Rico Dowdle, running back for the Dallas Cowboys, is expected to miss the upcoming Sunday night game against the San Francisco 49ers due to an illness. This absence opens up opportunities for other running backs on the team, including Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn, and newly signed Dalvin Cook, who was elevated from the practice squad. Dowdle's situation is compounded by the recent addition of Cook, which raises concerns about his role in the backfield moving forward.

In a recent game, Derrick Henry showcased his skills by rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Baltimore Ravens to a 28-25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys, who opted not to sign Henry during the offseason, struggled with their run defense, allowing 274 rushing yards in total. Dallas owner Jerry Jones expressed respect for Henry's performance but maintained that the team could not afford him. The Cowboys' defensive issues have been highlighted as they currently have the worst rushing defense statistics through three games in decades.

In a recent matchup, Derrick Henry showcased his prowess by rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Baltimore Ravens to a 28-25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys, who opted not to sign Henry during the offseason, struggled with their running game, combining for only 43 yards. The Cowboys' defense has been underperforming, allowing a staggering 557 rushing yards in just three games, prompting concerns from players and coaches about their execution and teamwork.

In a disappointing 44-19 loss to the Saints, Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle outperformed Ezekiel Elliott in both carries and targets. Dowdle recorded 30 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards, while Elliott struggled with only 16 rushing yards and 16 receiving yards. Second-year RB Deuce Vaughn also saw an increase in snaps, contributing modestly to the team's performance.

Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle is out for Saturday night's game against the Lions. With Dowdle sidelined, Deuce Vaughn is expected to be the No. 2 RB for Dallas, but RB Tony Pollard could see additional touches.

Tony Pollard had a quiet game in Week 5, tallying 64 total yards on 12 touches with a lost fumble against the 49ers. His teammates Deuce Vaughn and Rico Dowdle had limited success as well. However, the upcoming matchup against the Chargers presents a favorable opportunity for Pollard to bounce back.

Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle was knocked out of Sunday's win over the Patriots with a hip injury. X-rays came back clean, but Dowdle will undergo an MRI on Monday. His absence would leave rookie Deuce Vaughn as Dallas' No. 2 RB.

The Dallas Cowboys have released running back Ronald Jones after his two-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancers. Jones became expendable with rookie Deuce Vaughn showing promise and Tony Pollard as the starting running back. Rico Dowdle and Vaughn are behind Pollard on the depth chart.

Tony Pollard had an impressive performance in Week 1, rushing for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns while also contributing in the passing game. He was the primary backup RB for the Cowboys, with Deuce Vaughn and Rico Dowdle splitting backup duties. Pollard will look to build on his success in Week 2 against the Jets.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Dallas Cowboys are planning to give running back Tony Pollard 18-20 touches in their game against the New York Giants. Pelissero also mentioned that Rico Dowdle will see some playing time on third downs, and the Cowboys have specific packages in the game plan for rookie Deuce Vaughn.

Saad Yousuf and Jon Machota, Cowboys writers for The Athletic, believe that Rico Dowdle is the running back best equipped to handle the Ezekiel Elliott void as a runner. Dowdle's ability as both a runner and pass protector makes him a strong candidate. While he may not lead the team in carries, there is potential for him to see significant work behind Tony Pollard. Dowdle will be competing with rookie Deuce Vaughn for opportunities, but his size advantage gives him an edge. Fantasy managers should consider taking a late shot on Dowdle, who has been with the team since 2020 as an undrafted free agent.

The Dallas Cowboys have released running back Malik Davis, leaving Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn as the backup options behind starter Tony Pollard. Neither Dowdle nor Vaughn are expected to have much fantasy value behind Pollard, and in the event of a Pollard injury, the Cowboys would likely employ a committee backfield.