Fantasy Upside
Before missing last season, Kenneth Dixon had some promising moments as a rookie in 2016. Drafted in the fourth round, Dixon averaged 4.3 yards on 88 carries and caught 30 passes in his first year in the league. He looked like a talented every-down runner in college, and if he can stay healthy and keep his nose clean off the field, he’ll be given a chance to compete for playing time.
Fantasy Downside
Coming off a lost season due to injury and suspension reasons, it’s fair to be concerned about Dixon’s reliability. Additionally, he’ll be fighting an uphill battle for playing time after starter Alex Collins averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season. Javorius Allen is still hanging around as well, and he may get the bulk of the work on passing downs. If Collins and Allen play well early on, it might be a long season on the bench for Dixon.
2018 Bottom Line
Dixon is an interesting option as a handcuff to Collins or as a late-round flier in deep leagues. He definitely has talent, but his injury history and the crowded depth chart in Baltimore make it difficult to trust him. At the very least, he’ll be a player worth monitoring as the season progresses for a potential playing time increase. Until we see him make the leap it’s hard to recommend rostering him.