Fantasy Upside
In the 18 games Kerryon Johnson has appeared in with the Lions, he’s rushed for over 1,000 yards, caught 54 passes and scored eight total TDs. Although he’s battled knee injuries in both seasons, landing on the I.R. twice, Johnson is a former second-round pick that has the potential to bust the long one at any time. He’s averaged 15 touches per outing in his two seasons.
Fantasy Downside
As a pro, Johnson has already missed 14 contests. Due to his injuries, the Lions drafted D’Andre Swift out of Georgia in the second round in ’20 and will likely insert him into the starting lineup right away. After averaging 5.4 yards per carry his rookie campaign, Johnson was held to just 3.6 yards per rush in year two. He’s gone over the century mark just three times in his career, only once in ‘19.
Bottom Line
Just two years ago it looked like Johnson would be the Lions RB of the future. Now it’s almost certain the baton will be passed to Swift, just how swiftly that happens is all that remains. While Johnson is still a top-50 fantasy RB, the presence of the rookie and the injuries make him a player on the decline. Expect the backs to share touches for at least the first half of the season, but it may not take long before Johnson’s playing time diminishes.