There are well-timed breakouts, and then there are potentially season-saving breakouts. The Dallas Cowboys are surely hoping that Rico Dowdle is enjoying the latter.
The fourth-year back from South Carolina played sparingly in his first two seasons in the NFL before finding a consistent reserve role last season. Earlier this year, he became the starting running back amid Ezekiel Elliott’s struggles and has put up some solid performances. But in his last two games, he’s combined volume with efficiency, turning 19 carries into 86 yards on November 24 and following it up with a 22-carry, 112-yard, one-touchdown masterclass on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys won both games.
Dallas will hope to continue its bounceback as it hosts the Cincinnati Bengals tonight on Monday Night Football, and it will be leaning on another big performance from Dowdle to do so.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Cowboys (+180) are sizable underdogs, and the point total is set at 50. Below, I’ve identified my favorite prop bet centered around Dowdle.
Best Rico Dowdle Prop Bet on DraftKings Sportsbook
Rico Dowdle 100+ Rushing + Receiving Yards (+140)
One reason why Dowdle has curried so much favor from head coach Mike McCarthy is his dual-threat potential. Dowdle has hauled in at least three receptions in five of his last six games, including a five-catch, 32-yard, one-touchdown performance against Atlanta in Week 9. He has garnered at least three targets in eight of his 11 games this season, while Elliott has only recorded three targets in three of his 11, even when taking into account the early part of the season, when Dowdle and Elliott shared snaps mostly evenly.
The pecking order has clearly changed; Dowdle has appeared in more than half of the team’s offensive snaps in four of the Cowboys’ last five games. In the Thanksgiving Day win over the Giants, he was on the field for 70% of snaps even with Elliott active for the game. His spot as Dallas’ RB1 is secure, and he should receive plenty of carries tonight against a Bengals defense that, while pretty stout, has ceded a lot of first downs and touchdowns.
This season, McCarthy has called a very pass-happy offense, with a Cowboys quarterback dropping back to throw on 64.9% of snaps, the third-highest rate in the NFL. But those offense has been more balanced since big-armed starter Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring tear and the more conservative Cooper Rush took over. Rush has prioritized short, quick passes over the deep shots his predecessor liked to take, and Dowdle has seen a slightly bigger role in the passing game with Rush at the helm.
Dowdle has only hit 100 total scrimmage yards three times this season, but he put up 98 two games ago. Momentum is clearly in his favor, and despite losing seven-time All-Pro offensive tackle Zack Martin for the season, Dallas’ offensive line is fairly healthy. Especially at plus odds, I like him to put up another big performance in what should be a high-scoring game.
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user 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 skills 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.
