Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Rico Dowdle vs Trey BensonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.6 PPG to Trey Benson's 7.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy play this season.

Rico Dowdle is the better play on a neutral week. 11.6 PPG with 1,373 yards gives a reliable baseline. Trey Benson at 7.2 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Rico Dowdle higher, but do not fade Trey Benson entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBCarolina Panthers#21PPG LEADER

Rico Dowdle

PPG

11.6

Games

Rush Yds

1,076

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

297

Bye

Week 5

RBArizona Cardinals#46

Trey Benson

PPG

7.2

Games

Rush Yds

160

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Rico Dowdle

Trey Benson

Head to Head

11.6 PPG7.2 PPG

17 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Rico Dowdle: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #21 at the position). Trey Benson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #46 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Rico Dowdle is producing at 53% of elite pace and Trey Benson at 33%. That ranking gap means Rico Dowdle carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Rico Dowdle vs Trey Benson: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Rico Dowdle and Trey Benson is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Carolina Panthers running back put up 11.6 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; Trey Benson of the Arizona Cardinals averaged 7.2 in 4. A 4.4-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 4.4 points favors Rico Dowdle, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one running back to the other.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Rico Dowdle ran for 1076 yards and 6 touchdowns; Trey Benson posted 160 and undefined. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Rico Dowdle has his bye in Week 5, and Trey Benson rests in Week 14. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Rico Dowdle is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Trey Benson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Rico Dowdle (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Trey Benson (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Rico Dowdle outscored Trey Benson by a projected 75 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Rico Dowdle played 17 games in 2025 compared to Trey Benson's 4. That durability gap means Rico Dowdle contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rico Dowdle caught 39 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Trey Benson is 4 years younger than Rico Dowdle (23 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Rico Dowdle vs Trey Benson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Rico Dowdle	Trey Benson
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	7.2
Games Played	17	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	197	29
Rushing Yards	1,076	160
Rush Yds/Game	63.3	40.0
Rushing TDs	6	0
Receptions	39	13
Receiving Yards	297	64
Targets	50	16
Total TDs	7	0
Age	27	23
Experience	5 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 14

Summary

11.6 PPG for Rico Dowdle versus 7.2 for Trey Benson in 2025. The baseline favors Rico Dowdle, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Rico Dowdle or Trey Benson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rico Dowdle has the edge at 11.6 PPG compared to Trey Benson's 7.2 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Rico Dowdle and Trey Benson average in 2025?▾

Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Trey Benson averaged 7.2 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 4.4 points per game.

When are Rico Dowdle and Trey Benson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Rico Dowdle (CAR) has a bye in Week 5, and Trey Benson (ARI) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Rico Dowdle or Trey Benson a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Rico Dowdle outscored Trey Benson by 4.4 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.