RicoDowdle

News: 19 hours agoDowdle (quadriceps) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Spin: After sitting out Wednesday's session, Dowdle took a step forward by practicing in a limited capacity Thursday. In order to avoid carrying a designation into Sunday's game against the Saints, Dowdle will likely need to upgrade to full activity Friday in the Panthers' final practice of the week. If he's cleared to play this weekend, Dowdle should be in line for another turn as Carolina's lead back after handily out-snapping and outproducing Chuba Hubbard in an upset win over the Packers in Week 9. In that contest, Dowdle accounted for 141 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 27 touches while playing 72 percent of the snaps. Hubbard, meanwhile, handled a 22 percent snap share and was limited to 17 yards on five touches.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Dowdle signed with Carolina after spending his first four seasons in Dallas. Rarely utilized during his first two years with the Cowboys, Dowdle worked his way up to a backup role in 2023 before fending off Ezekiel Elliott for lead-back duties in 2024. He appeared in 16 games and ranked in the top 20 among backs in carries, rushing yards, receptions, touches and scrimmage yards. Dowdle found the end zone only five times in Dallas' struggling offense, however, which limited him to a 24th-place finish in fantasy points per game. The 27-year-old showed well in a tough situation, but he'll enter 2025 as a clear backup to Chuba Hubbard, with rookie Trevor Etienne also a threat for work. Dowdle has some deep-league insurance appeal, though he would max out as a RB2/flex even if called on to start.