The Pittsburgh Steelers running back duo is ready to take the league my storm.
The Pittsburgh Steelers formed a new running back duo with Jaylen Warren and free agent Rico Dowdle this offseason. But where exactly do the two rank amongst the rest of the league?
Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated believes Dowdle and Warren are the second-best running back duo behind only Los Angeles Rams Kyren Williams and Blake Corum .
"This offseason, the Steelers lost Kenneth Gainwell in free agency but gained Dowdle, who is coming off a 1,000-yard season in his only year with the Panthers . Dowdle rushed for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns on 4.6 yards per carry, helping the Panthers to a stunning NFC South title," Verderame wrote . "The newcomer will join Warren, who has quietly been one of the most underrated backs in the league for some time. Originally behind 2021 first-round pick Najee Harris , Warren became the featured back last season, gaining 958 yards with six scores on 4.5 YPC while catching 40 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns."
Dowdle is bringing a different type of running style than what the Steelers had with Warren and Gainwell a year ago. He has an old-school mentality and wants to impose his will on defenders.
"Since I was little, I always took pride in that. When you were little, you saw people get truck sticked," Dowdle said. "That's always something I wanted to take pride in."
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025. –Bob Donnan / Imagn ImagesCredit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Dowdle did have a bit of a slow start to his NFL career, but he has been living up to those words as of late, coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Meanwhile, Warren is also coming off a career high 958 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
Only time will tell how exactly the Steelers will decide to deploy the duo, but they could certainly surprise a lot of teams in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Running Back Duo Ranked Among NFL's Best
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