relevance.
- Final Verdict: Dowdle offers potential Flex value and could see an expanded role if Elliott struggles or gets injured. He’s a worthwhile investment as an RB4 or RB5 with room for upside in a potent offense.
[the_ad_group id=”71495″]
PFN Consensus PPR Fantasy Ranking for Rico Dowdle
Note that these rankings are the PFN Consensus Rankings and may not fully match my analysis. Since Dowdle is ranked outside the top 75 in the PFN Consensus Rankings, we’ve listed the consensus RB rankings instead.Â
40) Zach Charbonnet, RB | Seattle Seahawks
41) Jerome Ford, RB | Cleveland Browns
42) Blake Corum, RB | Los Angeles Rams
43) Chuba Hubbard, RB | Carolina Panthers
44) Antonio Gibson, RB | New England Patriots
45) Rico Dowdle, RB | Dallas Cowboys
46) Jaleel McLaughlin, RB | Denver Broncos
47) Tyler Allgeier, RB | Atlanta Falcons
48) Ty Chandler, RB | Minnesota Vikings
49) Kendre Miller, RB | New Orleans Saints
50) MarShawn Lloyd, RB | Green Bay Packers
Dowdle’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 Fantasy Season
Dowdle having any fantasy value this season would complete a most unlikely path to relevance. A 2020 UDFA, Dowdle entered the 2023 season with a staggering seven career carries. Yet, he earned the RB2 role and was actually more efficient than Pollard.
It’s difficult to gauge Pollard’s fantasy value heading into the upcoming season. He only touched the ball 106 times last year. A repeat of that role is not going to get him close to mattering in fantasy. But circumstances have changed in a manner that could benefit him.
The Cowboys love Elliott. He’s going to start. But Zeke is not the same player he was from 2016-2020. Head coach Mike McCarthy openly stated that Elliott’s second stint with the team would not resemble his first, when he was a three-down back. “That’s not going to be his role. We are going to be a running back by committee.”
Looking at the roster, by “committee,” it’s fair to conclude he means a two-man backfield with Elliott and Dowdle. The latter should be looking at a larger workload than he had last season. Given how inefficient Zeke was in 2023, it’s not unrealistic to think Dowdle can be the better back.
With that said, there is one major impediment to Dowdle’s fantasy value — touchdowns. Even though he’s clearly lost a step or three, Elliott remains an effective short-yardage back. The Cowboys are going to use him at the goal line. Dowdle will have to score his touchdowns from farther out, which is not what we want for fantasy.
On a more positive note, Dowdle should see an uptick in receiving work. He only saw a 3.9% target share last season. Although Elliott has historically been an effective pass blocker, Dowdle is the more explosive player and offers more as a receiver at this point in their respective careers. If Dowdle can lock up the passing down role, that should give him at least standalone RB4 value.
Is Dowdle a Good Value in Fantasy Drafts?
In fantasy, we want to target ambiguous backfields and players on good offenses. The Cowboys qualify as both.
Dowdle’s ADP sits at RB46, No. 152 overall. He’s going nine spots behind Elliott. Neither is being drafted as a top-36 back. Yet, this offense is almost certainly going to support one. A team that scores as often as the Cowboys is unlikely to not have at least a fantasy RB3. That makes both Elliott and Dowdle worth considering at their respective ADPs.
I have Dowdle as my RB342 with Elliott as my RB39. I don’t know how things will shake out. But this is an offense that scored 50 touchdowns last season. I am more than willing to put Dowdle on my bench as my RB4 or RB5. He could open the season as a viable Flex play.
If Elliott gets hurt or is completely finished, Dowdle could end up seeing more work than expected. There are multiple paths to upside, which is exactly what we want in later-round selections.
