The final matchup of the Week 16 NFL Sunday slate will take place between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
These teams enter with opposite outlooks on the season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers control their playoff destiny and sit in first place in the NFC South. However, the Falcons entered the day just one game behind them and received an organizational spark following the quarterback change. They have put themselves in a nice spot, but Tampa Bay needs to deliver from here on out.
The Buccaneers have a great opportunity to do so against a 6-8 Dallas Cowboys team that has seen their season go up in flames. Dak Prescott was shut down for the season after Week 8 and the Cowboys were just 3-4 at that point. While their goals for the season are already lost, the team is still identifying who will be a part of it moving forward.
Rico Dowdle has been at the frontline of this discussion and has proven a lot with his play. The 26-year-old has played his best football over the past few weeks, recording 112 or more rushing yards over each of the past three weeks.
The Buccaneers enter this game as 4-point favorites and -205 on the moneyline. The Cowboys are +170 underdogs on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook and the game total is set at 47.5 points.
Rico Dowdle Prop Bets
DraftKings Sportsbook has Dowdle’s props set at o/u 72.5 rushing yards, 14.5 receiving yards, 2.5 receptions, 90.5 rushing and receiving yards, and -110 odds of an anytime touchdown.
The Pick: Over 90.5 Rushing & Receiving Yards
So far this season, Rico Dowdle has rushed the ball 177 times for 880 yards and a touchdown. He has also added 33 receptions for 205 receiving yards and three touchdowns through the air. While he split carries with Ezekiel Elliott through the first part of the season, Dowdle has emerged as the clear-cut top back.
Dowdle has made the most of these additional opportunities, recording rushing outputs of 112, 131 and 149 yards across the past three weeks. While the Buccaneers have a high-powered offense, they have shown some vulnerability on the defensive end. Tampa Bay ranks 20th in points allowed and 27th in total yards given up. It also ranks 22nd in net yards per rush attempts and has allowed 110 or more rushing yards across each of the past five weeks.
The success Dowdle has had rushing the ball in recent weeks speaks for itself, but Dallas has even more concerning issues on the defensive end and his rushing opportunities could be limited if the Buccaneers leap out to a lead. Last week was the first time all season Dowdle did not record a catch and he is averaging 15.8 receiving yards per game overall. Even if the Cowboys do fall behind, expect Dowdle to continue being involved in the passing game.
On the season overall, Dowdle has recorded over 90.5 combined rushing and receiving yards in six games, including each of the past four matchups. Dallas will continue to keep some balance in the offense by running the ball but expect an uptick in involvement in the passing game if the team falls behind. One way or another, count on Dowdle to continue proving his worth to the franchise and record 91+ yards from scrimmage for the fifth consecutive week.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL Showdown $1M Sunday Night Showdown [$250K to 1st] (TB @ DAL)!
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
