Contract Terms
Rico Dowdle is re-signing with the Dallas Cowboys, his agency tweeted out Monday afternoon. It is a one-year deal, the team announced.
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Fantasy Football Impact
As the team's official website framed it, "One of the thinnest positions on the team got some relief on Monday as the Cowboys are bringing back Dowdle."
The Cowboys recently lost Tony Pollard to the Titans in free agency, so before Dowdle's re-signing, the team's running back stable was led by Deuce Vaughn, who was followed by Malik Davis and Snoop Conner.
In the DallasCowboys.com article announcing the news, Patrik Walker and Nick Eatman advised readers that it felt like the Cowboys had learned the benefit of having a dynamic tandem at running back, as in splitting reps between their top two talents at the position. Still, any lesson learned there didn't translate well in 2023. It was mostly Pollard's show, and Dowdle, though very productive, was limited in his reps.
Dowdle still had career highs in attempts (89), rushing yards (361), total yards (505), and touchdowns (four).
Still, Dowdle is coming off the most productive of his four NFL years (which includes missing all of 2021 with an injury). In 2023, Dowdle rushed for 361 yards on 89 carries (4.1 yards per carry) and scored a pair of touchdowns. He added two more scores and 144 yards on 17 receptions.
The Cowboys won't likely be content with Dowdle, although he reportedly enters this offseason carrying a chip on his shoulder, taking on a bell cow role. For now, his return likely slots him as Dallas' RB1. It's safe to assume Dowdle's RB96 spot on our initial Footballguys 2024 Draft Rankings reflects the belief that Dallas isn't done at the position.
How that plays out will determine how high Dowdle's ranking rises.
The Fantasy Football Fallout
Again, as Walker contends, the fact Dowdle only got a one-year deal suggests the Cowboys could and should still be in the market for another veteran back. When asked how the organization will handle the position in 2024, executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones hinted at a two-fold approach -- including the 2024 NFL Draft.
"We're looking at the draft, too," Jones told Walker. "We don't have an established [running back] in the organization right now. It's something we'll be looking at -- in terms of getting young there again. But I wouldn't be surprised if we also address it [in free agency]."
Dowdle, Vaughn, Davis, Conner, and fullback Hunter Luepke average just 24 years of age. They combine for zero NFL starts and only seven NFL touchdowns.
"In this day in time, everybody's got complementary backs in this league," Jones acknowledged. "This has become the norm. I see us not just fixing it with one player at the running back position, but with more than one player."
Until we get that resolution, it's status quo for all the remaining pieces.
Stock Watch
Risers
Fallers
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Overview
Rico Dowdle agreed to terms on a 1-year deal to remain with the Dallas Cowboys, which immediately made him the most experienced back on the roster for now. The Cowboys recently lost Tony Pollard to the Titans in free agency, leaving Dowdle at the top of a depth chart that includes Deuce Vaughn, Snoop Conner, Malik Davis, and fullback Hunter Luepke. Dowdle is coming off the best season of his career, but last season's role was still limited enough to keep him from gaining fantasy traction. Whether that happens this year will be determined by the team's moves in the coming weeks, whether in free agency or in April's draft.