Kaleb Johnson – Fantasy Football Impact Pittsburgh Steelers
Selected with the 19th pick of the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, RB Kaleb Johnson will join the Steelers. Measuring in at 6’1” and 224 pounds makes him bigger than the average NFL running back (5’11” and 215 pounds). His size will give him leverage while his finesse will allow him an opportunity. Continue reading as we break down the fantasy football impact of Johnson with the Pittsburgh Steelers for 2025 and beyond.
Kaleb Johnson Strengths for Fantasy Football Production
At Iowa, Johnson made waves in 2024 with 1725 all-purpose yards and a school-record 21 rushing touchdowns, receiving All-American honors. Over his three college years, he averaged 5.5 yards per carry and 8.3 yards per reception. He’s been compared to Tyler Allgeier (1035 rookie rushing yards). However, I see him more as a J.K. Dobbins (4.86 yards per carry with 15+ attempts in a game) without the career-altering injuries.
Joining a team like the Steelers under the tutelage of Mike Tomlin will put Johnson in an ideal position for any pro running back. With an emphasis on defense and running the ball to control the clock, there will be plenty of opportunities for this young runner. It also helps that one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, Darnell Washington (sixth-best grade via PFF), is there to give a hand.
Fantasy Football Challenges and Risks
The first thing people will reference is Johnson’s underwhelming 2025 NFL Combine performance. There, he displayed a 40-yard run of 4.57 seconds. After that, the incumbent Jaylen Warren has been a favorite of many fantasy managers over the years. Those reasons, as well as Johnson not breaking out until his final collegiate year, will give many players pause.
With the unknowingness of the current quarterback situation in Pittsburgh, a straightforward plan for the offense is still unclear. Speculations of Aaron Rodgers joining the squad are abundant, and there’s not a lot of faith in Mason Rudolph under the helm. Coupling that with the explosiveness of George Pickens and the addition of D.K. Metcalf could lead to folks believing that the Steelers may lean more into the pass in 2025.
2025 Fantasy Football Outlook
Overall, there is a lot of promise that a team like the Steelers will predicate their offense on the running game, as they have done for many years. Without an established star out of the backfield, Johnson could find himself in a more than considerable role for the team.
Warren has yet to show that he can command the lion’s share of carries across a season, and the rookie’s exuberance could propel him above the standing veterans. His high-tempo style and active vision give him a leg up on the competition. Even in a timeshare, he’ll be a running back that can add depth to your fantasy football roster.
Dynasty Football Outlook
Overall, Johnson has everything you want in a dynasty league running back. He has speed, decisiveness, and a bruiser build. Additionally, he is not a bad pass catcher either. With his landing spot and overall skills, he is a great late-first to early-second round talent that could pay dividends for many seasons. Johnson is not a guy you want to brush off for fantasy football in 2025 and beyond.
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