Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson won't be on the fantasy radar for this weekend's clash with the visiting Buffalo Bills. The former third-round pick has had a quiet rookie season, amassing 58 yards on 22 carries across seven appearances. At the beginning of the campaign, Johnson appeared to be on his way to playing a sizable snap share in a backfield ripe for the taking. That didn't come to fruition, though, as teammates Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell have formed a formidable duo for the Steelers. Furthermore, opportunities in Pittsburgh are hard to come by, considering the team boasts the third-slowest pace of play (56.7 plays per game). As it stands, the University of Iowa alum is a talented athlete, but his path to playing time -- at least in 2025 -- is less clear than we'd like for fantasy. Either way, he's still a nice stash in dynasty leagues.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson has seen a minimal role in the offense during his rookie season. However, Johnson could see an increased role this week. Lead back Jaylen Warren (ankle) is currently uncertain to suit up against the Chicago Bears in Week 12. If he sits, Kenneth Gainwell figures to take over as the lead back with Johnson presumably being the backup. Last week, Johnson rushed the ball five times for 15 yards in the win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Gainwell is the better option between the two right now, but Johnson might have some deep league appeal if Warren is unable to play.

From RotoBaller

Week 11 Bold Predictions: Jaylen Warren Does Damage Danny Cross shares his bold predictions for Week 11, including a big game for Jaylen Warren against the Bengals. [Read More]

From FantasyLife

Players To Drop In Week 11 Fantasy Football: Geno Smith, DJ Moore and More Gladys Louise Tyler breaks down the players to drop ahead of Week 11's fantasy football waiver wire run. [Read More]

From FantasyLife

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson was going as a late-round flier with upside in fantasy drafts this fall, but he was quickly sent to the waiver wire. The 22-year-old third-rounder out of Iowa has been a distant third on Pittsburgh's RB depth chart behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell this year, and he didn't help himself with a costly special-teams blunder early in the season. So far through his first five NFL games, Johnson has handled only 15 rushing attempts for 40 yards (2.7 yards per carry) while catching one of his two targets for nine yards. He played five offensive snaps in last week's win over the Indianapolis Colts, which was actually an improvement after not playing at all the previous two games. It will take an injury to Warren or Gainwell for Johnson to get more involved, which means he's only stash-worthy in fantasy football in dynasty/keeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson recorded his second straight game without a carry in Week 8. The 22-year-old appears to be completely buried on the Steelers' depth chart at running back behind veterans Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. Johnson has logged just 36 rushing yards on 14 attempts so far in his rookie season. Beyond his lack of touches, Johnson has not played an offensive snap in either of Pittsburgh's last two games. Unless there's an injury to one or both of Warren and Gainwell, Johnson should remain off the radar of redraft fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson had his best chance yet for a breakout game in Week 4 with Steelers RB1 Jaylen Warren (knee) sidelined by a knee injury. However, Johnson remained stuck behind veteran back Kenneth Gainwell, who logged 134 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 25 total touches against the Minnesota Vikings. Johnson had just six carries for 22 yards, and has recorded just eight carries for 21 yards on the season. Pittsburgh has a bye in Week 5, and Warren may be ready to return in Week 6 for the Steelers' matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Even if Warren remains out, there's little reason to think Johnson would be set to jump Gainwell on the running back depth chart in Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old rookie maintains fantasy appeal in dynasty leagues, but he's tough to roster with any confidence in redraft formats.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson could see more involvement in the offense during Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Lead back Jaylen Warren (knee) has been ruled out for this game. That being said, Kenneth Gainwell, Johnson, and possibly Trey Sermon see bigger roles. Johnson has only seen two carries through the first three weeks of the season. However, the Steelers invested a third-round pick on Johnson, so he should start to see an increased role at some point. This seems like a prime opportunity for the Steelers to see what they have in the rookie back. Johnson is too risky to start in fantasy leagues, but is someone to keep an eye on for this early game in Dublin.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that he is "pleased" with running back Kaleb Johnson's progress, and he believes the rookie has "positioned himself to be a contributor" this week against the Minnesota Vikings. He acknowledged that Johnson has had to earn his way back into the offense after a costly special teams miscue back in Week 2. The 22-year-old had just two carries through his first two games before being a healthy scratch last weekend. It sounds like he'll play this Sunday, but his exact role remains up in the air. He should continue to be stashed on the bench in redraft leagues with at least 14 teams, as well as all dynasty formats.

From RotoBaller

Although Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson was active in Week 3, he did not play a snap following a costly special teams error in Week 2. On Friday, head coach Mike Tomlin complimented the rookie's work ethic, stating that he has "positioned himself to be a contributor" in Dublin, Ireland against the Minnesota Vikings. Exactly how many offensive opportunities he will see remains unclear, though Tomlin confirmed that Johnson will not handle kick returns. With starter Jaylen Warren (knee) banged up, Johnson could mix in with veteran Kenneth Gainwell if all three backs are active. If Warren is limited or unexpectedly ruled out, Johnson's role could expand significantly. He is not a viable fantasy starter this week, especially against a strong Minnesota run defense, but the University of Iowa product is worth stashing ahead of Sunday's contest.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson is expected to be a healthy scratch for Sunday's game, according to a source at Steelers Depot. The team elevated running back Trey Sermon from the practice squad on Saturday, a strong indication that Johnson will be a healthy scratch. The third-round pick out of Iowa has had a limited role in the first two weeks, logging just two rushes for negative one yard. His inactive status follows a notable special teams gaffe last week, in which he failed to field a kickoff, resulting in a Seattle touchdown. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has stated that Johnson "will likely not return kickoffs in the short term," further cementing his demotion. Johnson holds no fantasy value at this time and can be left on waivers or stashed in deeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson has just two offensive touches through the first two weeks of the campaign and remains on the outside looking in ahead of a Week 3 clash with the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, the rookie's most notable NFL moment yet came when his muffed kick return yielded a Seattle touchdown in the team's Week 2 loss. Head coach Mike Tomlin has since removed Johnson from special teams duties as a result. He may still see the field at some point on Sunday, but Johnson will likely need to regain the trust of the coaching staff before carving out a role alongside Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. While there is still some appeal to stashing Johnson in redraft formats, he offers no immediate value and can be left on waiver wires in shallow leagues.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson "probably" will lose kickoff-return duties in Week 3 against the New England Patriots after a crucial special-teams gaffe in the Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. Johnson allowed a kickoff to bounce over his head and into the end zone on Sunday in the fourth quarter because he thought the play would be called dead. But with the NFL's new kickoff rules, it was a live ball, which the Seahawks recovered for a game-changing touchdown. The Steelers will give Johnson a chance to work his way back into the special teams role, but in the short term, he'll be benched. Fantasy managers had high hopes for the 22-year-old during draft season, but Jaylen Warren's demise has been premature, and Kenneth Gainwell has operated as the No. 2. Johnson only played two snaps on offense in Week 2 and has just two carries for a loss of one yard in his first two NFL games. His special-teams gaffe on Sunday certainly didn't help his cause for a bigger role on offense.

From RotoBaller

Players To Drop In Fantasy Football Ahead Of Week 3: Kaleb Johnson, Braelon Allen, and More Geoff Ulrich breaks down who you should cut bait with on your fantasy football rosters as we enter Week 3 of the season. [Read More]

From FantasyLife

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson was hardly involved in his regular-season debut and will likely operate as the team's RB3 again this week against the Seattle Seahawks. Fantasy managers who drafted Johnson with high expectations must exercise patience with the rookie if they plan to keep him rostered. Johnson played just two offensive snaps last week and primarily operated as a kick returner. However, his utilization could see an uptick soon if Kenneth Gainwell continues to struggle with inefficiency as he did in Week 1. For the time being, Johnson is a bench stash with the potential to serve as a complement to Jaylen Warren later in the season. He should not be considered in fantasy lineups on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson had one carry for -2 yards in his NFL debut. Dynasty Analysis: In other words, you gained six more feet than Johnson did today while you were sitting on your couch. Congratulations on your performance. Jaylen Warren (13 touches) and Kenneth Gainwell (10) were both way ahead of Johnson on the day. It's not time to panic just yet but any idea Johnson would somehow be an early-season candidate for fantasy points was quickly put to rest. He'll remain a solid stash on fantasy benches for the time being.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson will make his regular-season NFL debut against the New York Jets in Week 1. A third-round pick in April's draft, Johnson has plenty of potential, especially in a Steelers offense that has ranked top-10 in rush attempts in each of the past three seasons. That said, it's unclear just how much of a role Johnson will have early on. Head coach Mike Tomlin recently labeled Jaylen Warren the team's "featured runner", and veteran Kenneth Gainwell currently sits ahead of Johnson on the depth chart. With Sunday's contest expected to be low-scoring, there is no reason to force Johnson into starting lineups. He should remain rostered in all formats, but fantasy managers would be wise to take a wait-and-see approach with Johnson.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson is listed as the team's No. 3 RB behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell on the team's unofficial Week 1 depth chart. Johnson struggled in the preseason opener but then finished on a high note in the final two games. However, the 22-year-old could have a minimal role to open his first NFL season behind both Warren and Gainwell. The news of Warren's new extension this week was the first sign that fantasy managers might need to pump the brakes on Johnson's value entering Week 1. It doesn't mean that Johnson won't have a key role when all is said and done in 2025, and he still deserves to be rostered in pretty much all fantasy leagues, but we wouldn't suggest starting him in fantasy lineups against the New York Jets this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson may be limited to a reserve role early in his rookie campaign. The team signed Jaylen Warren to a three-year, $17.5 million extension on Monday, further solidifying him as the starter. Warren saw minimal preseason action, a sign the coaching staff is preserving him for a full workload. That leaves Johnson, the 2025 third-round pick, as more of a complementary option to start the season. He flashed potential in the preseason with 94 rushing yards, including 73 after contact. While Johnson isn't likely to offer early fantasy value, his talent could earn him a larger role as the season progresses. - Nathan Harvey

From RotoBaller

The Pittsburgh Steelers have turned to rookie running back Kaleb Johnson as the primary change-of-pace option behind Jaylen Warren. With the ground game sputtering this preseason, Johnson has an opportunity to carve out a bigger role if he continues to showcase his strengths. At 6'0" with an athletic frame, Johnson brings patience, vision, and balance to his runs, piling up explosive carries by trusting his blocks and shedding tacklers. To become a true every-down back, however, Johnson must improve his pass protection.

From RotoBaller