NFL roundup: Rico Dowdle plays big vs. former team as Panthers edge Cowboys
Sun Oct 12 10:06pm ET
Field Level Media
Bryce Young threw for three touchdowns, Rico Dowdle rushed for 183 yards and caught a touchdown pass against his former team and the Carolina Panthers beat the Dallas Cowboys 30-27 with a field goal on the final play on Sunday in Charlotte.
Ryan Fitzgerald's 33-yard kick for his third field goal of the game gave the Panthers (3-3) their second consecutive victory. They held the ball for 15 plays on the game's last possession.
Dowdle, in his first season with Carolina after four years with the Cowboys, finished with 239 scrimmage yards (team-high 56 receiving). He is the first player in franchise history to top 200 in consecutive games. Young completed 17 of 25 passes for 199 yards, including two TD passes to first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan, and an interception.
Dak Prescott threw for three touchdowns and 261 yards on 25-for-34 passing for Dallas (2-3-1), which had only 31 rushing yards.
Chargers 29, Dolphins 27
Cameron Dicker's 33-yard field goal with 5 seconds left lifted Los Angeles to a close win over host Miami. The game-winner was Dicker's fifth field goal in five attempts for the game and helped the Chargers (4-2) snap a two-game losing streak.
Justin Herbert completed 29 of 38 passes for 264 yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions and hit Ladd McConkey on a long 42-yard connection late to set up the game-winner. Kimani Vidal ran for 124 yards on 18 carries and caught a touchdown pass.
De'Von Achane rushed for 128 yards on 16 carries and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Dolphins (1-5), who dropped their second in a row and are off to their worst start since opening the 2021 season with a 1-7 record.
Colts 31, Cardinals 27
Jonathan Taylor rushed for 123 yards and the go-ahead touchdown as Indianapolis rallied in the fourth quarter to edge visiting Arizona.
Taylor scored on a 1-yard run with 4:32 left as the Colts (5-1) took a one-game lead in the AFC South on Jacksonville, a 20-12 loser at home to Seattle. Quarterback Daniel Jones added 212 yards passing on 22 of 30 accuracy, throwing for two touchdowns and one interception.
Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, starting in place of injured Kyler Murray (foot), completed 27 of 44 passes for 320 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. It wasn't enough to prevent the Cardinals (2-4) from losing their fourth straight game.
Patriots 25, Saints 19
Drake Maye threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns as visiting New England improved to 3-0 on the road with the win at New Orleans.
Maye, who hit 18 of 2 passes, hooked up DeMario Douglas for a 53-yard touchdown strike in the first quarter before connecting with Kayshon Boutte for 25 and 29 yards in the second to build a 22-14 halftime lead. Boutte finished with five catches for 93 yards for the Patriots (4-2), who tied their win total for last season.
Spencer Rattler completed 20 of 26 passes for 227 yards while Blake Grupe booted four field goals for the Saints (1-5). Taysom Hill scored on a 1-yard run for New Orleans' lone touchdown while Chris Olave collected six catches for 98 yards.
Steelers 23, Browns 9
Aaron Rodgers threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns while host Pittsburgh's defense piled up six sacks to lead Cleveland from start to finish in an AFC North matchup.
Rodgers connected with Connor Heyward for 12 yards in the third quarter and DK Metcalf for a 25-yard score on the first play of the fourth. Jalen Ramsey and Nate Helbig registered two sacks apiece for the Steelers (4-1) while Chris Boswell booted three field goals of 40-plus yards.
Rookie Dillon Gabriel hit 29 of 52 passes for 221 yards in his second start, but he could not get the Browns into the end zone. Harold Fannin Jr. caught seven passes for 81 yards while Andre Szmyt converted field goals of 31, 53 and 32 yards for Cleveland (1-5), which has not won a regular-season game at Pittsburgh since 2003.
Broncos 13, Jets 11
Denver's defense lowered the boom on New York and the Broncos did enough to leave London with a narrow win.
The Jets (0-6) had minus-10 net passing yards and quarterback Justin Fields was sacked nine times, but New York had a lead late and a chance to kick a long game-winning field goal on the final drive.
Wil Lutz punched in a 27-yard field goal with 5:06 remaining to give Denver the two-point lead. Bo Nix completed 19 of 30 passes for 174 yards. Fields completed nine passes for 45 yards.
Seahawks 20, Jaguars 12
Jaxon Smith-Njigba kept his sensational season going with a season-high 162 receiving yards, leading Seattle to a win over host Jacksonville.
Smith-Njigba, who entered the day second in the league in receiving yards (534), recorded eight catches for his fourth 100-yard game of the season. Sam Darnold threw for 295 yards and a pair of scores, including a 61-yarder to Smith-Njiba.
The Seahawks (4-2) improved to 3-0 in road games -- with nine straight road wins dating back to last season -- while snapping a three-game winning streak for the Jaguars (4-2). Trevor Lawrence completed 27 of 42 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, including the first of the season for Brian Thomas Jr. (eight catches, 90 yards).
Rams 17, Ravens 3
Matthew Stafford completed 17 of 26 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown, and visiting Los Angeles pulled away for a 17-3 win over Baltimore.
Kyren Williams finished with 87 total yards (50 rushing, 37 receiving) and a touchdown on the ground for the Rams (4-2), who bounced back from a loss last week against the San Francisco 49ers. Tyler Higbee added a receiving touchdown.
Derrick Henry had 24 carries for 122 yards for the Ravens (1-5), whose nightmare start to the season continued. Baltimore remained without All-Pro quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring). Cooper Rush started in Jackson's place and completed 11 of 19 passes for 72 yards and an interception before he was benched in favor of veteran reserve Tyler Huntley.
Raiders 20, Titans 10
Ashton Jeanty rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown as Las Vegas ended a four-game losing streak and won at home for the first time this season by defeating Tennessee.
Geno Smith completed 17 of 23 passes for 174 yards with a touchdown and interception for the Raiders (2-4), who held the Titans scoreless in the first half and built a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter. Maxx Crosby had two of Las Vegas' six sacks on Tennessee rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
Ward completed 26 of 38 passes for 222 yards with one TD and one interception as the Titans (1-5) fell after ending their season-opening four-game losing streak with a comeback victory at Arizona last week.
Buccaneers 30, 49ers 19
Baker Mayfield passed for 256 yards and two touchdowns, while Kameron Johnson and Tez Johnson each made their first career touchdown catches to help host Tampa Bay get a victory over banged-up San Francisco.
Rachaad White and Sean Tucker rushed for a touchdown each as the Buccaneers (5-1) won their second straight game. Mayfield completed 17 of 23 passes to help Tampa halt the 49ers' four-game winning streak in the series.
Mac Jones completed 27 of 39 passes for a season-high 347 yards but was intercepted twice for San Francisco (4-2), which lost for the second time in three games. Christian McCaffrey rushed for a touchdown and had 111 yards from scrimmage (54 rushing, 57 receiving), and Kendall Bourne had a career-high 142 yards for the second straight game while making five catches.
Packers 27, Bengals 18
Josh Jacobs ran for two scores and Jordan Love passed for another as Green Bay held on for a victory over visiting Cincinnati and new quarterback Joe Flacco.
Jacobs added 93 rushing yards on 18 carries, while Love threw for 259 yards on 19-of-26 passing. Kicker Lucas Havrisik filled in for the injured Brandon McManus after signing with the team Saturday, hitting field goals of 43 and 39 yards.
Flacco held his own in his Bengals debut after being traded to Cincinnati on Tuesday, completing 29 of 45 passes for 219 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Ja'Marr Chase and Tanner Hudson each caught a TD for the Bengals, who have lost four straight games.
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- NFL roundup: Rico Dowdle plays big vs. former team as Panthers edge Cowboys
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- Mark Sanchez out of hospital, officially booked at jail
- With Kyler Murray inactive, Cards turn to Jacoby Brissett vs. Colts
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- With QB Kyler Murray questionable, Cardinals elevate Kedon Slovis
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The Paur Report
Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 6
After a slow start to the 2025 season, his second year in the NFL, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has heated up the last two weeks. In the 20-12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Thomas had eight catches on 10 targets for a season-high 90 yards and his first touchdown of the year. He led the team in targets, catches, and receiving yards. Thomas' eight catches were the most he's had in a game this season, and he's now caught 12 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown on 16 targets in the last two weeks. Fantasy managers are hoping that the 23-year-old second-year pass-catcher is just starting to find his groove with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Thomas had over 1,200 yards receiving and 10 total touchdowns in 2024, so we know what he's capable of. He'll be a must-start in a Week 7 matchup in London against the Los Angeles Rams.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 27 of 42 pass attempts for 258 passing yards and two touchdowns in his team's 20-12 Week 6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Lawrence's biggest problem in Week 6 was the Seattle pass rush, as he was sacked seven times for a combined loss of 44 yards. The 26-year-old has now thrown for 1,324 yards and eight touchdowns with five interceptions through his first six games of 2025. Lawrence has also rushed for 95 yards and two scores. He will face a difficult matchup in Week 7, when the Jaguars travel to London to take on the Los Angeles Rams.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield led his team to its fifth win of the season in Week 6, beating the San Francisco 49ers 30-19. Mayfield completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts for 256 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception and added 14 rushing yards on three carries. The 30-year-old has now thrown for 1,309 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first six games of 2025. Tampa Bay entered Week 6 without wide receivers Mike Evans (hamstring), Chris Godwin (leg), and Jalen McMillan (neck), and then lost star rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) to a hamstring injury during the game. It's currently unclear how long the Buccaneers will be without their top four wide receivers. Regardless, Mayfield has proven himself to be a worthy fantasy QB1 on a week-to-week basis.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had a solid game in Week 6, his first game playing alongside new Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco. Faced with a tough matchup against the Green Bay Packers, Chase finished Week 6 with 10 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. The 25-year-old now has 42 catches for 468 yards and four touchdowns on 57 targets through his first six games of 2025. After a couple of down games immediately following the Bengals' loss of starting quarterback Joe Burrow (toe), Chase has bounced back over the past two weeks. He remains a clear must-start fantasy wide receiver heading into a Week 7 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey shouldered another monster workload in his team's 30-19 Week 6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCaffrey recorded 17 carries for 54 yards, adding seven catches for 57 yards on eight targets as a receiver. The 29-year-old has now topped 100 yards from scrimmage in every game the 49ers have played so far this season. McCaffrey has struggled with rushing efficiency, recording 336 rushing yards and a touchdown on 108 carries (3.1 yards per attempt). However, he's saved his numbers by hauling in 46 catches for 444 yards and three scores. For as long as he's able to stay healthy, McCaffrey is a must-start fantasy running back.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett did an admirable job filling in for the injured Kyler Murray (foot) in his team's 31-27 Week 6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Brissett completed 27 of 44 pass attempts for 320 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The 32-year-old also rushed three times for 19 yards. With Murray currently battling a mid-foot sprain, there's a chance Brissett could have an extended runway as the starter in Arizona. Brissett started five games for the New England Patriots in 2024, completing 59% of his passes for 826 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. If he is forced into action once again, Brissett has a tough matchup in Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers. Still, he could be a valuable pickup for fantasy managers in two-quarterback formats.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne recorded his second straight monster performance in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hauling in five catches for 142 yards on nine targets. Bourne now has 15 catches for 284 yards on 20 targets over the past two weeks. With 49ers wideout Ricky Pearsall (knee) having missed two straight games due to a knee injury and fellow wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ribs, ankle) playing through broken ribs, Bourne has stepped up. The 49ers could be getting tight end George Kittle (hamstring) back off of Injured Reserve in the coming weeks, which would provide some target competition for Bourne. For now, Bourne has a chance to provide consistent production as one of the featured pieces in the San Francisco passing game.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Cardinals running back Zonovan "Bam" Knight had 34 rushing yards, one catch, 20 receiving yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Colts. Dynasty Analysis: The news of Knight starting over Michael Carter send dynasty managers scrambling this morning. In the end, it didn't really amount to much as Knight and Carter pretty much split work on the day. The touchdown helped save his day but this looks like a frustrating committee starting to form with the loss of Trey Benson. Knight is worth a roster spot but you'd have to be pretty desperate to start him moving forward.
Dynasty | Colts running back Jonathan Taylor had 123 rushing yards, four catches, 14 receiving yards and a touchdown in a win against Arizona. Dynasty Analysis: It was just another day at the office for Taylor, who has just chewed through every defense he's faced all season. Taylor has again become matchup-proof as he attempts to take the spot of fantasy football's RB1 this season. He's become relatively untouchable in dynasty leagues at this point.
Dynasty | Colts tight end Tyler Warren had six catches for 63 yards and a touchdown in a win against the Cardinals. Dynasty Analysis: Warren has yet to have an explosive scoring game but this is the second straight game he's had with a touchdown and he's providing an extraordinary high floor. A true TE1 moving forward, Warren has already become a "set it and forget it" option in dynasty leagues. His ranking continues to rise as a result.
Dynasty | Ravens running back Derrick Henry had 122 rushing yards in a loss to the Rams. Dynasty Analysis: The Ravens finally gave Henry more than 18 carries in a game and he rewarded him with his second 100-yard game of the year. Baltimore is a total mess right now at 1-5 and will head into the bye trying to figure out how to win games. Henry should be a part of that as he's one of few players performing when given an opportunity. He remains a solid target for dynasty contenders but it's also fair to wonder what the rest of this season is going to look like for them.
Dynasty | Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had eight catches for 162 yards and a touchdown in a win against Jacksonville. Dynasty Analysis: JSN is on an absolute tear right now and is clearly in contention to be the overall WR1 in fantasy leagues this year. Today was no different as he routinely got open against the Jacksonville secondary and had a whopping 13 targets on the day. JSN is quickly becoming one of the biggest weapons in fantasy football and has seemingly forged a quick connection with new quarterback Sam Darnold. It's a big-time development in dynasty leagues as JSN is starting to reach the level of the truly elite.
Dynasty | Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr had eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Seahawks. Dynasty Analysis: Thomas had a long circus grab touchdown called back by a penalty but this was still the mini-breakout dynasty managers have longed for. It's just one game but Thomas was in a major slump and this was a nice step in the right direction. He should stay in lineups moving forward but as more of a WR2 than WR1 at the moment. However, the buy low window may have closed.
Dynasty | Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter had four catches for 15 yards in a loss to the Seahawks. Dynasty Analysis: Hunter now has 20 catches on 31 targets for 197 scoreless yards in his first six games in the NFL. In short, he's been decent. However, dynasty managers were hoping for more than "decent" when they spent a first round rookie pick on him. Hunter hasn't been able to separate consistently and honestly may be overwhelmed by the amount of responsibility he has on his shoulders. We'll see what happens moving forward and it's way too early to make any determinations about his career. However, the start is undoubtedly disappointing as his ADP continues to sink.
Dynasty | Panthers running back Rico Dowdle had 183 rushing yards, four catches, 56 receiving yards and a touchdown in a win against Dallas. Dynasty Analysis: In the process, Dowdle reportedly became the first player with 230 yards from scrimmage in back-to-back games since Le'Veon Bell in 2014. It was another massive fantasy performance from Dowdle, who has been flat-out dominant the past two weeks. Unfortunately, Chuba Hubbard is due back any week. In reality, Dowdle has done more than enough to create some kind of committee moving forward and could cash out as a free agent this off-season when his one-year deal expires. He remains a solid hold in dynasty leagues even with an imminent cooling off period coming any week.
Dynasty | Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens had nine catches for 168 yards and a touchdown in a loss against the Panthers. Dynasty Analysis: Pickens has really stepped up with CeeDee Lamb out, quickly becoming the focal point of the passing offense in the process. He has now scored in five straight games and is currently on a hot streak that makes him one of the most valuable players in all of fantasy football. While this is a totally unsustainable pace, Pickens should still hold solid value when Lamb comes back, making him a solid hold in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | Cowboys running back Javonte Williams had 29 rushing yards, five catches and five receiving yards in a loss to the Panthers. Dynasty Analysis: The Cowboys focused more on the passing game than the rushing attack today and it certainly didn't help Williams, who had been really consistent so far this year. This is likely just a blip on the radar and not a sign of things to come but this was clearly not the expectation of dynasty managers today. His ADP rise will slow a bit this week but he's been one of the best surprises of the season thus far.
Dynasty | Browns running back Quinshon Judkins had 36 rushing yards in a loss the Steelers. Dynasty Analysis: The Browns fell behind in this one and Judkins only got 12 carries on the day. The negative game script killed any chance for him to have a big day and forced the Browns to throw the ball 52 times on the afternoon. Judkins had at least 60 yards rushing in every game this season so this was a clear disappointment. Still, it's not as if Judkins was somehow largely ineffective. This is the chance you take when you have a player on a bad team. Judkins' rising ADP and rookie ranking may take a break this week but this is likely just a blip on the radar.
Dynasty | Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin had seven catches for 81 yards in a loss to the Steelers. Dynasty Analysis: There were questions about Fannin's small school production but it's translated beautifully to the NFL. He now has a 28/254/1 line through six games and is offering a high floor as he's seemingly taken over the top tight end spot from David Njoku in Cleveland. Fannin is quickly rising up the rookie rankings as he's on the cusp of reaching TE1 status at this point.
Dynasty | Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 29-of-52 passes for 221 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions in a loss to the Steelers. Dynasty Analysis: Gabriel throwing 52 passes on the day was likely not the winning formula the Browns went into the game with but this is what happens when you fall behind early. The problem with Gabriel is he really does seem to be a game manager who won't take unnecessary chances but also fails to provide many explosive plays. It's a tough situation for the Browns, who could turn to Shedeur Sanders but also risk a massive disaster if they did so. Gabriel should continue to get an extended look here but this was a step back.
