Dowdle ran 15 times for 56 yards and a TD, finishing as the RB22. He averaged 3.7 yards per carry and didn’t draw a target. He played 28 snaps to Jaylen Warren’s 34. The Steelers’ 33 carries gave both backs plenty of volume with a big lead.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact
Dowdle’s role grew late after Warren appeared hurt on a third-quarter pileup. He played 8 snaps to Warren’s three in the fourth quarter. He ran 9 routes without a target and also fumbled once, though Pittsburgh kept the ball. Lew Nichols played just one snap, so this remains a two-man backfield.
Dowdle returned from a three-week absence in Week 6 and finished as the RB24 on 21 snaps. He took a step forward as a receiver in Week 7, catching all 6 targets for 45 yards and adding 9 carries for 41 yards as the RB18. He went without a target this week, but his snaps climbed to 28. The efficiency gap is still wide: Warren averaged 8.4 yards per carry to Dowdle’s 3.7.
Pittsburgh is on bye in Week 9. Week 10 brings Cincinnati, which allows the third-fewest fantasy points to RBs and ranked ninth in run defense power heading into Week 8. Philadelphia follows in Week 11, allowing the 17th-most and ranking 25th in run defense power. Dowdle is an RB3 going forward, especially in games where the Steelers are slated to play from ahead.
