RicoDowdle

News: 6 days agoDowdle rushed 23 times for 104 yards and brought in his only target for four yards in the Cowboys' 41-7 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.

Spin: Dowdle was able to bounce back from a difficult night against the Buccaneers' stingy run defense in Week 16, eclipsing the 100-yard mark for the fourth time in the last five games. The productive day also pushed Dowdle over the 1,000-yard threshold for the season, a particularly noteworthy accomplishment considering he didn't have a consistent grasp of the lead-back role over the first half of the campaign. Dowdle's fourth-quarter fumble at the Eagles' 10-yard line was costly in terms of both preventing the Cowboys from potentially scoring and because it led to an eventual Philadelphia TD, but the fourth-year pro should have a good chance of finishing the season in productive fashion against the Commanders in Week 18.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Dowdle saw limited offensive snaps during his first three NFL seasons after joining Dallas as an undrafted free agent, but Year 4 was his relative breakout, with 505 yards from scrimmage. The main backup to now-departed Tony Pollard rushed for more than 50 yards in only one game, though he saw regular action on special teams. The Cowboys brought back franchise icon Ezekiel Elliott after a year away and he figures to handle most of the touches, at least early on, diluting Dowdle's potential value. There is opportunity for a Dallas RB, but it is hard to see Dowdle as anything more than an RB5.