Fantasy Football Buy, Sell, or Hold: Rico Dowdle

Rico Dowdle’s role and production have fluctuated throughout the season, leaving fantasy managers with a tough decision on how to approach him moving forward.

Oct 12, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs with the ball during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium. | Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

 Heading into the season, Rico Dowdle wasn’t on many fantasy managers’ radars. He began Week 1 as a backup and change-of-pace option for the Carolina Panthers but took over the starting role in Week 5 after Chuba Hubbard went down with an injury. Since then, Dowdle has surged up the rankings to become the RB14, averaging 13.0 fantasy points per game. Now, with Hubbard returning to the lineup, Dowdle’s role is once again uncertain, leaving fantasy managers to decide whether to buy, sell, or hold him moving forward. Let’s break it down.

2025 Stats: Rico Dowdle

106 carries, 605 yards, 2 touchdowns| 17 targets, 13 catches, 121 receiving yards, 1 receiving td 

Dowdle is having an impressive season despite starting only two of the Panthers’ first eight games. He’s made the most of his opportunities, showcasing the same explosiveness and efficiency that helped him rush for over 1,000 yards with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. If Carolina continues to give him meaningful touches, Dowdle has the potential to sustain his strong production and remain a valuable fantasy asset moving forward.

Carolina Panthers RB Depth Chart

Currently listed as the Panthers’ RB2, Dowdle may have earned the RB1 role or at least a larger share of touches thanks to his explosive and efficient play, averaging 5.7 yards per carry over eight games this season. In contrast, Hubbard has struggled since his return, rushing for just 31 yards on 14 carries (2.2 YPC) in Week 7 and 34 yards on 12 carries (2.8 YPC) with a touchdown in Week 8, while averaging only 3.6 yards per carry across six games this season.

#Panthers HC Dave Canales on his RB situation: “Chuba Hubbard has meant a lot to this team. We wanted to give him an opportunity following his calf injury. But we can’t ignore the fact that Rico [Dowdle] has been exceptional.”

Tone suggests Dowdle will get a heavier workload... pic.twitter.com/hqjovwFko7

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 27, 2025

Rest-of-Season Fantasy Outlook

Dowdle’s outlook for the rest of the season remains uncertain, as he may share a roughly 50/50 split with Chuba Hubbard. So far, Dowdle has logged 258 snaps compared to Hubbard’s 250, with 15 red zone touches to Hubbard’s 11. In the passing game, Hubbard has 21 targets while Dowdle has 17. Based on the nearly identical volume, it appears the Panthers may continue to ride the hot hand, operating their backfield as a true running back by committee.

Rico Dowdle 2025 Fantasy Points by Week

Week 1: 3.6

Week 2: 2.9

Week 3: 10.8

Week 4: 4.0

Week 5: 32.4

Week 6: 33.9

Week 7: 10.6

Week 8: 5.4

Buy, Sell, or Hold Verdict: Rico Dowdle

We recommend holding Rico Dowdle for now to see how his workload develops. Coming off his worst game in the past four weeks, his current value is relatively low. Over the next few weeks, we should have a clearer picture of whether his touches and role will increase, which will help determine his long-term fantasy value.