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Updated August 16, 2026 from live stats

Davante Adams vs Rico DowdleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Davante Adams over Rico Dowdle in 2026.

Davante Adams averaged 13.8 PPG in 2025 to Rico Dowdle's 11.6, a 2.2 point per game edge. Adams posted that edge in only 14 games, so the per-game ceiling is real but watch his availability. Davante Adams is Tier 2 among wide receivers, Rico Dowdle is Tier 5 among running backs.

The Bottom Line

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Davante Adams (13.8 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Rico Dowdle (11.6 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRLos Angeles Rams#8PPG LEADER

Davante Adams

PPG

13.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

789

Rec TDs

Targets

114

Bye

Week 11

RBCarolina Panthers#21

Rico Dowdle

PPG

11.6

Games

Rush Yds

1,076

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

297

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Davante Adams

Rico Dowdle

Head to Head

13.8 PPG11.6 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Davante Adams: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #8 at the position). Rico Dowdle: Tier 5 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #21 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 5 (Flex/Starter) RB in most league formats.

Davante Adams vs Rico Dowdle: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Davante Adams (WR, Los Angeles Rams) against Rico Dowdle (RB, Carolina Panthers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Davante Adams averaged 13.8 PPG in 2025 over 14 games, while Rico Dowdle posted 11.6 PPG across 17 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Davante Adams has his bye in Week 11, Rico Dowdle in Week 5. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Davante Adams (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Rico Dowdle (age 28, 5 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Davante Adams outscored Rico Dowdle by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Rico Dowdle played 17 games in 2025 compared to Davante Adams's 14. That durability gap means Rico Dowdle contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Davante Adams scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Davante Adams saw 114 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Rico Dowdle is 5 years younger than Davante Adams (28 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Davante Adams vs Rico Dowdle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Davante Adams	Rico Dowdle
PPG (Half-PPR)	13.8	11.6
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	193	197
Rushing Yards	0	1,076
Rush Yds/Game	0.0	63.3
Rushing TDs	0	6
Receptions	60	39
Receiving Yards	789	297
Targets	114	50
Total TDs	14	7
Age	33	28
Experience	11 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 5

Summary

13.8 PPG for Davante Adams versus 11.6 for Rico Dowdle in 2025. The baseline favors Davante Adams, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Davante Adams or Rico Dowdle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Davante Adams has the edge at 13.8 PPG compared to Rico Dowdle's 11.6 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Davante Adams and Rico Dowdle average in 2025?▾

Davante Adams averaged 13.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are Davante Adams and Rico Dowdle's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Davante Adams (LAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Rico Dowdle (CAR) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.