After an underwhelming 2025 season, the Washington Commanders aim to make life easier for Jayden Daniels. As free agency approaches, the franchise is expected to target a breakout running back in hopes of rebuilding its rushing attack.
Commanders Sign Breakout RB to Pair with Jayden Daniels
On Thursday, March 5, PFSN Analyst Jacob Infante published an article outlining potential landing spots and contracts for the top-100 free agents. Notably, he ranked Rico Dowdle as the fifth-best available running back and his 72nd overall player.
Infante wrote: “He’s hardly the first name you think of when talking about the NFL’s top running backs, but Rico Dowdle quietly has consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons to his name. He broke into the Panthers’ starting lineup when Chuba Hubbard got hurt, had three games with over 130 rushing yards, and never looked back.”
He added, “Consistency was an issue for Dowdle in 2025; he averaged 3.2 yards per carry or fewer in nine of his 17 games. When he’s on, however, he’s very tough to stop. He’s an explosive back who would benefit from a stronger supporting cast around him on offense.”
2025 was a tale of two halves for Dowdle. Between weeks 1-9, the running back recorded 81.7 rushing yards per game and 5 scrimmage touchdowns. From weeks 10-18, however, Dowdle’s production dropped to 42.6 yards per game, and only found the end zone only 2 more times.
Still, according to PFSN’s RB Impact metric, Dowdle, with 16 total career touchdowns, was highly effective in Carolina this past season. He posted a 71.9 RB Impact Score, ranking 12th among all running backs and finishing ahead of free agents Breece Hall (No. 14), Kenneth Walker III (No. 20), and Travis Etienne (No. 26).
In contrast, Washington’s run game struggled, which significantly contributed to the disappointing season. Veteran RB Austin Ekeler sustained a season-ending injury early. Meanwhile, Chris Rodriguez posted a 66.9 RB Impact Score, while rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt managed a 62.6.
With this in mind, Infante predicts the Commanders as a fit for Dowdle. He projects the 27-year-old to sign a two-year deal averaging $4.6 million per year. Entering his sixth NFL season, Dowdle would be an ideal complement to Daniels.
As previously mentioned, the Commanders’ run game wasn’t nearly as dominant as it was in 2024, which took a toll on Daniels and the offense. The sophomore signal-caller was also frequently banged up and lacked a reliable group of skill players to lean on.
Though with the possible addition of Dowdle, Washington could begin rebuilding its run game and take a step toward returning to playoff contention in 2026.
