Jonathan Taylor vs Rico Dowdle: Who Should You Start?
Jonathan Taylor and Rico Dowdle are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Indianapolis Colts running back averaged 20.0 PPG in 2025, a full 8.4 points per game ahead of Rico Dowdle's 11.6 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
A 8.4-PPG gap gives Jonathan Taylor the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Jonathan Taylor is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 46 targets into 378 yards, while Rico Dowdle profiles as a more traditional rusher with 1076 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jonathan Taylor carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.
Jonathan Taylor has his bye in Week 14, and Rico Dowdle rests in Week 9. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
