Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Rico Dowdle vs Tyler HigbeeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.6 PPG to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Rico Dowdle (11.6 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Tyler Higbee (6.5 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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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

TELos Angeles Rams#25

Tyler Higbee

PPG

6.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

281

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Rico Dowdle

Tyler Higbee

Head to Head

11.6 PPG6.5 PPG

17 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Rico Dowdle: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #21 at the position). Tyler Higbee: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #25 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE in most league formats.

Rico Dowdle vs Tyler Higbee: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Rico Dowdle (RB, Carolina Panthers) against Tyler Higbee (TE, Los Angeles Rams) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Tyler Higbee posted 6.5 PPG across 9 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Rico Dowdle has his bye in Week 5, Tyler Higbee in Week 11. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Rico Dowdle at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Tyler Higbee is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Rico Dowdle (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Tyler Higbee (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Rico Dowdle outscored Tyler Higbee by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Rico Dowdle played 17 games in 2025 compared to Tyler Higbee's 9. That durability gap means Rico Dowdle contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rico Dowdle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Rico Dowdle caught 39 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Rico Dowdle is 6 years younger than Tyler Higbee (27 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Rico Dowdle vs Tyler Higbee: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Rico Dowdle	Tyler Higbee
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	6.5
Games Played	17	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	197	59
Rushing Yards	1,076	0
Rush Yds/Game	63.3	0.0
Rushing TDs	6	0
Receptions	39	25
Receiving Yards	297	281
Targets	50	36
Total TDs	7	3
Age	27	33
Experience	5 yrs	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Rico Dowdle holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.6 points per game. Tyler Higbee averaged 6.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Rico Dowdle or Tyler Higbee in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rico Dowdle has the edge at 11.6 PPG compared to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 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 Tyler Higbee average in 2025?▾

Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Tyler Higbee averaged 6.5 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

When are Rico Dowdle and Tyler Higbee's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Rico Dowdle (CAR) has a bye in Week 5, and Tyler Higbee (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.