Week 3 vs. San Francisco 49ers
With Saquon Barkley out for the rest of this season, Dion Lewis looks most likely to step in and receive the bulk of the carries for the Giants. He had 10 carries for 20 yards and a touchdown against a tough Bears defense last week, adding four receptions and 36 yards through the air. Don’t get too excited about Lewis getting the bulk of the work however, as it’s possible he’ll split time with Wayne Gallman or recently added Devonta Freeman.
This week probably isn’t the best time to try him out, even if we knew the workload he’d get. He’s facing a 49ers defense that just held Frank Gore to 3.0 and Kenyan Drake to 3.8 yards per carry in Week 1. Lewis’ potential workload provides upside, but the matchup and the general poor production from the Giants’ offense in general makes him a risky RB3/Flex option at best.
Week 3 vs. at Jacksonville Jaguars
Remember when Dion Lewis was a viable fantasy option? Yeah, those days have passed. Lewis is clearly the No. 2 back to Derrick Henry now, as his four touches -- three carries, one reception -- would suggest. He's not fantasy worthy any longer.
Week 1 at Cleveland
When Derrick Henry took over the main running back duties for the Titans last season, Dion Lewis was relegated to more of a third-down back. And that role will likely continue this season. That means five to 10 touches per game for Lewis, which isn't enough to get him into your lineup as anything more than a low-end flex play.
Fantasy Upside
Dion Lewis is one of the better pass-catching backs in the league, and has a defined role in the Tennessee offense as such. That added up to over 200 touches in 2018. If he can get between 150 and 200 touches again this season, that would be a solid contribution from a back who will likely be your No. 3 or 4 guy.
Fantasy Downside
Lewis played in 16 games for just the second time. That's not a lot for a guy who's been around since 2011. He has, however, now done it in back-to-back years. He also lost touches down the stretch to Derrick Henry, so there's some reason to fear that trend could continue.
2019 Bottom Line
Lewis' first season in Tennessee was nothing short of a disappointment. He finished with only 517 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground, averaging 3.1 yards per carry. He did catch a career-high 59 passes for 400 yards, but again, only had one score in that area, as well. That might be about the best you can hope for, though 900-plus total yards is nothing to sneeze at. Lewis figures to have a slightly lesser role this season, especially as a ball carrier, though he could see his catches go up. He's now and end-of-the-roster back.
Week 17 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Dion Lewis got just six touches last week -- three carries for five yards and three receptions for 20 -- and has been largely phased out of the Tennessee offense with the emergence of Derrick Henry. Lewis is only worth using as a flex option in PPR leagues. And even at that, you're swinging and hoping.
Week 16 vs. Washington Redskins
Dion Lewis had seven carries for 35 yards and three receptions for nine last week as Derrick Henry got a whopping 34 touches. Look for more of the same this week as the Redskins have allowed 5.2 yards per carry to opposing running backs over their past seven games. That might not mean more than 10 touches for Lewis again this week, making him nothing more than a flex option, and a bad one at that.
Week 15 at New York Giants
Dion Lewis managed just 13 yards on 10 carries last week but did supplement that with five receptions for 39 yards. Still, with Derrick Henry's big day in the books, don't look for Lewis to get a bunch of carries. This split backfield situation is as maddening as any in the league. And there often doesn't seem to be rhyme or reason to it. Lewis is a flex play this week.
Week 14 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
After back-to-back solid games sandwiched around the Titans' bye, Dion Lewis has been the invisible man. He has just 107 yards from scrimmage in the past three games, including six carries for 36 yards and two catches for minus-2 yards last week. There's no reason to think that changes this week against the Jaguars. Lewis is barely a flex option this week.
Week 13 vs. N.Y. Jets
Dion Lewis only managed eight yards on seven rushing attempts, but did catch seven passes for 33 yards to salvage the day. In his past three games, Lewis has 37 carries for 89 yards. That's neither the workload or result you want from an RB2, let alone a borderline RB1. He also has just 10 catches in those three games, with seven coming last week. But the Jets have allowed 388 rushing yards to backfields the past two weeks, so there is some hope here -- as long as Derrick Henry doesn't steal the day. Use Lewis as a low-end RB2.
Week 12 at Houston Texans
Like everyone else in the Tennessee offense last week, Dion Lewis never got things rolling, gaining just 25 yards on 10 carries and catching one pass for eight yards. He should do better this week against the Texans, who have allowed four rushing touchdowns to running backs the past three games, but don't expect anything more than low-end RB2 production from Lewis in this game with a shaky quarterback situation.
