Mike McCarthy says Rico Dowdle is the Cowboys’ lead running back

It only took nine games, but the Dallas Cowboys finally made the right decision when it comes to their running back room. Rico Dowdle has been named the team’s RB1.

There is no more running back by committee in Dallas. Mike McCarthy said Rico Dowdle is the Cowboys lead back: “Definitely, you have to get him the ball. That’s my focus to continue to get him opportunities. He’s the lead back.”

— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) November 14, 2024

This isn’t a shocker to anyone who’s watched the Cowboys in 2024. Dowdle is averaging 4.5 yards per rush on the year as opposed to 3.2 for Ezekiel Elliott. His best performance came in a Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers when he set a career-high with 87 rushing yards. He’s had 24 carries over the last two games, and he’s racked up 128 yards (5.3 yards per rush). The Cowboys came into the season with the mindset of having a committee approach. Fair enough, but at some point, you have to give someone the keys to the car, and on this roster, it’s Dowdle.

The Cowboys take on the Houston Texans on Monday night at AT&T Stadium. It will be a stiff test as they rank 11th against the run. However, the more interesting part will be how much head coach Mike McCarthy uses Dowdle since he also calls plays. If the Cowboys are to have any shot in this one, especially without quarterback Dak Prescott, Dowdle needs to be effective as much as he can.