Devin Neal vs Rico Dowdle: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Rico Dowdle (Pittsburgh Steelers) averaged 11.6 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Devin Neal (New Orleans Saints, 5.2 PPG) by 6.4 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
Rico Dowdle carries a 6.4-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. Devin Neal ran for 206 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.
One scheduling note: Devin Neal is off Week 12 and Rico Dowdle Week 9. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
