Derrick Henry vs Rico Dowdle: Who Should You Start?
Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens) finished the 2025 season averaging 16.0 fantasy points per game in 17 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.
Derrick Henry carries a 4.4-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. Derrick Henry ran for 1595 yards and 16 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: Derrick Henry sits Week 14 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.
