Pittsburgh Steelers

Rico Dowdle

RB #13

HEIGHT5'11"

WEIGHT215 lbs

EXPERIENCE6 years

AGE27

#13

Pittsburgh Steelers

Rico Dowdle

HT5'11"

WT215 lbs

EXP6 years

AGE27

RB#13

Career Stats

Year	Team	CAR	YDS	TD	AVG	LNG	REC	TGT	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG
2025	CAR	236	1076	6	4.6	256	39	50	297	7.6	1	196
2024	DAL	235	1079	2	4.6	203	39	49	249	6.4	3	157
2023	DAL	89	361	2	4.1	150	17	22	144	8.5	2	108
2022	DAL	-	-	-	0.0	-	-	-	-	0.0	-	-
2021	DAL	-	-	-	0.0	-	-	-	-	0.0	-	-
2020	DAL	7	24	-	3.4	12	-	-	-	0.0	-	-

Fantasy Outlook

After grinding for four years as an undrafted guy out of South Carolina, Dowdle worked his way into a starting role with Dallas in 2024 before taking up a one-year deal in Carolina in 2025. The plan was for Dowdle to back up incumbent starter Chuba Hubbard, yet when Hubbard suffered a calf injury in Week 4 it gave Dowdle another chance to start. Over the next two weeks Dowdle capitalized with 389 yards and one touchdown rushing (7.3 YPC) while adding seven receptions for 84 yards and another touchdown on nine targets. The Dallas and Miami defenses probably get some of the credit for Dowdle's big numbers those two weeks - he averaged only 3.75 yards per carry in his 15 other games - but Dowdle has earned some benefit of the doubt as a viable NFL starter after logging quality numbers over the last two years. Dowdle flashed high points at South Carolina in college, too, though injuries and ball security issues undermined his consistency. Dowdle has seemingly rounded into a solid pass catcher (78.8 percent catch rate, 5.5 YPT since 2024) and his fumbling has been manageable (five on last 549 touches). Though he'll split much of the Pittsburgh backfield with Jaylen Warren, probably pass-catching situations in particular, Dowdle should prove functional as the lead pure runner of the two, sparing Warren the most punishing work and keeping Warren spry for the big-play opportunities on in-space touches. Dowdle's two-year, $12.25 million deal with the Steelers implies he might take up most of the role previously held by Najee Harris - just like that era of the Pittsburgh offense, the Steelers will need to remain very run-heavy to provide sufficient shelter for Aaron Rodgers' situational and volume limitations as a passer.

Steelers Lineup

#2M. Rudolph

#18W. Howard

#20K. Johnson

#30J. Warren

#4D. Metcalf

#42K. Wetjen

#11M. Pittman

#15B. Skowronek

#88P. Freiermuth

#80D. Washington

#9C. Boswell

#34L. Marjan