MarShawn Lloyd · Rico Dowdle · 2026 week 8

MarShawn Lloyd or Rico Dowdle?

Wondering who you should start this week — MarShawn Lloyd or Rico Dowdle? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.

Start Rico DowdleRico Dowdle projects 2.1 PPR points clear of MarShawn Lloyd in week 8, drawing CLE — the 20th-ranked matchup for RBs. The numbers behind the call are below; overrule them with your eyes open.

Player	Wk 8	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
MarShawn Lloyd	vs CAR	6.7	2nd · soft	7.7	65	healthy
Rico Dowdle START	vs CLE	8.8	20th	9.6	592	healthy

RBs vs CAR recently: Jahmyr Gibbs 13.7 pts (W4) · Dameon Pierce 11 pts (W6) · Bucky Irving 23 pts (W7).

RBs vs CLE recently: Braelon Allen 17.6 pts (W5) · Derrick Henry 4 pts (W6) · Tony Pollard 33.5 pts (W7).

🎓 The coach's read

Rico Dowdle projects 2.1 points higher in PPR.
MarShawn Lloyd faces CAR, 2nd most generous to RBs.
Rico Dowdle faces CLE, 20th most generous to RBs.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Rico Dowdle carries the higher trade value — 592 against 65 (a 89% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Rico Dowdle gets the most. Momentum: MarShawn Lloyd -154 and Rico Dowdle +159 over the last 30 days.

Open in Start/Sit (any scoring) Open in the Trade Analyzer

More RB decisions

MarShawn Lloyd or Mike Washington Jr.?MarShawn Lloyd or Brian Robinson Jr.?MarShawn Lloyd or Kenny Gainwell?Rico Dowdle or Woody Marks?Rico Dowdle or Braelon Allen?Rico Dowdle or Alvin Kamara?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.