Jaylen Warren vs. Rico Dowdle: Which Steelers RB Should You Actually Draft?

If you're drafting Jaylen Warren expecting Pittsburgh to give him the entire backfield, I think you're making a mistake.

The Steelers are basically telling us otherwise.

Mike McCarthy wants two backs.

And both Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle have shown they can handle real NFL volume.

Pittsburgh Is Telling Us It's a Split

Warren is listed first on the depth chart.

That matters a little.

But the coaches have repeatedly emphasized that both players are going to play.

Running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung Sr. said McCarthy wants two fresh backs at all times.

Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio has also said:

both are going to play

and

both are capable of carrying the load.

That's not the language of a coaching staff planning to give Warren 80% of the backfield.

Both Backs Have a Case

Warren finally got his biggest workload last season:

• 211 carries • 958 rushing yards • 6 rushing touchdowns • 40 receptions • 333 receiving yards • 2 receiving touchdowns

That's 251 touches and 1,291 yards from scrimmage.

Very solid.

But Dowdle isn't some replacement-level backup.

Last year in Carolina:

• 236 carries • 1,076 rushing yards • 6 rushing touchdowns • 39 receptions • 297 receiving yards • 1 receiving touchdown

That's 275 touches and 1,373 scrimmage yards.

And it was his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season.

So I understand why Pittsburgh wants both.

Why I Still Prefer Warren

Full PPR is the deciding factor for me.

Both backs can catch passes, but Warren has consistently shown that part of his game throughout his Steelers career.

He had:

61 catches in 2023

and still caught:

40 passes last season.

I think that gives Warren slightly more ways to score fantasy points even when he isn't controlling the rushing volume.

He's also already familiar with Pittsburgh.

So if I'm choosing between them at essentially the same price:

I'm taking Warren.

But it's close.

Don't Pretend Dowdle Isn't a Threat

This isn't one of those situations where I draft Warren and assume the other guy eventually disappears.

Dowdle just put together consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

The coaching staff specifically signed him and is talking about keeping both backs fresh.

He's going to play.

That puts a ceiling on Warren unless one player separates dramatically once the season begins.

My Fantasy Read

Jaylen Warren: slight preference

Rico Dowdle: good value if he falls past Warren

I'm willing to take Warren around the Round 9-10 area in a 10-team full-PPR draft.

If somebody pushes Warren up aggressively because he's technically listed RB1, I'll happily wait and take Dowdle cheaper.

This isn't:

starter vs. backup.

It's:

which half of a potentially valuable committee do I want at the price?

For full PPR, my answer is Warren.

But the gap is small.