Can RB Rico Dowdle keep up his MONSTER Pace with Carolina Panthers?

Panthers RB Rico Dowdle has been electric the past 2 weeks for the Carolina Panthers while filling in for fellow RB Chuba Hubbard who has been out due to injury.

Facing the Miami Dolphins in week 5, Dowdle rushed 23 times for 206 yds. The next week facing his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, Dowdle rushed 30 times for 183 yds.

Obviously, these are MONSTER numbers. But will the RB be able to keep up this pace?

I don't think he will continue on this historic run for two reasons.

1. His Schedule gets tougher

2. Chuba Hubbard will be back?

Schedule

Not to shoot down his extremely efficient and great performances over the past two weeks, but Dowdle has played two of the lesser defenses vs the run game in the last two weeks.

The Miami Dolphins ranked dead last after 6 weeks this 2025 NFL season in defense vs the rush where they have averaged giving up 168.5 rush yds per game and 6 rushing touchdowns. Then the Dallas Cowboys are ranked 29th in the league in defense vs the rush where they have given up an average of 142.2 rush yds per game and 6 rushing TDs as well.

After the Panthers play the Jets in week 7 (who are currently 23rd in the league vs the rush) the panthers schedule in the second half of the season becomes very tough. They are scheduled to play some of the best teams in the NFL vs the rush. The teams include the Packers in week 9 (#1 vs the rush averaging 73 rush yds per game), 49ers (#14) week 12 , Rams (#15) week 13, Buccaneers (#5) week 16 & 18, and the Seahawks (#2) week 17.

Chuba Hubbard Returns

Dowdle's rushing numbers are also bolstered due to Hubbards injury who as of this blog post via ESPN, his estimated return is for 10/19 which would be this upcoming weekend. It's a little too soon to tell if he will actually return to action this soon, but we have to remember Hubbard was the RB1 and starter in his role with the Panthers and is a really solid runningback.

I'd expect once Hubbard returns to the field and is healthy, the Panthers will start splitting the backfield and Dowdle will likely have a reduced role compared to what he has been getting from the past 2 weeks.

Final Thoughts

I still believe Rico Dowdle has a lot to contribute to the Panthers Offense this season as well as to your fantasy league. From what he's shown, the Panthers definitely can't push him away like nothing ever happened. He was a spark that has helped them win their last 2 games. However, I think due to the scheduling circumstances as well as a comeback from Chubba Hubbard at some point this season, these factors will effect his performance moving forward. Fantasy wise, I think he is a Sell High player and a player to trade away. If you do decide to keep him, I don't think this is a bad move either especially if Hubbard takes his sweet time to return so at the very least I still like him as a Flex play for the rest of the season, especially in PPR matchups as he has been getting it done both on the ground and in the air.