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Rico Dowdle vs Zay Flowers

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

RBPittsburgh Steelers
Rico Dowdle
PPG
11.6
Games
17
Rush Yds
1,076
Rush TDs
6
Rec
39
Rec Yds
297
Bye
Week 9
WRBaltimore RavensPPG LEADER
Zay Flowers
PPG
11.8
Games
17
Rec
86
Rec Yds
1,211
Rec TDs
5
Targets
118
Bye
Week 14

Head to Head

11.6 PPG11.8 PPG
17 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 14

Rico Dowdle vs Zay Flowers: Who Should You Start?

Comparing Rico Dowdle (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers) against Zay Flowers (WR, Baltimore Ravens) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Zay Flowers posted 11.8 PPG across 17 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 9, Zay Flowers in Week 14. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

The Bottom Line

Zay Flowers outscored Rico Dowdle by 0.2 PPG in 2025 (11.8 to 11.6). 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 Zay Flowers in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Zay Flowers has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to Rico Dowdle's 11.6 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 Zay Flowers average in 2025?

Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 0.2 points per game.

When are Rico Dowdle and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?

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