Head to Head · Start / Sit

Rico Dowdle vs Woody Marks

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

RBPittsburgh SteelersPPG LEADER

Rico Dowdle

PPG

11.6

Games

Rush Yds

1,076

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

297

Bye

Week 9

RBHouston Texans

Woody Marks

PPG

8.7

Games

Rush Yds

703

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

208

Bye

Week 14

Head to Head

11.6 PPG8.7 PPG

17 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 14

Rico Dowdle vs Woody Marks: Who Should You Start?

Rico Dowdle and Woody Marks are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 PPG across 17 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Woody Marks posted 8.7 PPG in 16 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 2.9-PPG gap gives Rico Dowdle 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.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Rico Dowdle ran for 1076 yards and 6 touchdowns; Woody Marks posted 703 and 2. 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: Rico Dowdle is off Week 9 and Woody Marks Week 14. 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.

The Bottom Line

Rico Dowdle outscored Woody Marks by 2.9 PPG in 2025 (11.6 to 8.7). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Rico Dowdle or Woody Marks in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rico Dowdle has the edge at 11.6 PPG compared to Woody Marks's 8.7 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 Woody Marks average in 2025?▾

Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Woody Marks averaged 8.7 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.9 points per game.

When are Rico Dowdle and Woody Marks's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Rico Dowdle (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Woody Marks (HOU) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Rico Dowdle or Woody Marks a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Rico Dowdle outscored Woody Marks by 2.9 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.