Kaleb Johnson will be the best rookie RB after Ashton Jeanty

Yahoo

06-05-2025

Kaleb Johnson will be the best rookie RB after Ashton Jeanty | Yahoo Fantasy Forecast
Yahoo Sports fantasy analysts Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens discuss how Kaleb Johnson has the potential to be one of the best rookie running backs next season. Hear the full conversation on the 'Yahoo Fantasy Forecast' podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
Ok, it's possible that I cannot credibly tout a University of Iowa prospect.
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People know that I am, I am biased in this regard, but my goodness, um, did Caleb Johnson ever land in the right spot.
You and I both had Caleb Johnson going to the.
Pittsburgh Steelers in our wish casting episode, just a perfect fit of of what a what a player is already accomplished in doing at the collegiate level with what with what a coordinator wants to do, right?
You give you give those zone carries that went to Naja Harris last year to Caleb Johnson.
It's, I don't know, that's.
It's not exactly flattering the comp a guy to Naja Harris, but in in this particular case, um, when when you're directly replacing Nai Harris, um, man, I think he can do everything that Naje did, uh, and I think that Caleb Johnson finishes.
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Outside of Ashton Genty as the next highest scoring fantasy running back, uh, from this rookie class in 2025, like 10 touchdowns and 1000 yards are absolutely on the table.
We keep Jaylen Warren in that supporting role, in that secondary role where he is very well suited.
Uh, it's fine with me if people are screaming all year that we need to see more Jaylen Warren.
That's been the story of his career at this point as a As a fantasy asset, right?
We're probably going to get it again.
I, I just think Caleb's fit in this Pittsburgh offense is too perfect.
It's where he needed to go.
Like Caleb couldn't go just anywhere and be an immediate success, right?
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He needs, he needs stylistically, he needs scheme wise, he needs it to look a little bit like it did in Iowa.
And now you're, now you're on a team that's going to have other options, right?
Like the The thing with Iowa's offense is you literally only worried about this one guy.
You worried about #2 in the backfield and nothing else.
Um, all of a sudden we've got George Pickens over there.
We got DK Metcalf over there.
Maybe we get Aaron Rodgers a quarterback.
There's a, there's a lot to stress the defense.
Caleb's going to eat.
Um, this is going to be a great season.
I'm not promising you more than, I don't know, 25 receptions, something like that, but man, as just an early down carve you up guy, uh, Caleb's gonna be great.
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OK, I'm cracking up number one at the, if you're watching on YouTube, you could see the Pittsburgh Steelers potential offensive depth chart we've got them up here and I just, I, Aaron Rodgers at QB with the parentheses potentially.
Very fun.
So, uh, if you're listening to the podcast, sorry, you can't see that, but, you know, watch it on YouTube.
Give us a view over there as well.
We, we would love you for it.
Um, but yeah, I look, peel back the curtain here, um, you know, we, this is not a secret list pod because everything's produced now.
Uh, so fun is dead and production is up, uh, here on the fantasy forecast.
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So this was not a secret list pod.
We had to have the names in the outline and anytime there's a name like Andy loves the secret list, the only thing he loves more than that is being the first dude in the outline, uh, so he beat me, uh, to, to this because Caleb Johnson was gonna be my number one winner in that section, of course, like.
All right, well, of course, and he's got the damn Iowa running back on his stand on the table segment.
I'm with you, bro.
I think he is a, I think he's the, I, I can easily make the case he's the running back too after Ashton Genty.
It's a great system fit.
Look, for all that Rogers is, I think he will get them to be like a non oh God, I mean, famous last words here, non-joke of an offense.
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This year.
So if he's just like the Aaron Rodgers we saw at times last year, this can be a functional unit in which Caleb Johnson just is touching the ball 15 to 18 times a game.
He scores 8 to 9 touchdowns this year.
You know, considering that Trayvon Henderson's a committee back, Quinon Judkins, he's playing for the damn Browns.
Uh, I can easily make a case.
Yeah, Caleb Johnson is the, uh, running back too here.
So I'm with you.