Fantasy Upside
Chris Johnson decided to re-sign with the Cardinals for another year after visiting Miami. From a fantasy perspective, it's bigger news for Miami than it is in Arizona. Seeing more work than most expected, Johnson ran for 814 yards at 4.2 yards per carry before landing on injured reserve in December with a fractured tibia. Despite starting just nine games, he became the first Cardinals running back in 30 years to break the 100-yard rushing mark in four different games.
Fantasy Downside
But as NFL.com pointed out, he wasn't the same player late in the year. His speed fell off, but Johnson, 30, won't be asked to play the workhorse role. Not with second-year back David Johnson set for a monster campaign in Arizona's prolific offense. Remember: General manager Steve Keim told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine last month that it's "scary" to ponder how good the younger back can be as he develops in his second and third seasons. HC Bruce Arians seems to agree, calling David Johnson a "bell cow" player.
2016 Bottom Line
Still, Johnson believes he can team with his second-year teammate to give the Cardinals a high-octane backfield, the likes of which they haven't seen this century. "I feel like me and him can probably be the best tandem in the NFL this year," Chris Johnson said. Sure. Theoretically speaking it would be. But the younger Johnson figures to be a three-down workhorse this season, with the elder Johnson spelling him and Andre Ellington used as a situational change-up and receiving threat. That probably relegates CJ2K to handcuff status this season.