How the Pittsburgh Steelers decide to deploy their new one-two running back punch of Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle remains to be seen. Yet, while many on the outside debate regarding the pecking order, there doesn't appear to be much internal debate.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was asked about the Warren-Dowdle dynamic in his live chat ($). Despite speculation that we could see a shift in backfield usage, the longtime Steelers insider doesn't expect things to look much different than last season.
By the sound of it, Warren will remain the 1A in Pittsburgh's committee while Dowdle inherits departed free agent Kenneth Gainwell's 1B duties, per Dulac:
"No, [Dowdle's arrival] makes Warren the same as last year — mostly the first down back."
Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer weighs in on Rico Dowdle-Jaylen Warren RB split
The Steelers signed Dowdle to a two-year, $12.25 million deal in March. He notably has a higher annual salary than his counterpart in Pittsburgh. Nevertheless, price tags aside, Dulac sounds certain that Warren sticks as the primary option.
That's not to say Dowdle won't be a key piece of how the Steelers plan to move the ball. He's coming off a career-best campaign with 1,373 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns and is firmly in his prime (turns 28 June). Pittsburgh didn't pay him — more than Warren — to take a significant backseat.
Gainwell was critical to the Steelers' success in a brief stint with the club. He saw 187 touches and eclipsed 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the first time. The veteran was voted Pittsburgh's 2025 MVP by his now-former teammates.
Either way, expect Dowdle and Warren to each get fed regardless of who's higher on the depth chart. There's more than enough room for both of them to see plenty of opportunities in the Steelers' scoring unit, as we've seen in recent years. Despite installing an entirely different operation under new head coach Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh figures to lean on the talented tandem and its promising young offensive line.
Warren has ostensibly earned the right to carry the load in Pittsburgh. He showcased the ability to handle a heavy workload effectively this past season. His 54.5 percent rushing success rate and 4.54 yards per carry ranked 15th and 25th, respectively, among 65 backs with at least 50 attempts.
Note: Stats courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite ($).