The Dallas Cowboys struggled in Week 3 to regenerate any offense throughout the game. The rushing attack was again the focal point as they struggled to get the ball moving, making it impossible for the Cowboys to control the clock and the game. However, Rico Dowdle led the way in this backfield, with fantasy managers questioning if he is the player to chase in waivers this week so we can reap the fantasy rewards of being early on as the breakout player.
Can Dowdle help elevate your team? Let’s break down his Week 2 and the season to see if this is Fool’s Gold or a hidden gem for fantasy football.
Rico Dowdle’s Fantasy Outlook for the Remainder of the 2024 Season
When you look at Dowdle’s rushing share and see only seven targets, you question why you would even want to target him in waivers. The surprising factor of this total is that it led the Dallas Cowboys rushing attack. After a forgettable Week 1, we look at this leading role in Week 2 with open eyes and mind. If Dowdle can continue to gain the trust of his coaching staff, we can acquire a starting running back in a potent offense.
Dowdle elevated his yards per rush from 3.2 in Week 1 to 4.3 this week. His vision and explosion clicked to help him become the 22nd-best running back in this category on TruMedia. The Cowboys leaned into Dowdle in Week 2. David Moore, the Dallas Morning News writer, recorded four touches within the opening drive. The team looks like it wants to lean into the younger player in their backfield and is just waiting for Dowdle to take over.
Rico Dowdle touched the ball only 9 times in season opener.
He had 4 touches in that opening drive for Dallas & an incompletion.
Saints lead 7-3
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) September 15, 2024
Dowdle did help build trust in the organization by converting 50% of his third-down conversion runs. That total ranks him 12th overall in the NFL for Week 2. We also saw Dowdle with the seventh-highest yards before contact per rush. No other Cowboys running back landed within the top 40. Dowdle worked behind his line, which is what a good running back should do in their game.
Dowdle did help his case within the passing game as well. His 29 receiving yards were tenth overall in Week 2 for the running back position. He received the 20th most routes for the running back position, whereas the next closest cohort, Duece Vaughn, ran five total routes, which ranked 52nd overall. Dowdle’s five targets should sound the alarm in your fantasy brain, as that was fifth best for the running back position in Week 2.
Should Rico Dowdle Be Added on the Fantasy Waiver Wire in Week 3?
At the moment, Dowdle is rostered in 50% of Sleeper leagues. We should help elevate that number in this week’s waiver wire selections. There are multiple injuries across the board at both the running back and wide receiver positions. Due to injuries, players will move to IR or leave our rosters. We must respond properly and look for players who elevate their game and our rosters. Dowdle will move up the rankings over the next few weeks with this share in the Cowboys offense.
We should target the Cowboys’ running back by following the tried and true rule of good players from great offenses. Ezekiel Elliott will not get more explosive as the season continues; the opposite will occur due to age. We could have a running back who will garner more volume as the season trudges on. With Vaughn’s share of the offense landing more in the anomaly range than every week issue, Dowdle should absorb the majority of his work as well while the Cowboys try to get their offensive scheme back on track after a rough Week 2.