Aaron Jones vs Rico Dowdle: Who Should You Start?
Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Aaron Jones (Minnesota Vikings) finished the 2025 season averaging 8.7 fantasy points per game in 12 games. Rico Dowdle (Pittsburgh Steelers) came in at 11.6 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Rico Dowdle carries a 2.9-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both profile as early-down workhorses. Aaron Jones ran for 548 yards and 2 touchdowns; Rico Dowdle posted 1076 and 6. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Aaron Jones sits Week 6 while Rico Dowdle is off Week 9. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
