The New England Patriots have been cautious with running back Dion Lewis ever since he tore his ACL last season. Lewis remains on the PUP list and hasn’t practiced at all in training camp.
Dion Lewis being held out of training camp, injury history makes him a fantasy risk
Dion Lewis has yet to practice after tearing his ACL last year. We break down the fantasy implications.
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There have been conflicting reports about Lewis’ status throughout the month. The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin said that Lewis could start the regular season on the reserve/PUP (costing him the first six games), but the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe believes that Lewis is just being rested before Week 1.
Lewis was enjoying a breakout year before the injury, rushing for 4.8 yards per carry, catching 36 passes and scoring four touchdowns.
Fantasy impact: This is the Patriots, so we probably won’t know when Lewis is ready until he actually hits the football field. That said, Lewis has a long injury history that has stalled out his career multiple times. Even if he’s fully recovered from the torn ACL, there’s no guarantee that Lewis will be able to play all 16 games.
Right now Lewis is going in the fourth round of standard fantasy drafts, which is a scary price to pay for his uncertain health. Fantasy owners might be better off letting someone else take the risk.
