Panthers Add Rico Dowdle

By Matt Schauf | Updated on Wed, Mar 12 2025 11:53 PM UTC

The Panthers have agreed to a one-year contract with former Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle. That move comes shortly after the team dumped Miles Sanders.

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

Dowdle seemed to deliver a breakout season in 2024, with 1,079 rushing yards and an RB23 PPR finish despite opening the year splitting work with Ezekiel Elliott.

That he had to settle for a one-year pact with a team that has already committed to Chuba Hubbard, though -- and didn't get a new contract from Dallas -- says that he fell short of impressing.

Dowdle's role in Carolina is capped at No. 2. The Panthers are paying Hubbard $8.3 million a year on a four-year extension he signed in November.

Second-year RB Jonathon Brooks re-tore his right ACL in Week 14, though, and isn't a great bet to see the field much in 2025.

So there's handcuff upside to Dowdle ... as long as Carolina doesn't draft anyone better.

Dynasty Impact

Treat Dowdle as no more than a handcuff for dynasty purposes. He'll turn 27 in June and doesn't look like a good candidate for a multi-year deal at any point.

Other Winners & Losers

Hubbard's at least a minor winner. Carolina could have added a stronger No. 2 given Brooks' issues. Barring a high-upside RB in the draft, this is a positive move.

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.