Rico Dowdle
#5 RB,
Cowboys
ACTUAL 2022
0 FPTS
RANK: 180
2023 SEASON
- FPTS
RANK: -
AGE
24 yrs
HEIGHT/WEIGHT
6'0'' / 215 lbs
COLLEGE
South Carolina
| SEASON | GP | FPTS | RANK | RUATT | RUYD | RUTD | RUAVE | RECPT | REYD | RETD |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | 180th | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3yr Ave | 8 | 1 | 180th | 4 | 12 | 0 | 3.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scores first career TD
Published: 2023-09-24
Dowdle carried the ball four times for 21 yards and caught all three of his targets for 25 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-16 loss to the Cardinals.
Starting running back Tony Pollard ran for 122 yards on the day but it was Dowdle who found the end zone, catching a 15-yard pass from Dak Prescott in the second quarter for Dallas' only TD. The touchdown was the first of Dowdle's NFL career in his 23rd game. As long as Pollard remains healthy, Dowdle's fantasy ceiling will be limited, but he's seen between six and eight touches in every game so far in 2023.
Fantasy Points by Week 2022
Weekly Stats 2022
| Fantasy Points | Betting | Rushing Stats | Receiving Stats | ||||||||||||||||||
| WEEK | STADIUM | GAME | RANK | TOUCH | SPREAD | O/U | ATT | YD | TD | AVG | YAC% | 10+ | 20+ | 50+ | REC | YD | TD | SHARE | |||
| 1 TB | Dome 81° | 0.0 | 39th | 0.00 | 2.5 | 49.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |||
| 2 CIN | Dome 93° | 0.0 | 40th | 0.00 | 7.0 | 42.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |||
| 3 @NYG | Outdoor 70° | 0.0 | 39th | 0.00 | 1.5 | 39.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |||
| 4 WAS | Dome 74° | 0.0 | 42nd | 0.00 | -3.0 | 42.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |||
| 5 @LA | Outdoor 72° | 0.0 | 41st | 0.00 | 5.0 | 41.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |||
Performance Splits: 2020 to 2022
| Fantasy Points | Rushing Averages | Receiving Averages | ||||||||||||||||
| LOCATION | STADIUM | GP | GS | GM | TOUCH | RANK | YD | TD | AVE | YAC% | 10+ | 20+ | 50+ | REC | YD | TD | ||
| Home | Retractable Dome | 10 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.34 | 47th | 2 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 46% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | ||
| Away | Outdoor | 9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 233th | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | ||
| Away | Dome | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 153rd | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | ||
Career Stats by Season: 2020 to 2022
| Fantasy Points | Rushing Stats | Receiving Stats | ||||||||||||||||||
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | GP | GS | TOTAL | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | AVE | YAC% | 10+ | 20+ | 50+ | SHARE | REC | YD | TD | ||
| 2020 | 22 | DAL | 15 | 0 | 2 | 154th | 7 | 24 | 0 | 3.4 | 46% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | 24 | DAL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 180th | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Eight touches in Sunday's win
Published: 2023-09-18
Dowdle carried the ball seven times for 26 yards and caught his only target for 17 yards in Sunday's 30-10 win over the Jets.
Tony Pollard saw 32 touches as the Cowboys' lead back and produced 109 scrimmage yards, but Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and KaVontae Turpin combined for 17 touches between them as Dallas romped to another big victory. As long as the team keeps blowing away opponents -- something that could easily happen again in Week 3 against the winless Cardinals -- there will be opportunities for the backup options at RB to poach a little fantasy value, but it would take an injury to Pollard to make Dowdle a viable play in most formats.
Late usage in rout
Published: 2023-09-11
Dowdle carried the ball six times for 24 yards in Sunday's 40-0 win over the Giants.
The Cowboys' defense and special teams unit took control of the game early before Tony Pollard punched in two short TDs, so Dowdle saw most of his action in what was effectively garbage time. He was more productive than rookie Deuce Vaughn on the same numbers of touches, however. With Pollard locked into the top spot on the backfield depth chart, there may not be many opportunities left over for any other backs, but Dowdle at least seems to be the clear No. 2 option.
Part of initial roster
Published: 2023-08-29
Dowdle is a part of the Cowboys' initial 53-man roster following roster cuts Tuesday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Behind Tony Pollard, the situation in Dallas' backfield has crystallized somewhat, with Dowdle and rookies Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke making the team over Malik Davis. With Ronald Jones suspended for the first two games of the campaign, Dowdle thus will be among the options to spell Pollard in the early going. In three preseason games, Dowdle performed well to the tune of 14 carries for 59 yards and five catches (on six targets) for 42 yards and one touchdown.
Records receiving TD
Published: 2023-08-19
Dowdle rushed eight times for 38 yards and brought in two of three targets for nine yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys' 22-14 preseason loss to the Seahawks on Saturday night. He also returned one kickoff for 23 yards.
Dowdle tied with Malik Davis for the team lead in carries and set the pace in rushing yards. The 25-year-old could be making up ground on Davis for a roster spot after two solid exhibition efforts, and he should have a final chance to make a case for himself in next Saturday night's home preseason finale against the Raiders.
Solid game marred by fumble
Published: 2023-08-13
Dowdle carried the ball six times for 21 yards and caught all three of his targets for 33 yards in Saturday's preseason loss to the Jaguars.
Deuce Vaughn was the star of the Cowboys' backfield Saturday, but Dowdle outproduced presumed No. 2 RB Malik Davis, who got the start but managed only 22 scrimmage yards on eight touches. Unfortunately, Dowdle also committed a crucial fumble just outside Jacksonville's red zone at the end of the first quarter after catching a short pass from Cooper Rush. The battle for backup snaps behind Tony Pollard (ankle) remains open, but Dowdle likely can't afford many more big mistakes if he wants to stay in the mix.
Making push for backup spot
Published: 2023-08-03
Dowdle is in the mix to win the top backup job behind Tony Pollard in the Cowboys' backfield, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports.
The 25-year-old has just seven NFL carries since being signed as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2020, as injuries have disrupted his career so far, but Dowdle is drawing high marks in training camp for his football IQ and blocking ability. His value as a special-teams player could secure him a spot on the 53-man roster regardless of how much usage he sees on offense, but with Ronald Jones (suspension) set to miss the first two games of the regular season, the door is open for Dowdle to push Malik Davis for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.
Re-ups with Dallas
Published: 2023-03-21
The Cowboys are re-signing Dowdle on Tuesday, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dowdle rejoins a Dallas backfield room now lacking Ezekiel Elliott, currently making him the No. 3 man behind Tony Pollard (ankle) and Malik Davis. Of course, the Cowboys will likely still add personnel to the backfield as the offseason progresses. Dowdle mostly handled special-teams work in his five appearances last season.
Not tendered by Dallas
Published: 2023-03-15
Dallas didn't extend Dowdle (ankle) a qualifying offer or contract tender as a restricted free agent Wednesday, so he's officially an unrestricted free agent, per the NFL's transaction log.
Dowdle appeared in five games for the Cowboys in 2022, playing nearly exclusively on special teams, before landing on injured reserve with an ankle injury in October. He spent the rest of the season on IR, but now that he's healthy, the undrafted running back out of South Carolina will look to land a new deal in free agency. The 24-year-old also has experience as a kick returner, would should boost his value this summer.