Kaleb

Johnson

Johnson led the Packers in carries this week, though MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks combined for 11 rushes. Johnson was the most explosive of the bunch, breaking off a 31-yard run in the third quarter that eventually set up a Tucker Kraft touchdown. He undid all of that progress by coughing up the football inside the five-yard line later in the game. MarShawn Lloyd was on the field for the Packers’ penultimate drive, though it only lasted two plays. We can’t imagine the fumble will go over well with Matt LaFleur. Still searching for answers at running back, LaFleur may turn back to Lloyd or even give Brooks more work in Week 5.

The two backs combined for the only eight running back rush attempts on a night the Packers’ offensive line was completely manhandled by an aggressive and athletic Atlanta front. Lloyd took his four carries for 11 yards while Johnson managed only six on his four totes. Both backs were targeted three times through the air, with Johnson going for 10 yards on one reception and Lloyd managing just seven yards on two grabs. This backfield is a complete mess amidst Josh Jacobs’ absence and mounting injuries along the offensive line, with neither back anywhere near a usable fantasy asset ahead of a Week 4 road matchup with the pass-funnel Buccaneers.

Johnson actually led the Packers in rushing attempts and rushing yards in this one. He played on just 13 of the team’s 53 snaps, so we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves here, but he was also clearly the team’s best running back on the day, and he took the first carries in overtime after Marshawn Lloyd fumbled in the second half. There’s a real chance that Johnson steps into a bigger role in Week 3 against Atlanta. He deserves to be added in deeper formats just in case that comes to fruition.

Johnson had a star-crossed first season with the Steelers, losing most of his responsibilities after a key special teams error in Week 2. He was an interesting draft prospect and the Packers running back room has a lot of uncertainty to it with MarShawn Lloyd’s health seemingly always questionable and Josh Jacobs facing a potential suspension. Johnson is worth a speculative pick-up in deeper leagues.

The Steelers’ front office spent a third-round pick on Johnson in the 2025 NFL Draft. He has drastically underperformed since then, and could probably do with a change of scenery. DeFabo also thinks that RB/WR Eli Heidenreich “is a good candidate for the practice squad.”

Buried on the depth chart after a key special teams error last year, Johnson now has Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle ahead of him for carries. We’d still bet Johnson makes the roster — he was a third-round pick just last year — but the early run out has been wildly disappointing.

Johnson, of course, finds himself behind Jaylen Warren and free-agent signing Rico Dowdle, so perhaps the slate is clean but that doesn’t exactly mean he’s going to find carries. Johnson’s in a precarious position on the depth chart at this point. He certainly doesn’t have much expected fantasy value this year without injuries ahead of him, and his dynasty stock is well down from where it was last offseason.

Dowdle will presumably form a one-two punch with incumbent starter Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh after notching consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for the Cowboys and Panthers. It also signals a level of discomfort with former third-round pick Kaleb Johnson, who played sparingly during his rookie season following multiple special teams miscues. The financials of the contract were not immediately made available. Although unlikely to match the 235 carries he averaged the previous two seasons, Dowdle’s size and frame keep his touchdown equity high on the run-first Steelers.

A pair of rookies draw inactivity as both Wilson and Johnson are not active for the team’s Wildcard game against the Texans. The Steelers aim to avoid a one-and-done after backing into the postseason in Week 18.

Watt isn’t expected to get his usual amount of snaps, but the future Hall of Famer will be able to held as a pass-rusher in sub-packages in the winner-take-all game. The Steelers inactives for Week 18 will be WR Roman Wilson, QB Will Howard, RB Kaleb Johnson, CB Tre Flowers, LB Jeremiah Moon and OT Jack Driscoll.