Dowdle
RB · PIT vs CLE
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points8.3pts
Barkley
RB · PHI @ WAS
Kickoff Sun 8:20 PM ETLatest report: DNP · Hamstring
Projected points6.0ptsUsage estimate
13.2 if he plays · 46% to play
Toss-up
Bench
Rico Dowdle or Saquon Barkley: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Rico Dowdle gets the nod over Saquon Barkley.
- Ahead by
- +2.3pts
- over Barkley
- Confidence
- Lower
- Saquon Barkley may not play (about 46% to play)
Barkley's number is our own estimate because his prop lines aren't posted yet, so this call is less sure than the gap looks.
Flips if
An injury tag on Rico Dowdle or a bigger role for Saquon Barkley.
Risk
Rico Dowdle has played 2 games since missing time. Saquon Barkley missed practice (hamstring): check the inactives, posted about 90 minutes before kickoff. Saquon Barkley has played 1 game since missing time, so his recent numbers lean on his 2025 games. As of Fri 2:00 PM ET
Highlights
DowdleToss-upRB · PIT vs CLEProjected8.3pts
Helps him
- −3.5spreadEdgeHis team is expected to lead, which tends to mean more carries late.
Hurts him
- 23%touchesHe handles only 23% of his team’s touches, so the work is shared.
- CLEvs RBsEdgeCLE is the 6th toughest defense for running backs.
BarkleyFirst outRB · PHI @ WASUsually 12.5−6.5pts this week
Helps him
- +5.8ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran above this year’s pace.
- +5.0ptsroleWith Pierce out, his expected role grows this week.
Hurts him
- −9.5ptsinjuryHis questionable tag takes 9.5 points off his projection.
- −3.5ptsgames left hurtHis projection still counts the games he left hurt, which his usual week leaves out.
- −3.2ptsrecent workHis work has dropped off in his last few games.
- −0.7ptspaceFew players at his position keep up numbers like his, so we expect a little less.
Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.
Stat comparison
Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.
Stat
Scoring
ProjectionDowdle: 8.3 (best)Barkley: 6.0
TD pointsof the projectionDowdle: 1.7Barkley: Our estimate
Expected TDsthis weekDowdle: 0.29Barkley: Our estimate
Projected team pointsDowdle: 21.5 (best)Barkley: 17.0
Goal line carriesper gameDowdle: 0.0Barkley: 0.4 (best)
Red zone carriesper gameDowdle: 1.3Barkley: 1.6 (best)
Red zone targetsper gameDowdle: 0.3 (best)Barkley: 0.0
Role
Snap shareDowdle: 39% (best)Barkley: 36%
Usage worthptsDowdle: 10.1 (best)Barkley: 7.6
Touch shareDowdle: 23% (best)Barkley: 22%
Target shareDowdle: 12% (best)Barkley: 7%
Touches / gameDowdle: 11.0 (best)Barkley: 9.8
Targets / gameDowdle: 4.3 (best)Barkley: 1.8
Vacated touches this weekDowdle: 0.0Barkley: 29.6 (best)
High value touches / gameDowdle: 3.5 (best)Barkley: 2.0
Goal line carry shareDowdle: 0%Barkley: 29% (best)
Red zone touches / gameDowdle: 1.5Barkley: 1.6 (best)
Rush success rateDowdle: 26%Barkley: 42% (best)
Breakaway rate (20+ yd runs)Dowdle: 0%Barkley: 4.7% (best)
Usage worth vs scoredDowdle: Earned by usage 10.1Scored 8.3Barkley: Earned by usage 7.6Scored 7.6
Rush yards / gameDowdle: 29.5Barkley: 48.8 (best)
Points from rushingDowdle: 36%Barkley: 80%
WOPRDowdle: 0.18 (best)Barkley: 0.09
RZ target shareDowdle: 7% (best)Barkley: 0%
Inside 10 target shareDowdle: 11% (best)Barkley: 0%
Catch rateDowdle: 76% (best)Barkley: 67%
Rushing points / gameDowdle: 3.0 pts / gameBarkley: 6.1 pts / game (best)
Rushing floorDowdle: 3.0 pts / gameBarkley: 3.3 pts / game (best)
Range
FloorDowdle: 5.4 (best)Barkley: 0.0
CeilingDowdle: 12.5 (best)Barkley: 8.8
Points from TDssteadier when lowerDowdle: 0%Barkley: 16%
Big weeks (20+ pts)Dowdle: 0%Barkley: 10% (best)
Dud weeks (under 8 pts)lower is betterDowdle: 75%Barkley: 14% (best)
SteadinessDowdle: Steady±4.5 pts · 4 gamesBarkley: Steady (best)±6.7 pts
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his positionDowdle: D+2026, 7 gmBarkley: C (best)2026, 6 gm
Game scriptDowdle: Expected to lead (best)Barkley: Expected to trail
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterDowdle: 1.3Barkley: 1.3
Defense funnelDowdle: NeutralBarkley: Neutral
Opp rush yds allowedDowdle: 20th (average) (best)Barkley: 14th (average)
Backfield roleDowdle: BackupBarkley: Lead
Opp defender outDowdle: None listedBarkley: Kinlaw (DT)
Roof / surfacegrassDowdle: OpenBarkley: Open
Rest / scheduleDowdle: NormalBarkley: Normal
Opp paceDowdle: 22nd (slow)Barkley: 12th (average) (best)
Opp stuff rateDowdle: 23%2nd (tough)Barkley: 18% (best)17th (average)
Opp yards per carry allowedDowdle: 4.6 (best)28th (soft)Barkley: 3.88th (tough)
Opp pass yds allowedDowdle: 8th (tough)Barkley: 28th (soft) (best)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameDowdle: 0.01st (tough)Barkley: 0.2 (best)31st (soft)
Opp catch rate allowedDowdle: 77% (best)14th (average)Barkley: 73%10th (tough)
Starting QBDowdle: Rodgers (Active)Barkley: McKee (Active)
Form
Last 3 avgDowdle: 9.6 (best)Barkley: 8.7
Last 5 avgDowdle: 8.3 (best)Barkley: 7.6
vs seasonDowdle: +1.4 (best)Barkley: +1.1 (Rising)
Yards per carryDowdle: 3.8Barkley: 5.7 (best)
Carries / gameDowdle: 7.8Barkley: 8.6 (best)
Yards per route runDowdle: 1.64 (best)Barkley: 0.65
Receiving aDOTDowdle: −0.6Barkley: −0.6
Games since injuryDowdle: 2Barkley: 1
Crowd
Started in leaguesDowdle: Not widely startedBarkley: 65%
Nuvela position ranklower is betterDowdle: RB29 (best)Barkley: RB38
Yards linerushingDowdle: 27.5Barkley: Our estimate
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.