Given the level at which this Dallas Cowboys offense is operating, getting a piece of the production is wise. Rico Dowdle has scored three times during this five-game win streak and has impressed when given the opportunity alongside Tony Pollard.
Should fantasy football managers be moving mountains to add him as they prepare for the postseason? What should their expectations be if they add Dowdle’s services to their roster?
Should Rico Dowdle Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 15?
The short answer is yes — at all costs. In leagues with a FAAB system, there’s no reason not to spend every remaining dollar on this fourth-year pro. At this point in the season, it is difficult to find a player on the waiver wire who can truly add more than just depth to your roster, so when you have that potential, you need to be aggressive.
There are two names on that list for me this week, the final week of the fantasy football regular season in most leagues:
- Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens
- Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas Cowboys
I think it’s unlikely that Dowdle takes the lead role away from Pollard, but does he need to? This offense is functioning at such a high level that it has the potential to land a pair of running backs in the top 30 at the position if the touch count is close.
At the bare minimum, you’ve given yourself another Flex option to consider during these must-win weeks, and you can never have too many viable options at your disposal. But what if Pollard gets dinged up?
The Cowboys have their eyes set on big things this postseason and will want their starting offense intact, making a cautious approach the likely plan should Pollard, who has already set a career-high for touches in a season, experience any sort of pain.
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If that were to happen, you’d have a top 15 running back in our PFN Consensus Rankings on your hands, and that might be undershooting it. When it comes to the rest-of-season outlook, this Cowboys’ run game is going to increase in value.
- Week 15 at BUF
- Week 16 at MIA
- Week 17 vs. DET
As good as the Cowboys defense is, all of those matchups are against an offense with high-end potential that Dallas would be best served trying to keep off the field. A balanced offensive attack is the best way to do that, and given the level at which Dak Prescott is playing, defenses won’t be able to sell out for the run.
No team averages more red-zone trips per game than America’s Team, thus putting Dowdle in a spot to get valuable touches, even if playing behind Pollard. We saw him cash in a goal-to-go touchdown against the Eagles on Sunday night, and that was with Pollard running well.
To be clear, it is possible that you never plug in Dowdle — that doesn’t mean it was a waste of FAAB or waiver priority. When working the wire, your goal is to give yourself as many avenues to meaningful production as possible. Dowdle checks that box, given that he has the opportunity to be flexed in his current role and is only one injury away from being a lineup lock with your fantasy championship on the line.
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