Rico Dowdle

Dowdle was notably down on how little he was used in the regular season finale and in the playoffs, where he rushed a combined 12 times for 19 yards, and said that would be a "factor" in his free agency. Dowdle's fantasy stock could take a big upturn if he wound up being the obvious lead back on a new team this offseason. The Chiefs, Saints and Texans come to mind as (our speculation) possibilities. Chuba Hubbard's stock would similarly rebound if Dowdle took off to greener pastures.

Brooks missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL for the second time in 2024. He's still entering his age-23 season and the third year of his rookie contract, so we can't rule out that he'll see a real role with the Panthers in 2026. How the Panthers treat Rico Dowdle (or a replacement for Dowdle) in free agency will likely tell us a lot about how they view Brooks' recovery, but Panthers GM Dan Morgan did praise how he was attacking his rehab and said he's "looking great."

After spending his first five NFL seasons in Dallas, where he eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in 2024, running back Rico Dowdle left for Carolina last March. Dowdle’s one-year pact with the Panthers included a $2.75MM base salary and a max value of $6.25MM. The deal worked out well for both […]

The Panthers are feeling excited about what they can do in 2026 after returning to the playoffs this season, but running back Rico Dowdle may not be back for another year in Charlotte.

Panthers running back Rico Dowdle said Sunday that his decreased carries late in the season will impact his decision on whether to return to the reigning NFC South champions.