Rico Dowdle
vs Justin Herbert

“Rico Dowdle did it again last season. Dowdle fought to get to the top of the Carolina running back depth chart as he wrestled the starting job away from Chuba Hubbard .”

“McCarthy brought in Rico Dowdle , who played for him in Dallas for five years, which helps. But McCarthy also said he trusts both running backs in every situation: early downs, late downs, short-yardage, and pass-catching. This means we are likely looking at a true 50/50 split to start the season.”

“Pittsburgh's two-headed backfield of Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle should enjoy success, too. The Falcons ranked 21st in yards allowed before contact per rush (1.44) last year and tied for 26th in EPA allowed per designed rush.”

“, 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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Round 8: Jaylen Warren (RB – PHI) Bringing in Rico Dowdle makes me nervous, but with other loaded positions, I started to load up on running back talent that I think could get at least 50% of the carries on their team.”

“Dowdle isn't the only player reuniting with Mike McCarthy. The last time the two of them were together was in 2024, when Dowdle had a breakout season.”

“Last year, he finished as the RB16, averaging 10.4 fantasy points per game despite splitting the backfield work with Chuba Hubbard. Furthermore, Dowdle has had back-to-back top-24 finishes, including in 2024 with Mike McCarthy. Now that the duo is reunited in Pittsburgh, the veteran should have his third consecutive RB2 finish.”

“While the usual batch of injuries has emerged for the team, Justin Herbert was not playing well before those maladies began removing starters from the equation. Herbert has not looked to be a good fit in Mike McDaniel ’s offense. The Chargers won out for the coveted coaching free agent this offseason, but securing McDaniel’s play-calling services does not feel like the prize it once did.”

“But landing a QB with Herbert’s skillset is quite difficult to do, as many teams can attest; the Chargers would be wiser to reevaluate their approach around the passer rather than sign up for the kind of quarterback search the franchise has not needed to conduct in more than 20 years. Although the Chargers have run into consistent roadblocks in the playoffs, they have not carried a true QB need since 2001. The team did acquire Philip Rivers in the 2004 draft as Drew Brees struggled during his first three seasons, but its Brees-Rivers-Herbert succession over the past 20-plus years rivals the Packers for QB stability.”

“Even so, Herbert has been pressured on 46.9% of his dropbacks (30th) and has taken a hit on a league-high 20.6% of them. Even when kept clean, Herbert and this passing game are broken. He has the league's lowest rating without pressure (71.5), completing 65.2% of his passes (30th) for 6.7 Y/A (25th), with a league-high 6.5% interception rate.”

“Herbert has been pressured 82 times this season, behind only Tyler Shough and Bryce Young (on far fewer pass attempts). Even with all this considered, we have too much historical data to suggest Justin Herbert is a tremendous real-life quarterback and an above-average fantasy quarterback. I still have to believe he’s better than any waiver wire option, so I’m holding and keeping the faith.”

“Four games into the season, Justin Herbert ranks as the QB34 in PPG. Cam Ward and Geno Smith have more fantasy points than Herbert, as does Caleb Williams, who has missed the last two games. On paper, it doesn’t look like it is going to get any better any time soon.”

“Herbert has already been pressured on 46.5% of his dropbacks, the second-highest rate in the league. Also, Ladd McConkey may miss time with a foot injury after he was forced out of the lineup again on Sunday. Denver has allowed a 57.5% completion rate (3rd) and is 10th in passing points allowed per attempt (0.39).”

“QB Justin Herbert had his best game of the season and it wasn’t even all that good. His regression this season is a big part of why Los Angeles is falling short of expectations. Losing former DC Jesse Minter to the Ravens’ head job is a factor as well.”

“Among 31 qualifying passers, Herbert has the 14th-fewest yards per attempt, the seventh-fewest fantasy points per dropback, the eighth-lowest passing success rate, and the fifth-lowest EPA per dropback. I don’t see this being the week that Herbert turns things around against this vaunted Seattle pass defense. Seattle has allowed the fewest yards per attempt, the seventh-lowest passing success rate, and the sixth-fewest fantasy points per dropback.”

“SIT Justin Herbert, Chargers Okay, enough is enough. I know Herbert’s got the arm talent, and I know he’s been a steady QB1 for stretches, but I can’t in good conscience send him out there against Seattle this week. The Seahawks have been an ugly matchup for opposing quarterbacks, and Herbert’s own implied team total sits at just 18.25, which is dead last among the quarterbacks in fantasy this week.”

“Over the last two weeks, Justin Herbert has dropped back 69 times, and Mitchell leads all Chargers backs with 22 routes; Omarion Hampton is third on his own team at 15, with three targets on the season . Mitchell has also run 18 routes lined up at wide receiver this year, second among all RBs behind only Christian McCaffrey (see Analysis & Hype above). And here's the ugly-beautiful part: Herbert is 1-for-12 with three picks on throws 20+ yards downfield, which means the checkdown is the only part of this offense currently functioning.”

“Herbert has one QB1 scoring week over his past 10 games. It is hard to bank on that flipping here, so Herbert stays in the pile of back-end QB2 options . Seattle allowed 3 passing touchdowns to Marcus Mariota on Sunday, but they still allow only 5.9 yards per pass attempt and a 61.3% completion rate for 183 yards.”

“This offense is a disaster: QB Justin Herbert is playing the worst ball of his career, this offensive line isn’t any better than it was a year ago even with Los Angeles’ tackles back, and this defense isn’t the same without Jesse Minter leading it. The Chargers need to do something different, and fast. But with a meat grinder of an upcoming schedule, the road isn’t getting any easier.”