If you look at Dowdle's use, the coaching staff platooned him for half the season which was ridiculous in hindsight. It's like they didn't know what they had in dowdle and stubbornly stuck to their preseason plan. Had they used Dowdle in the first 8 games like they did on the final 9, Dowdle probably has 1600 yards rushing.
Over the past 10 years, it's been a rare rb that's been drafted in round 1 and even rarer for 5 out of the league's 6 leading rusher to be first round picks. That not the norm. It should also be noted that 3 of those 6 aren't running for the teams that drafted them anymore. Top tier free agent rbs go for 10-12M per year. So, why burn a first round rookie contract? A top 12 pick needs to the used on a premium position like CB, DE, or DT and lord knows we have need at all 3 of those position.