The Dallas Cowboys have been one of the NFL’s highest-scoring offenses over the past couple of years, which has made their lead running back a valuable fantasy asset more often than not.
While the Cowboys reunited with Ezekiel Elliott over the offseason, a lesser-known name waiting in the wings was a popular sleeper pick among fantasy managers. Now, the Rico Dowdle takeover appears to be in full effect. Is this the time to swing a trade for him in your league?
Getting acquainted with Rico Dowdle
While Dowdle isn’t exactly a household name to most fans, he may very well be on his way to more recognition. The former South Carolina Gamecock is in his fifth NFL season, all with the Cowboys.
The six-foot, 215-pound halfback hasn’t truly had the chance to shine until now. In previous seasons he battled lingering injuries, including a lost 2021 campaign on injured reserve, while working as a backup.
Last season, Dowdle showed flashes of ability, albeit via a small sample size. He rushed 89 times for 361 yards and two TDs as the Cowboys’ second-string back, also adding 144 yards and two more scores on 17 catches.
Over the first five games of this season, Dowdle has slowly taken on more work out of the backfield. In Week 4, he rushed 11 times for 46 yards and found the end zone on a 15-yard reception. In Week 5, he tallied 114 total yards of offense and a TD against a strong Steelers defense.
The statistics you should know
The most important stat to note is that Dowdle logged 20 carries in Week 5, 14 more than his backfield mate Elliott. Dowdle also played 50% of snaps compared to 30% for Zeke. As such, it appears that Dowdle has finally usurped his counterpart in the pecking order.
Dowdle may not be well-known, but he’s a tough runner who isn’t afraid to initiate contact. Sure, the Cowboys’ offensive line isn’t a great run blocking unit. However, Dowdle averages 4.1 yards per carry with a 34.0% ROE, meaning he gains more yards than expected on slightly over a third of his carries.
As an added bonus, Dowdle ranks 11th among all RBs in rushing success rate (minimum 50 attempts). He falls directly behind Saquon Barkley and James Cook, but ranks higher than stars such as Bijan Robinson and Jonathan Taylor.
He’s also a solid pass-catcher and has brought in 11 of 14 targets for 101 yards so far this season. Dallas generally prefers a pass-happy offense and Dowdle appears to be earning quarterback Dak Prescott’s trust — he hauled in a crucial TD reception to keep his team alive in the comeback win against Pittsburgh.
Should you trade for Rico Dowdle?
Between his increasing workload and receiving upside, this may be the last chance to buy somewhat low on the Cowboys’ emerging lead RB. While Elliott may still receive the goal-line work in Dallas, it appears Dowdle should take over nearly all other backfield duties as long as he remains healthy.
With that in mind, Rico is someone you should feel comfortable inserting into your fantasy football lineups as a solid RB2 with upside for more when the Cowboys’ offense is rolling. Take advantage of the timing and trade for him before he becomes a household name.
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