Kaleb Johnson

Kaleb Johnson

22-Year-Old Running BackRB
Pittsburgh Steelers
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Although Iowa has featured many strong running backs over the years, Johnson's production stands out as a clear magnitude better than any of the Hawkeye RBs going back to Shonn Greene in 2008. By running for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries (6.4 YPC) in 2024, Johnson made a strong case to be selected on Day 2 of the draft (as Greene was in 2009). The Steelers bit, taking Johnson at No. 83 overall as a likely replacement for Najee Harris. At 6-foot-1, 224, Johnson is a big running back to be breaking so many long plays, and if he can offer a similar degree of big-play ability in the NFL then he'll be a standout fantasy back even without much receiving work. Johnson's combine performance was less than great, however -- a 4.57-second 40-yard dash suggests he's unlikely to break many long runs in the NFL -- so he might need to rebrand as a pure power runner alongside new teammate Jaylen Warren. The situation in Pittsburgh is favorable for Johnson to earn playing time early on, but he'll have to share work with Warren and won't necessarily take on all the snaps and touches that Harris handled the past few years. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#87.48
ADP
Signed a four-year, $6.37 million contract with the Steelers in May of 2025.
Gets involved in offense
RBPittsburgh Steelers
September 28, 2025
Johnson rushed the ball six times for 22 yards in Sunday's 24-21 win over the Vikings.
ANALYSIS
Jaylen Warren's (knee) absence opened up a lot of opportunity in the Pittsburgh backfield. Kenneth Gainwell was the primary back and performed well, though Johnson did see the most significant opportunity of his rookie season. He was servicable in the role, picking up 14 yards on the ground on a drive early in the fourth quarter to help the Steelers to a field goal. Johnson isn't likely to see much of a role when Pittsburgh returns to the field in Week 6, but it was a small step forward after a poor start to his rookie campaign.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Kaleb Johnson's 2025 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Broken Tackle %
    The number of broken tackles divided by rush attempts.
  • Positive Run %
    The percentage of run plays where he was able to gain positive yardage.
  • % Yds After Contact
    The percentage of his rushing yards that came after contact.
  • Avg Yds After Contact
    The average rushing yards he gains after contact.
  • Rushing TD %
    Rushing touchdowns divided by rushing attempts. In other words, how often is he scoring when running the ball.
  • Touches Per Game
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) he is averaging per game
  • % Snaps w/Touch
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) divided by offensive snaps played.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Broken Tackle %
12.5%
 
Positive Run %
87.5%
 
% Yds After Contact
61.9%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
1.6
 
Rushing TD %
0.0%
 
Touches Per Game
2.7
 
% Snaps w/Touch
53.3%
 
Air Yards Per Game
-1.0
 
Air Yards Per Snap
-0.20
 
% Team Air Yards
-0.6%
 
% Team Targets
1.0%
 
Avg Depth of Target
-3.0 Yds
 
Catch Rate
0.0%
 
Drop Rate
100.0%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
0.0
 
% Targeted On Route
14.3%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.00
 
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2025 NFL Game Log
2025
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Scoring
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PPR
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Pittsburgh SteelersSteelers 2025 RB Snap Distribution
#% of Team Snaps

11049%
10446%
157%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Kaleb Johnson lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
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2025 Kaleb Johnson Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Kaleb Johnson's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 1"
 
Weight
224 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.57 sec
 
Hand Length
9.62 in
 
Arm Length
33.00 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Kaleb Johnson See More
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Kaleb Johnson See More
More Fantasy News
Doesn't play in Week 3
RBPittsburgh Steelers
September 22, 2025
Johnson didn't take the field during Sunday's 21-14 win over the Patriots.
ANALYSIS
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Relieved of return duties
RBPittsburgh Steelers
September 16, 2025
Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Johnson "probably" won't be returning kickoffs against the Patriots in Week 3, Brooke Pryor of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Commits blunder on special teams
RBPittsburgh Steelers
September 15, 2025
Johnson rushed once for one yard during Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Seahawks.
ANALYSIS
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Minimal involvement in debut
RBPittsburgh Steelers
September 7, 2025
Johnson rushed the ball once for minus-2 yards in Sunday's 34-32 win over the Jets. He also returned five kickoffs for 132 yards.
ANALYSIS
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Ends preseason on high note
RBPittsburgh Steelers
August 21, 2025
Johnson took five carries for 24 yards and one catch for two yards in Thursday's 19-10 preseason win over the Panthers.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
In line for reduction in duties
RBPittsburgh Steelers
September 16, 2025
Johnson is not likely to return kicks in Week 3 against the Patriots, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Johnson made a high-profile mistake on a kickoff return in Pittsburgh's Week 2 loss to the Seahawks, allowing the ball to bounce into the end zone and be recovered by Seattle for a touchdown. His error changed the momentum of the game, and he was replaced on the subsequent kickoff by Kenneth Gainwell. Coach Mike Tomlin didn't make any change official, but did make clear that Johnson will have to re-earn the trust of the coaching staff.
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