Somebody in some dynasty league somewhere is still holding out hope for Kenneth Dixon. The 2016 fourth-round running back was a late-first round pick in most rookie drafts that year, but injuries and suspension have waylaid him. Is it too late for him to be a factor in Baltmore's backfield?
Most likely, yes, it is too late. Not necessarily because of the competition -- which includes Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards and fourth-rounder Justice Hill -- but because Dixon is sidelined, again, during OTAs, and you can't make the club from the tub. And also because the fourth-rounder would have shown something by now if he were going to break out.
Table shows the last 15 years worth of fourth-round running backs, sorted by their second-year numbers. It's not a big deal if these guys don't do much as rookies, because they often have to wait their turn. But if they haven't shown it by Year 2, they're probably not going to.
| 4TH-ROUND RBS, YEAR 2 NUMBERS, 2005-PRESENT | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Run | Rec | Tot | TD |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 1056 | 578 | 1634 | 14 |
| Tarik Cohen, Chi. | 444 | 725 | 1169 | 9 |
| Marlon Mack, Ind. | 908 | 103 | 1011 | 10 |
| Lamar Miller, Mia. | 709 | 170 | 879 | 2 |
| Marion Barber, Dall. | 654 | 196 | 850 | 16 |
| Mike Goodson, Car. | 452 | 310 | 762 | 3 |
| Jamaal Williams, G.B. | 464 | 210 | 674 | 3 |
| Michael Bush, Oak. | 421 | 162 | 583 | 3 |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 437 | 140 | 577 | 4 |
| Devontae Booker, Den. | 299 | 275 | 574 | 1 |
| Brandon Jacobs, NYG | 423 | 149 | 572 | 9 |
| Leon Washington, NYJ | 353 | 213 | 566 | 3 |
| Tashard Choice, Dall. | 349 | 132 | 481 | 3 |
| James White, N.E. | 56 | 410 | 466 | 6 |
| Kendall Hunter, S.F. | 371 | 60 | 431 | 2 |
| Antonio Pittman, N.O. | 296 | 132 | 428 | 0 |
| Jeremy Langford, Chi. | 200 | 142 | 342 | 4 |
| Robert Turbin, Sea. | 264 | 60 | 324 | 0 |
| Joe McKnight, NYJ | 134 | 139 | 273 | 0 |
| Wayne Gallman, NYG | 176 | 89 | 265 | 1 |
| Andre Williams, NYG | 257 | 7 | 264 | 1 |
| KaDeem Carey, Chi. | 159 | 19 | 178 | 3 |
| DeAnthony Thomas, K.C. | 34 | 140 | 174 | 2 |
| Delone Carter, Ind. | 122 | 13 | 135 | 3 |
| Ciatrick Fason, Minn. | 99 | 19 | 118 | 1 |
| Alvin Pearman, Jac. | 89 | 12 | 101 | 1 |
| Lorenzo Taliaferro, Balt. | 47 | 29 | 76 | 1 |
| Mike Davis, S.F. | 50 | 25 | 75 | 1 |
| Tyler Ervin, Hou. | 12 | 38 | 50 | 0 |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 34 | 15 | 49 | 0 |
| Roy Helu, Wash. | 2 | 45 | 47 | 0 |
| Jamie Harper, Tenn. | 30 | 8 | 38 | 3 |
| Samaje Perine, Wash. | 32 | 5 | 37 | 0 |
| Taiwan Jones, Oak. | 21 | 11 | 32 | 0 |
| Jalston Fowler, Tenn. | 3 | 14 | 17 | 0 |
| Darren Sproles, S.D. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kenneth Dixon, Balt. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Johnathan Franklin, G.B. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marcus Lattimore, S.F. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Williams, S.F. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Donnel Pumphrey, Phil. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Owen Marecic, Clev. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gartrell Johnson, S.D. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dwayne Wright, Buff. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P.J. Daniels, Balt. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manuel White, Wash. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Brown, NYG | -1 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
Atop the list, sorted by total yards in year two, are some of the best fourth-rounders from recent years. Freeman, Cohen, Mack, Miller, Barber. Drop down just a little and there are some other good players: Leon Washington, James White.
Of the guys who did nothing at all in their second seasons, like Dixon, I see one noteworthy player: Darren Sproles. He was hurt that year, but has gone on to have a nice career. And then there are a couple of other guys, including another Raven, Javorius Allen, and new Bear Mike Davis. Allen had some credible seasons (recently signed with New Orleans). Davis played well in Seattle last year and could actually start in Chicago.
Maybe Dixon takes that as inspiration: it's possible. But in general, history is not his friend here.
--Andy Richardson