Fantasy Football: John Harbaugh says Kenneth Dixon can be 'a workhorse' back

Ravens coach John Harbaugh discusses running backs Kenneth Dixon, Terrance West and Danny Woodhead, as well as Baltimore's receiving corps.

PHOENIX -- Ravens coach John Harbaugh isn’t ready to give up on second-year running back Kenneth Dixon despite a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs and the addition of free agent running back Danny Woodhead. 

Harbaugh said Tuesday at the annual NFL meeting that Dixon can still be a workhorse running back this year.

“I think he’s going to be a really good player,” Harbaugh said. “He wants to be good. He made a mistake. Not a mistake that he’s very proud of. But I think he’s going to put it behind him, and he’s going to be a really good back in this league.”

Dixon had a good rookie year in 2016 with 88 carries for 382 yards (4.3-yards per carry) and two touchdowns and 30 catches for 162 yards and one touchdown as part of a committee backfield in Baltimore. Despite not starting any games last year, Dixon still had at least seven Fantasy points in a standard league in six of his final eight games. 

He averaged at least 4.0-yards per carry in six of those outings, and he proved to be capable as a receiver with at least three catches in five of those games. Additionally, Dixon averaged 2.9-yards after contact, which was tied for No. 11 with Ezekiel Elliott of running backs with at least 80 carries.

The suspension lowers Dixon’s Fantasy value, but it makes him a better price on Draft Day. You should target Dixon in all leagues with a mid-round pick because he could be a standout option once he’s back on the field in Week 5.

There is a chance the Ravens could add another running back in the NFL Draft, which will hurt Dixon’s Fantasy value, but we’ll adjust our rankings if that happens. For now, look for Baltimore to lean on Woodhead and Terrance West while Dixon is suspended.

Harbaugh also spoke highly of West on Tuesday and called him “the No. 1 guy on the depth chart.” We don’t know if that’s permanent or until Dixon is active, but it does make West an attractive flier with a late-round pick in all leagues.

Last year, West had 193 carries for 774 yards (4.0-yards per carry) and five touchdowns and 34 catches for 236 yards and one touchdown. He was the No. 25 Fantasy running back in standard leagues.

“Terrance has done a great job,” Harbaugh said. “I know he’s working hard. I’m excited to see how he does.”

And then, of course, there’s Woodhead. He’s 32 and coming off a torn ACL in his right knee in Week 2 last season for the Chargers, but he’s been a productive Fantasy option when healthy, especially in PPR leagues.

In 2015, Woodhead led all running backs with 81 catches, 756 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. He also added 97 carries for 335 yards and three touchdowns, and he was the No. 13 Fantasy running back in standard formats. 

We like Woodhead with a late-round pick in standard leagues, but he’s easily worth a mid-round selection in PPR. Last year, the Ravens had 101 catches for 664 yards and two touchdowns on 135 targets from the top three players in their backfield with Dixon, West and fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who signed as a free agent with San Francisco.

Clearly, quarterback Joe Flacco likes throwing the ball to his backs, which helps Woodhead.

“Danny is probably one of the best in the league as a running back playing as a receiver,” Harbaugh said. “I think he’ll be a weapon for us.”

The Ravens could desperately need Woodhead in the passing game with plenty of questions at receiver. Mike Wallace is back (he led the Ravens with 72 catches for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns on 117 targets), but Baltimore lost Steve Smith to retirement and Kamar Aiken as a free agent to Indianapolis.

Harbaugh talked about signing free agent Anquan Boldin, who played for the Ravens from 2010-12 before leaving via trade to San Francisco. Boldin, 36, spent last season in Detroit.

“I don’t know if Anquan wants to come back,” Harbaugh said. “That would be another thing we’d have to look into. I do believe he can still play at the highest level. His ability and his skills are such that he’s not going to drop off the edge just because of how he plays. I know he loved it in Baltimore, and I loved him in Baltimore. Didn’t want him to have to leave when it happened. That’s just the way things worked out. I’d be for it.”

One thing that would help the Ravens would be third-year receiver Breshad Perriman starting to contribute on a consistent basis. The former first-round pick from Central Florida has struggled with injuries and inconsistent play for his first two years in the NFL, and he had only 33 catches for 499 yards and three touchdowns on 66 targets in 2016.

Harbaugh said Tuesday that it’s time for Perriman to deliver.

“This guy is really talented,” Harbaugh said. “He’s fast, fast, fast. He’s big, big, big. He can go up and track a ball downfield and go up and make a play. ... The bottom line is he has to be out there making a difference for us. Period. End of story.”

Wallace and Perriman are only worth late-round fliers in the majority of leagues, and we’ll see how the Ravens fill out the rest of their receiving corps. And we’ll also continue to monitor their depth chart at running back, especially once Dixon is back on the field in Week 5.

The Ravens have some interesting Fantasy options at running back and receiver who you should be able to draft with late-round picks. And don’t be surprised if guys like Dixon or Perriman step up this season with increased opportunity -- and boost their Fantasy value, too.