Fantasy Upside
After struggling to find the field with Seattle, Alex Collins had a breakout season last year with the Ravens, rushing for 973 yards on 4.6 yards per carry. He also scored six rushing touchdowns and caught 23 passes. The Ravens didn’t go after a running back high in the draft, leaving Collins the likely starter in Baltimore for the 2018 season. Should he continue to develop—he’ll be only 24 years old when the season starts—he could be a consistent fantasy producer on a team that desperately needs a steady runner in the backfield.
Fantasy Downside
Collins will be battling Kenneth Dixon and Javorius Allen for touches, and if he struggles early on, it’s likely he’ll be on a short leash. Dixon was heralded as a potential solution before injuries and a suspension limited his chance to earn the job. Allen is best suited for a third-down role, but he’ll continue to eat into Collins’ snaps and receiving production. Also, the Ravens let starting center Ryan Jensen sign with the Buccaneers in free agency.
2018 Bottom Line
Collins is too risky to count on early in the draft, but his value as a fifth-round option in most fantasy leagues puts him right on par with some of the rookie running backs. That makes sense given his limited experience. Fantasy owners should consider him a solid potential RB2 option in the middle rounds.