Kaleb

Johnson

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.

Graziano adds that “the team also believes rookie Kaleb Johnson will contribute before season’s end,” but for now, it is a two-man show. Perhaps the biggest news here is that Graziano still lists Warren ahead of Gainwell after Gainwell totaled 134 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns with Warren sidelined last week. Warren’s knee “just didn’t feel quite right in pregame warmups.” He gets a Week 5 bye to get right before the Steelers take on the Browns in Week 6.

Johnson didn’t touch the ball in Week 3 after making an egregious special teams mistake in Week 2. With Jaylen Warren out for today’s game, Johnson was elevated to RB2 duties versus Minnesota. He looked solid on the ground but did drop his only target. It was a step in the right direction for the rookie, even if he doesn’t have any fantasy appeal heading into the Steelers’ Week 5 bye.

It’s a nightmare scenario for fantasy managers who care about getting their nightly eight hours of sleep. Warren was reportedtly expected to play as of Saturday and was spotted going through warmups this morning. Kenneth Gainwelll figuires to be the team’s top back and should be scooped up in all formats. Warren’s absence could also give rookie Kaleb Johnson a shot at redemption after his kickoff snaffu from Week 2 got him sent to the bench.