Kenneth Dixon

Dixon played in only six games in 2018, missing most of the season with yet another knee injury, but he nearly matched his rushing production from his 12-game rookie campaign thanks to an impressive 5.6 YPC. Most of his work came with Lamar Jackson under center for the Ravens, and Dixon's willingness to attack the line with a strong burst made him a good fit for the team's new option-infused offense. But he might not get much of a chance to build on last year's performance, even if he can finally stay healthy. Gus Edwards remains on hand for early down work, and the team added Mark Ingram in free agency and Justice Hill in the draft, making for a stacked backfield with a wide range of skill sets at offensive coordinator Greg Roman's disposal. Dixon will be hard-pressed to stand out from the crowd in camp, leaving him without a clearly defined role and perhaps without a roster spot.

A suspension and a knee injury combined to keep Dixon off the field entirely in 2017, and in his absence Alex Collins emerged as the lead back for the Ravens while Javorius Allen solidified his spot as a backup who can handle third-down duties. Dixon flashed the potential to contribute in all situations as a rookie fourth-round pick in 2016, and he might now get a chance to compete with Allen for the passing-down role. Dixon's 4.58 40 time at the combine wasn't special, but he can pick up plenty of yards after contact with his burst, power and elusiveness, and his 5-10, 212-pound frame theoretically appears sturdy enough to handle punishment. However, knee injuries in each of his first two NFL campaigns put a cloud over his future, and even if Dixon is 100 percent healthy for training camp, as expected, he'll need to make a strong impression just to earn a part-time role.

Dixon's rookie campaign didn't exactly go smoothly. A preseason knee injury cost him the first four games of 2016, and even when he returned to action he didn't work his way into a significant role until Week 12. Nonetheless, over the second half of the season he was productive in a crowded Ravens backfield, averaging 4.9 yards a carry and nearly 65 combined yards a game while scoring all three of his TDs in the final four games. The 5-10, 212-pound back has the frame, pass-catching skills and ability to gain yards after contact to be an every-down threat, but he will once again miss the first four games of the season -- this time to a PED suspension -- and could find it difficult to earn snaps once he's activated. Furthermore, Dixon suffered a meniscus tear early in camp that required surgery. He had his meniscus repaired, which has a longer recovery process than the trimming option. While there may be a slight chance Dixon returns before the end of the season, he's expected to miss the entire campaign. Danny Woodhead was signed to serve as the passing-down back, while Terrance West will reprise his role on early downs. Dixon's impending lengthy absence makes it difficult to justify rostering him in most formats, while Terrance West suddenly becomes a viable option thanks to his expected volume increase in the run game.

Tre Mason isn't going to find his way into this year's running back profiles, but we're happy to put Dixon inside the cut line. Dixon went in the fourth round of this year's draft— the sixth overall back taken — after a prolific and busy four years at Louisiana Tech (87 TDs, 5.6 YPC, 11.1 YPR). Some pundits feel Dixon was the best pass-catching back in the draft, and that's catnip to the ears of OC Marc Trestman, who loves to throw to his RBs. That said, Baltimore's depth chart at the position is a cast of thousands, and Dixon isn't the only man who has third-down skills. If Dixon has a fast start in camp, some veterans could feel the heat by the end of the month. But it also wouldn't be a surprise if he's out of the rotation when the real games start. Like with most medium-pedigree rookies, there's a wide range of outcomes here.