The Cincinnati Bengals face numerous roster needs heading into the 2025 offseason, but the running back position likely won’t be a significant area of focus for the team.
Heading into the new year, the Bengals are in good shape at running back. Chase Brown, who showed promise in his second season with the team, emerged as a valuable asset. Along with Brown, the Bengals also have Zack Moss under contract for another year, giving them a solid one-two punch in the backfield for 2025. Moss, despite an injury that shortened his 2024 campaign, remains a reliable option. The Bengals have a strong duo at running back, meaning they’re not in urgent need of adding another player to the mix.
Despite this, Jonathan Fuller of Fantasy Life suggests that the Bengals could potentially target Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle, who had a breakout season in 2024. Dowdle posted impressive numbers last season, leading the Cowboys’ backfield with career-high stats: 1,079 rushing yards, 249 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns.
Fuller points out that while Cincinnati has several holes to fill on defense and is focused on extending key wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, they can’t afford to dedicate too many resources to the running back position. He argues that Dowdle could be an ideal addition, offering versatility in the backfield. Dowdle could rotate with Chase Brown and provide valuable depth, which could help the Bengals as they look to make another playoff run in 2025. Fuller also suggests that bringing Dowdle in would prevent him from being seen as a one-hit wonder after a strong season.
However, the reality is that the Bengals may not need Dowdle, particularly if they’re not planning to move on from Zack Moss. While Moss’ 2024 season was cut short due to injury, he still has value and would provide continuity in the backfield for the Bengals. If the Bengals were to release Moss, they could save $3.3 million in cap space, though cutting him would come with a $1.5 million dead cap hit, according to Over the Cap. That savings could be a good incentive for Cincinnati, but signing Dowdle would likely offset much of those cap savings, if not erase them entirely.
Unless the Bengals view Dowdle as a substantial upgrade over Moss—who has proven to be a dependable back—they probably won’t pursue him. Instead, it seems more likely that Moss will return for the 2025 season and that Dowdle will play for another team. If the Bengals do decide to part ways with Moss, they’d likely use the cap savings to address a more pressing need on the roster, such as defensive upgrades, rather than further investing in the running back position.
Ultimately, while the addition of Dowdle might make sense from a depth perspective, the Bengals have more immediate concerns that will likely take precedence over signing another running back. Given the current state of the roster and their other priorities, it’s hard to imagine Dowdle joining the Bengals in 2025 unless Moss is moved. So, while it’s an intriguing possibility, it’s unlikely that the Bengals will make a splash at running back this offseason.