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Cowboys to proceed with Rico Dowdle as lead RB

Thu Nov 14 3:30pm ET
Field Level Media

Looking for an infusion of energy, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday the team will move forward with Rico Dowdle as the lead running back over Ezekiel Elliott.

The public declaration of moving on from the running-back-by-committee setup confirmed what already was evident, with Dowdle making seven starts this season to two for Elliott. The former undrafted free agent out of South Carolina also leads the team in carries (83) and yards rushing (374).

"Definitely, you have to get him the ball," McCarthy told reporters about Dowdle. "That's my focus to continue to get him opportunities. He's the lead back."

Without a rushing touchdown this season, Dowdle does have three receiving TDs on 24 catches for 166 yards.

It has been a rough season for the Cowboys, who are just 3-6 and on a four-game losing streak after Sunday's 34-6 domination by the Philadelphia Eagles. Dowdle's 53 yards rushing against the Eagles were more than the 45 yards passing from quarterback Cooper Rush on 23 attempts.

Dowdle, 26, is in his fourth NFL season, not counting 2021, which he missed with a hip injury. He was the third-string back in 2022 and was backup to Tony Pollard last season. Elliott, drafted by the Cowboys with the No. 4 overall pick in 2016, spent seven seasons with Dallas before signing a one-year free agent deal with the New England Patriots in 2023.

In his return to the Cowboys in 2024, the 29-year-old Elliott has just 171 yards on 54 carries with two touchdowns.

Dowdle has played in 44 career games since 2020 but did not make a start until this season. He has gained 759 yards rushing with two touchdowns on 179 carries and also has 41 career receptions for 310 yards and five TDs.

The Cowboys host the Houston Texans (6-4) on Monday.

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Player Notes
Nico Collins Nov 14 3:00pm ET
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is practicing on Thursday ahead of the Monday Night Football matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. Collins, who led the NFL in receiving yards before picking up a hamstring injury in Week 5, was activated off of Injured Reserve last week but did not face the Detroit Lions in Week 10. Fantasy managers itching to get Collins back in their starting lineups will need to monitor his practice status on Friday and Saturday, and hopefully, the team will remove him from the injury report or rule him out so his status is not up in the air for the last game of the Week 11 slate. If Collins plays, he is a must-start option against a Dallas defense that has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points per game to WRs this year. His upside is worth the risk of his injury holding him back.

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Tee Higgins Nov 14 2:50pm ET
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (quad) was seen at Thursday's practice in uniform after logging a limited session on Wednesday. The 2020 second-round pick has missed each of the last three games after suffering a quad injury in practice, but his return to action brings optimism for his potential availability in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Before suffering the injury, Higgins posted at least 11.2 half-PPR fantasy points in his last three games. He has averaged nine targets per game in six contests this year, so fantasy managers are surely itching to get him back in lineups. It's too early to tell if he will play on Sunday Night Football, so fantasy managers should monitor his practice status on Friday before making any start-or-sit decisions.

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Tank Bigsby Nov 14 2:40pm ET
Tank Bigsby

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (ankle) is not practicing on Thursday due to an ankle injury. The second-year ball carrier out of Auburn did not practice on Wednesday either, so he could be trending toward missing Sunday's contest against the Detroit Lions. Bigsby had two weeks of at least 23 half-PPR fantasy points in October, but he is trending down over the last few games. If he doesn't play in Week 11, Travis Etienne Jr. should see a ton of touches, but with Mac Jones at the helm and Detroit having a top defense against the run, his upside would be limited. That said, he could see additional receiving work and command enough volume to contend for an RB2 finish on Sunday.

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Kyle Van Noy Nov 14 2:30pm ET
Kyle Van Noy

Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) and linebacker Kyle Van Noy (illness) returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session with an ankle injury and illness, respectively. Hamilton suffered a sprained ankle in the Week 10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, but his return to practice is promising for his potential availability against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. The 2022 first-round pick out of Notre Dame has tallied 71 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and seven passes defended this season. He is the No. 4 defensive back in fantasy points this year. Van Noy has seven sacks this season and is on pace to record a career-high in sacks in his second year in Baltimore. With a key AFC North game on Sunday, expect both defenders to push to play.

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Justin Herbert Nov 14 2:20pm ET
Justin Herbert

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (neck) is not at practice on Thursday after logging a limited session on Wednesday. The 2023 first-team All-Pro is dealing with a neck injury that could affect his Week 11 availability for Sunday night's contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. However, his Friday practice status and game designation will tell us whether he's at real risk of being inactive. The 29-year-old has 11 sacks in 10 games this season after logging 17.5 sacks in 2023. Needless to say, he's a critical piece of the Bengals' struggling defense, and his absence against Justin Herbert's ascending offense would be significant.

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Anthony Richardson Nov 14 2:13pm ET
Anthony Richardson

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MarShawn Lloyd Nov 14 2:10pm ET
MarShawn Lloyd

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring/ankle) is practicing for a second straight day since being designated to return from the Injured Reserve list. The rookie out of USC was placed on IR with a hamstring injury after Week 2 and is now also listed with an ankle ailment. It is to be determined if Lloyd will be activated to play in Week 11 against the Chicago Bears, but his return to practice is promising. The team's third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft could compete for the RB2 role behind Josh Jacobs when he's back in action, but it would be surprising if he's on the fantasy football radar unless Jacobs gets banged up. His rookie season has not gone to plan, but he could at least enter next season as the top handcuff for Jacobs in a great offense.

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Dalton Kincaid Nov 14 1:40pm ET
Dalton Kincaid

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) was not present at practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week after injuring his knee in the Week 10 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Kincaid is probably going to have to put in some work in Friday's practice to even have a shot at suiting up this Sunday when the Bills take on the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Fantasy managers should already be preparing a backup plan in case the 25-year-old is ruled out this weekend. In that scenario, Dawson Knox would be on the TE1 radar, especially if receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) misses his third straight game. Rookie wideout Keon Coleman (wrist) has already been ruled out. Fantasy managers were expecting more from Kincaid in his sophomore campaign, as he's currently averaging 6.5 half-PPR points per game, which ranks 22nd among all TEs.

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Sam LaPorta Nov 14 1:30pm ET
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) was the team's only player that did not take part in practice on Thursday. LaPorta suffered a sprained AC joint in his shoulder in the team's Week 10 win over the Houston Texans and is in danger of missing this Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after missing practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. The 23-year-old second-year tight end will need to get onto the practice field on Friday to give himself a shot to suit up in Week 11. If he is unable to do so, expect Brock Wright to see an increased role on offense for Detroit, putting him in play as a TE2 sleeper in a game the Lions are favored by two touchdowns. It's been a disappointing sophomore year for LaPorta fantasy-wise after he finished as the TE1 in 2023 -- he's currently the TE11 in half-PPR scoring -- but he did find the end zone for the third time in Week 10.

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Davante Adams Nov 14 1:30pm ET
Davante Adams

There was no sign of New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (illness, wrist) during the early portion of practice open to the media on Thursday. Adams has been under the weather this week but is also dealing with a wrist injury and did not practice with the rest of the team on Wednesday. The 31-year-old veteran's status is now in question heading into a Week 11 tilt against the visiting Indianapolis Colts this Sunday. If he is unable to return to practice on Friday and play against Indy, Garrett Wilson, who leads the NFL with 100 targets, would receive extra attention from the Colts' defense with Xavier Gipson and rookie Malachi Corley starting in three-receiver sets. In his four starts with New York since being acquired from the Raiders, Adams has 20 catches, 206 yards and one touchdown. When active, he's a must-start for fantasy managers despite more frustrations from the Jets.

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Tyreek Hill Nov 14 1:20pm ET
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receivers coach Wes Welker said that wideout Tyreek Hill's performance is not being affected by his wrist injury. Hill and Jaylen Waddle "are starting to realize how perfect we have to be" to work their way open with the way opposing teams are defending them and jamming them at the line of scrimmage. The Cheetah recently acknowledged that he's playing through a torn ligament in his wrist, but apparently it's not negatively affecting him on game days. The 30-year-old scored his first touchdown in Monday night's win over the Los Angeles Rams since the season opener, but he also had just three catches for 16 yards. In the two previous games since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned, Hill's production improved (10 catches for 152 yards). Hill's numbers most certainly are down in 2024, but he remains a must-start in fantasy with Tagovailoa back.

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Aaron Rodgers Nov 14 1:13pm ET
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Dynasty | Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is likely to play next season. Dynasty Analysis: Rodgers indicated as much this week and while he's one of the most unpredictable players (and maybe people) out there, it makes sense. In short, it's hard to see Rodgers accepting this season as his last after the Jets have failed to reach any of their expectations, fired their coach, and dealt with massive turmoil. At this point, Rodgers is a QB2 or bench player unless things really turn around and his dynasty value is going to continue to fall.

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Sam Darnold Nov 14 1:13pm ET
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Dynasty | Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy had a second surgery to repair damage in his knee. Dynasty Analysis: While this may sound terrible, it really isn't that concerning as it won't affect his timeline much. The bigger concern for McCarthy managers is the fact Sam Darnold has played really well this season, making McCarthy more of a luxury at the moment. Regardless, he should get his chance to start next season on time unless Darnold really sets the league on fire here over the second half of the season and forces Minnesota to change course. His dynasty value is stable.

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Rico Dowdle Nov 14 1:10pm ET
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy gave running back Rico Dowdle a ringing endorsement on Thursday, saying, "He's the lead back. Rico needs to touch the ball." Fellow backfield mate Ezekiel Elliott returned from a one-game absence for disciplinary reasons in the Week 10 blowout loss to the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, with Dowdle seeing 12 carries for 53 yards and catching all three of his targets for three yards. The 26-year-old likely would have had a much better day had the Cowboys not fallen behind by a significant margin on the scoreboard. Zeke had six carries for 22 yards and lost a fumble. Dowdle played 52% of the offensive snaps compared to Elliott's 22%. Dowdle will continue to be Dallas' lead RB, but with quarterback Dak Prescott (shoulder) now done for the year, it makes Dowdle a lower-upside RB3/flex for fantasy managers.

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Michael Pittman Jr. Nov 14 1:00pm ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was back on the practice field for the second straight day on Thursday. Pittman has been dealing with a back injury for a while now and missed the Week 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. However, he was listed as a full practice participant on Wednesday, signaling that he could return this Sunday to face the New York Jets, as long as he doesn't suffer a setback. It's good news for the Colts, but fantasy managers will justifiably have some reservations about starting the 27-year-old wideout this weekend, especially with struggling second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson getting his starting job back against a formidable defense. Pittman is Indy's WR1 when healthy, but it's led to only a 30-366-2 line through nine games in 2024. If he's active against the Jets, Pittman should be viewed as more of a touchdown-dependent WR3/flex.

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Dameon Pierce Nov 14 12:40pm ET
Dameon Pierce

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (groin), who has missed the team's last two games due to a groin ailment, is close to returning to action, according to a league source. Pierce has only 14 rushing attempts on the year in four games played, but he's gone for 98 yards (career-high 7.0 yards per tote) and a touchdown and is averaging 40 yards per kickoff return. It remains to be seen if the 24-year-old will be able to do enough in practice this week to have a shot at playing on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys, but even if he does return in Week 11, he'll most likely be eased in and will work behind workhorse Joe Mixon. Dare Ogunbowale has been serving as Houston's RB2 behind Mixon with Pierce sidelined. At best, Pierce is a handcuff option for fantasy managers that have Mixon in their starting lineups on a weekly basis.

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Caleb Williams Nov 14 12:10pm ET
Caleb Williams

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus reiterated on Thursday that rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will start on Sunday against the division-rival Green Bay Packers in Week 11. Since their bye in Week 7, the Bears have lost three straight games and have not scored a touchdown in the last two games. Williams, the first overall pick back in April, has looked pretty terrible since the bye, completing 50.5% of his pass attempts and taking a whopping 18 sacks. The Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron earlier this week, but they will move forward with Williams as their starter under center -- the alternative is backup Tyson Bagent. The 22-year-old Williams can't be much worse in Week 11 against the Packers as he's been the last three weeks, but fantasy managers in superflex leagues shouldn't be expecting a whole lot as a low-end QB2 in fantasy.

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Lamar Jackson Nov 14 12:10pm ET
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is 1-3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens' Week 11 opponent, and 17-5 against the other AFC North teams. The Steelers are the only team against which Jackson has thrown more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (four). Pittsburgh has won seven of its last eight meetings against the Ravens. Despite the poor showings against the division rival, Jackson is leading a Ravens offense that ranks first in total yards (440.2) and points (31.8), making him the front-runner to win the MVP award for the second straight year. He has thrown 22 touchdowns and one interception in his last eight games. The 27-year-old is relying more on his arm than his legs and leads all QBs in fantasy points. However, he could be in for another subpar day (by his standards) this Sunday, as Pittsburgh has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs in 2024.

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Jonathan Mingo Nov 14 10:00am ET
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New Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jonathan Mingo will make his team debut on Monday against Houston, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports. The former second-round pick lasted fewer than two years with the Carolina Panthers, who shipped him and a seventh-round pick to Dallas for a fourth-rounder at the trade deadline. Mingo had 12 catches on 26 targets in nine games with the Panthers this year, keeping him well off the fantasy radar. Even with the change of scenery, it's difficult to envision Mingo making much of an impact on a Cowboys offense playing without quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) for the rest of the season.

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Aaron Rodgers Nov 14 9:40am ET
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who will turn 41 years old next month, told reporters that he is leaning toward returning for the 2025 season. The veteran quarterback is under contract for another year with the Jets, which would be his 21st season in the NFL. Asked if he still wants to play next season, Rodgers said, "I think so, yeah." New York is 3-7 through 10 games and earlier this season fired head coach Robert Saleh. Once a fantasy lineup stalwart, the former MVP has mostly been relegated to a QB2 option in Superflex leagues during his Jets tenure.

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