Throughout the playoffs, Sam Wallace, Mark Drumheller, and Jonathan Fuller will be highlighting the biggest NFL free agents heading into the 2025 offseason. We'll be breaking down the best and worst landing spots as well as projecting where key players will eventually sign.

Today's subject? 2024 Dallas Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle.

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Best Landing Spots For Rico Dowdle in 2025 NFL Free Agency

Jonathan Fuller: The 2024 season was something of a renaissance for veteran RBs as they mostly stayed healthy and were very productive. Dowdle isn't anywhere near the tier of Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley, who are the faces of the RB revival, but he had a strong showing in his age 26 season that should help him land a multi-year deal this offseason. 

Dowdle proved capable of handling a large workload (274 touches) and staying healthy (played in 16 games). His 4.6 YPC was also good enough to be tied for 14th among RBs with at least 75 carries. That resume should draw interest from a number of teams in free agency.

The most likely outcome is that Dowdle signs to be part of a committee. Staying in Dallas wouldn't be a bad option, but I expect the Cowboys to invest heavily in the RB position this offseason through the draft or free agency, so I'm looking elsewhere for the ideal landing spot. 

The two committee situations that would be legitimately exciting in my mind would be the Cincinnati Bengals or Los Angeles Chargers. Both teams got good production from their starters (J.K. Dobbins and Chase Brown) but will want to lighten the load on those guys and improve their depth. Both are good offenses that should create plenty of scoring opportunities with the possibility of Dowdle stepping into a workhorse role if his committee counterpart misses time.

Mark Drumheller: Few things went right in Jerry’s World in 2024. In a year of disappointment, the emergence of Dowdle was a nice surprise for Dallas. Over the last seven games, the Cowboys’ bell cow averaged 96.7 yards per game on the ground, while eclipsing 100 yards in four of his last six. Dowdle ended up being a valuable asset for fantasy managers who stashed him for a playoff run. 

All that being said, Mike McCarthy is out and Deion Sanders has entered the chat. The recent turn of events makes returning to Big D less attractive. If running backs don’t matter, they REALLY don’t matter when the quarterback is the coach's son. We are a long way from that scenario becoming a reality, but a fresh start for Dowdle might be in order. 

I would love to see Dowdle in purple and yellow. I don’t see him commanding a clear starting role, so competing for carries in an ascending offense is his best-case scenario. Vikings running back Aaron Jones is going to be a coveted name in the running back market, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Minnesota look for cheaper alternatives. The Vikings will have both cap space and draft capital (assuming they trade Darnold) to get younger at the position. That’s where Dowdle may be able to squeeze himself into the picture. It might not be the most realistic landing spot, but it gives him the highest ceiling in 2025.

Sam Wallace: Dowdle joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent back in 2020. Up until this season, he had a grand total of 96 career rushing attempts. This year he tallied 235 rushing attempts for 1,079 yards (4.6 YPC) and two TDs. He also went 39-249-3 through the air on 49 targets.

Talk about a fifth-year breakout campaign. Dowdle finished 10th in rushing yards among RBs but came in as the RB21 in PPR due to his poor TD numbers.

Dowdle just wrapped up a one-year, $1.255 million contrade and did enough to earn a shot somewhere else. Still, he'll be 27 years old next season and has only the one good season to his name. His best chance is likely staying in Dallas on a team-friendly deal, even though the team will likely address the position further this offseason.

Worst Landing Spots For Rico Dowdle in 2025 NFL Free Agency

Jonathan Fuller: Until we know more about who will be coaching and quarterbacking the Raiders in 2025, it is tempting to say they are the worst landing spot for every player. But that's boring so I'll go in a different direction here. Following another season-ending injury for Nick Chubb and with Jerome Ford entering the final year of his deal, the Cleveland Browns seem likely to pursue a free agent RB this offseason. 

There is some upside to this Brown's offense with Deshaun Watson expected to miss all of 2025, but I will remain cautious until we see their solution at the QB position. If they end up with Kirk Cousins or another declining veteran, I could easily see them trying to be a run-first offense behind a duo of Ford and Dowdle. On paper, that could be an average offense, but the floor would be low and I don't believe either Ford or Dowdle is good enough to be a valuable fantasy asset in that type of committee situation.

Mark Drumheller: It would be sad to see Dowdle get stuck in a committee with a rebuilding team. If he can secure the bag to get a big role in Las Vegas, that’s one thing. But, if demand isn’t there and he ends up with a team like the Giants, we will all talk all year about what could have been. The last thing you want from a fantasy running back is for him to be out of contention in the latter stages of the season, and I don’t see any quick fixes in New York.  

I can also see him following his old coach to his new home. McCarthy has been linked to Chicago and New Orleans, but I don’t think either situation presents the opportunity where Dowdle can flourish as a fantasy asset. Dowdle has the talent to provide decent value in 2025, so hopefully he steers clear of any team that negatively impacts his ability to build on 2024.

Sam Wallace: The RB market is a strange one. On one hand, there are those in the "RBs don't matter" who have been right to an extent. However, this season proved to be different.

Three big-name, veteran RBs found new homes (Saquon Barkey, Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones) and all helped their teams make the playoffs. At the same time, the Giants and Raiders (who lost Barkley and Jacobs, respectively) did not make the playoffs.

Coincidence? That's hard to say, but I'm curious to see how teams address the position this offseason.

As for Dowdle, I can't imagine many suitors lining up to take on a late-bloomer, one-hit wonder and paying him decent money. That said, teams that have both the cap space and need at RB aren't likely looking at someone like Dowdle.

Where Will Rico Dowdle Play in 2025?

Jonathan Fuller: I don't have a good read on how strong the free agency market for Dowdle will be, so the smart money would bet on him returning to Dallas and serving as the No. 2 behind whomever they bring in this offseason. However, I think the Cincinnati Bengals are a viable option for Dowdle's services. Cincinnati has a lot of holes on defense and is still working to extend star WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. They can't afford to spend premium resources on the RB position. 

Dowdle makes perfect sense as a versatile back who can rotate with Chase Brown and give the Bengals quality depth as they attempt to return to the playoffs in 2025. Let's make it happen so Dowdle isn't just viewed as a one-year wonder.

Mark Drumheller: My bet is that Dowdle will be a Brown in 2025. 

Cleveland can’t count on Nick Chubb to carry the load, so expect them to tap into the draft and free agency to bolster their backfield. The Browns are clearly rebuilding. Former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson were both fired as soon as the season ended. Cleveland will certainly have a new face under center in 2025, and the offense as a whole is primed for a major facelift. 

Kevin Stefanski’s offense has always been appealing for running backs. Dowdle could earn the lion's share of the carries while grooming a rookie as a long-term replacement. This wouldn’t be the dream scenario of joining forces with Kevin O’Connell, but it does give him a viable opportunity with a proven offensive coach. Staill, that’s all Dowdle needs to keep the arrow pointing up in his fantasy trajectory. 

Sam Wallace: We have it on good authority that the Cowboys might take Ashton Jeanty in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft.

If that happens, say goodbye to any and all value that Dowdle would've had as the potential lead option in the backfield.

Even so, I think he'll test the market to see if anyone is willing to pay up, and once that doesn't happen, he'll be back on a team-friendly deal. He'll offer a nice change-of-pace option to Jeanty, and we know how important depth at the RB position is.

For all the latest NFL free agency news and fantasy analysis, subscribe to the Fantasy Life Newsletter to have it delivered directly to your inbox, for free, every day!”