Rico Dowdle vs Justin Herbert

“2 | RB 31 Despite having a career year in 2025, the Panthers let Rico Dowdle walk in free agency this offseason.”

“TB WR35 53 123 82 13 6 80 5 Jonathon Brooks CAR RB29 54 139 82 17 0 81 5 Rico Dowdle PIT RB30 64 119 82 11 -5 82 5 Sam LaPorta DET TE7 56 130 83 13 -11 83 5 Kyle Pitts Sr.”

“, but Rico Dowdle has the opportunity to win the lion’s share of the touches. Mike McCarthy signed him as an undrafted free agent in Dallas and now brought him to Pittsburgh after another season with over 1,000 rushing yards.”

“Rounds 6-9 Targets Rico Dowdle ( PIT) : ADP 79.2 | RB 29 After having no fantasy value early in his career, Dowdle has finished as an RB2 or better in back-to-back seasons.”

“Last year, we saw Hubbard and Rico Dowdle individually combine for six top 12 weeks.”

“I still scooped up Henderson in the fifth round and then grabbed Dowdle, who I love this season, in the seventh.”

“My money is on Warren as Pittsburgh’s primary running back this year, and it’s possible Dowdle has a smaller role than some expect.”

“At present, Warren is roughly two rounds more expensive in ADP. If you are drafting now, you should prioritize Dowdle over Warren, as these ADPs are likely to converge as the preseason continues.”

“Once Dowdle became the starter in Carolina during 2025 after Week 5, he averaged nearly 19 touches per game and just shy of 90 total yards from scrimmage each week. His ability to generate missed tackles and run through defenders was impressive to watch, especially with Chuba Hubbard struggling to find any level of success when given a touch.”

“Dowdle will have to earn his way to the field in Pittsburgh behind Jaylen Warren , though he is being drafted just about a round behind the presumed starter. If the Rico-McCarthy connection from his breakout season in Dallas is rekindled, fantasy managers may be able to get a starting RB for basically nothing in drafts.”

“Rico Dowdle (RB – PIT) | ADP 58 Overall, RB29 I’ve long been a fan of Jaylen Warren and the efficiency he’s consistently posted, but he’s failed to fully take over the Steelers backfield in the last few seasons”

“Although the offense as a whole is relatively weak, the running game has produced 1,000-yard rushers in each of the last two seasons, including 1,587 between Rico Dowdle and Hubbard last season”

“Justin Herbert has an ADP of QB9 and is going in the back half of the seventh round.”

“Fantasy players can draft Justin Herbert nearly two rounds later and get similar upside out of the quarterback position.”

“Quarterbacks Justin Herbert (QB – LAC) It speaks volumes that Justin Herbert was somehow able to finish 2025 as the QB10 in fantasy, despite sitting out Week 18 and playing the majority of his season without All-Pro bookend tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt .”

“Justin Herbert (LAC) Over the first three years of his NFL career, Justin Herbert averaged 287.5 passing yards and 1.9 TD passes per game.”

“With a healthier OL in 2026, Herbert can flirt with elite fantasy QB status. Five games with Joe Alt in 2025: Hebert averaged nearly 24 PPG (23.9). Twelve games without Alt? 16.2 PPG.”

“The only other top-24 picks to match their ADP in overall finish were Prescott, Justin Herbert , Goff, Nix, Love, and Allen.”

“Even so, Johnston remains attached to an ascending offense with Justin Herbert and should maintain a full-time role entering 2026.”

“In superflex, those same cutoffs jump significantly, to Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott for a true QB1, since a real starter is required rather than a streaming option.”

“Justin Herbert leads the NFL in yards per scramble (9.4) over the past two seasons. 80 scrambles for 750 rushing yards.”

“And it’s not even the biggest difference in this group — that honor goes to Justin Herbert , which you already know if you took my advice in the intro and read my previous ESPN values article .”

“Justin Herbert over Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes is expected to age well, but Kansas City’s offense hasn’t looked like it did earlier in his career, ranking 22nd in yards per play over the last two seasons. Herbert’s overall trajectory is viewed as pointing up.”

“Herbert went through the wringer in 2025. Rashawn Slater missed the entire season. Joe Alt only appeared in six games. He closed out the year with a broken left hand, finishing with a career-high 54 sacks. That was the third-most sacks taken in the league behind Cam Ward (55) and Geno Smith (55).”