Dallas Cowboys' running back Rico Dowdle has experienced a remarkable turnaround in the second half of the season. In the first six weeks, Dowdle recorded two total touchdowns, averaged 4.0 yards per carry and didn't have a single play surpassing 20 yards.
However, Dowdle's performance significantly improved from Weeks 7-14. He maintained the same number of touchdowns, but his YPC spiked to 5.3 and he recorded three plays that gained more than 20 yards.
Dowdle had never rushed for over 100 yards in his career until this season. He has now eclipsed that mark in three straight games. In last Sunday's win in Carolina, Dowdle delivered an outstanding performance to the tune of 149 rushing yards.
Wha propelled Dowdle into the spotlight was the Cowboys' decision to reduce Ezekiel Elliott's role. It's expected that Elliott will remain a non-factor for the next three games, which almost guarantees that Dowdle will continue to shine. This impressive mid-season stretch has been beneficial for Dowdle, as it demonstrates his capabilities to the team and the rest of the league for his career going forward.
For the Cowboys, though, it makes things somewhat tricky.
How Rico Dowdle's recent surge could sway the Cowboys' 2025 NFL Draft decisions
Dowdle's future with the Cowboys may largely depend on the 2025 NFL Draft. After not prioritizing the running back position in last year's draft and missing opportunities in free agency, the Cowboys found themselves in a challenging situation. With a strong RB class expected this year, Dallas have important considerations to make when it comes to Dowdle.
Remember when Jerry Jones mentioned going all in before the season? That statement didn't age well, especially considering the Cowboys has had a nearly disastrous season. Despite facing an unprecedented number of injuries, the team still struggled to avoid self-inflicted setbacks
With what Dowdle is doing, Dallas could do just what you would expect and ignore the 2025 running back pool and instead invest fully toward Dowdle.
If this were any other year, holding onto Dowdle might not seem like a bad idea, but 2025 is different. The depth of running backs in the draft this year is too significant to overlook.
Currently, the Cowboys are projected to have a mid-first-round pick, and there's hope that Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty will still be available for them to select. As the Cowboys continue to "fight" this season regardless of the state of the team, though, they are reducing their chances of staying within range to draft Jeanty. However, knowing the Cowboys organization, they might not even consider taking a chance on Jeanty (or anyone else) after seeing Dowdle's "improvement". Doing this could have a long-term negative impact.
Jeanty, along with Omarion Hampton from North Carolina, Dylan Simpson from Tennessee, and Cam Skattebo from Arizona State, forms a strong group of running backs that can be considered one of the best RB classes in the last five drafts. This should be enough for Dallas to recognize Dowdle's contributions, but they still need to consider the direction of the team. Many franchises would not overthink this situation, but the Jones family-led Cowboys tend to approach things differently.
Chances are, Dowdle could be a part of the Jones 2025 plan, forcing them to strike out in the upcoming running back sweepstakes.