The Pittsburgh Steelers shook up their backfield over the offseason, bringing in Rico Dowdle from the Carolina Panthers while pass-catching phenom Kenny Gainwell departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Jaylen Warren is the known commodity, yet the carry distribution between him and Dowdle remains a big question for fantasy football managers.
Both Warren and Dowdle are key late-round targets for those who went wide receiver early, and here's how to pick between them.
Warren has been durable and efficient over his first four seasons. This past year was Warren's first as a starter, and he responded with 1,291 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. He's not the flashiest runner, but he's got quality vision and a compact 5-foot-8, 215-pound frame that allows him to effectively navigate through tight rushing lanes. Warren is also a trusted pass-catcher and pass-protector for Aaron Rodgers, meaning he may get a lot of the third-down snaps Gainwell handled a season ago.
A former Dallas Cowboys backup, Dowdle got a chance to start for the Panthers last year following Chuba Hubbard's injury and absolutely exploded. Dowdle rushed for a combined 389 yards in Weeks 5 and 6, with his power giving the Panthers a rugged offensive identity. His role diminished once Hubbard returned and it became a timeshare between the two, but Dowdle still managed to tally 1,373 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.
It depends on the format, but Dowdle has the slight edge overall. Yes, Warren has the pass-catching work and an established connection with Rodgers. But he just doesn't pass the eye test like Dowdle, who was bowling over defenders with ease last season. Dowdle's role may be somewhat touchdown-dependent, but his size should get him ample goal-line touches, and his physicality could make him Pittsburgh's preferred early-down back with time.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Rico Dowdle or Jaylen Warren in fantasy football: Which Steelers RB is better pick?
