The initial timeline of 6-8 weeks was for having his meniscus trimmed, but Dixon will instead have have it stitched and repaired, which requires a much longer healing period and will cost him the 2017 season. This helps clear things up a bit in what was a crowded running back depth chart in Baltimore, and Terrance West and Danny Woodhead's roles are becoming increasingly defined as the season approaches.

Before the news that Dixon would miss the season, numberFire's models projected Woodhead for 89 carries, West for 80 carries and Dixon for 71 carries. Look for both Woodhead and West's projections to increase with Dixon out of the picture.

Durkin surmises Lynch will see a similar workload to the 195 carries that Latavius Murray saw in Oakland last season, but noting it could be less, depending on the roles of second-year backs DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard. Lynch turned 31 in April and is more than a full year removed any real NFL competition, so look for the Raiders to manage his workload a bit over the course of the year.

numberFire's models currently rank Lynch as the 25th-best fantasy option at his position for 2017. We project him to rush 174.4 times for 703.3 yards and 5.39 touchdowns this season, with another 296.6 receiving yards and 1.13 touchdowns on 36.8 catches.

Hawkins inked a one year deal with the Patriots in May, but he spent the last three years of his career playing for the Cleveland Browns after playing his first three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, who signed him as an undrafted free agent after he played two seasons in the Canadian Football League from 2009-2010.

In 6 NFL seasons, Hawkins racked up 209 receptions, 2,419 yards and 9 touchdowns on 341 targets.

The 49ers added Tim Hightower, Kapri Bibbs, and rookie Joe Williams to their backfield this offseason, and the team's new decision-makers have publicly stated their desire for improvement at the position. Hyde, who turns 26 in September and is entering a contract year, could probably fetch a mid-to-late round draft pick from an interested suitor.

numberFire's models are much more optimistic on Hyde's outlook this season, as we currently rank him as the 13th-best fantasy option at his position for 2017. He's projected to rush 249.1 times for 1,003.6 yards and 7.34 touchdowns this season, with another 142.6 receiving yards and 0.77 touchdowns on 24.9 catches.

Depending on the nature of the tear, Dixon could miss six-to-eight weeks. Either way, he was already in line to miss the first four weeks of the season having been suspended for violating the league's PED policy. Terrance West and Danny Woodhead are Baltimore's lead backs as the team intends to add Bobby Rainey as a third back.

numberFire's algorithms project Dixon for 109 rushes, 453 rushing yards and 1.6 touchdowns in 2017. That makes him RB46, according to our projections.

"Samaje Perine will offer tough competition early and perhaps win the job at some point, but if Kelley shows he has improved, he’ll hold onto the job for now," Keim wrote in a rather underwhelming endorsement of the current incumbent in Washington's backfield. Kelley's job security has been at risk ever since the Redskins selected Perine in the fourth round of this year's draft, and it seems inevitable that the rookie will eventually take over the starting gig.

numberFire's models project Kelley to rush 181.7 times for 746.1 yards and 6.40 touchdowns this season while adding 19.6 receptions for 149.9 yards through the air, making him our 27th-ranked fantasy running back entering the year. Perine currently ranks 42nd, and we project him to rush 144.3 times for 517.6 yards and 4.51 rushing touchdowns while catching 15.5 passes for 113.5 receiving yards and 0.61 touchdowns.