Rico Dowdle is the Pittsburgh Steelers number 13 running back, a seasoned 6-year pro, and finished the 2025 regular season as a streaming-viable fantasy option at his position. He averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game across 17 appearances, which ranks him 21st among running backs in our 2026 draft board. That per-game number is the starting point for every start or sit decision you make with him in 2026.
Rico Dowdle finished 2025 with 1,076 rushing yards and 6 ground scores. He added 39 catches for 297 receiving yards, a meaningful passing-game role that lifts his PPR floor without making him a pure receiving back.
Rico Dowdle profiles as a traditional early-down workhorse. When his team is ahead or in a favorable script, his volume is elite. When the game turns into a passing contest, his ceiling drops. Target him in spots where Vegas implies a positive script and his team is favored.
Heading into 2026, Rico Dowdle projects as a core piece of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. Managers drafting him need to plan around his Week 9 bye and monitor training camp reports for role changes. DraftCall's AI comparison engine lets you pit him against any other NFL player in seconds, factoring in matchup quality, recent form, and scoring format, so you can make start or sit calls with real reasoning instead of gut feel.
