Rico Dowdle Fantasy Advice After Panthers RB's 234-Yard Game vs. Dolphins

Carolina Panthers veteran running back Rico Dowdle had a breakout performance in Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins.

Dowdle, who got the start in place of Chuba Hubbard while he sat out with a calf injury, totaled 234 yards from scrimmage to help lead the Panthers to a 27-24 victory. He racked up 206 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries while adding three catches for 28 yards.

According to Fantasy Pros, Dowdle is rostered in just 53 percent of ESPN fantasy football leagues. It can be expected that he will be a popular waiver-wire target this week, but managers should proceed with some caution.

ESPN's David Newton noted that Panthers head coach Dave Canales classified Hubbard as day-to-day with the expectation that this isn't a long-term injury. Hubbard led Carolina with 217 yards on 53 carries through four games, while Dowdle had only 83 yards on 28 carries in a backup role.

Once Hubbard is back in the lineup, it can be expected that Dowdle's volume could see a significant drop-off. Calf injuries are tricky to gauge, so there's a chance that he sits out a bit longer to ensure that he's fully healed.

If you were smart enough to have Dowdle on your roster already, perhaps now would be the time to sell high in hopes of acquiring a top-tier player with a better outlook for the rest of the 2025 season.

Making the right move with Dowdle could go a long way toward helping your team compete for a playoff spot later this year.