King of the Jungle
Footballguy
One of the most polarizing eval’s of skill players in the draft for me. Just not confident enough to take him in the top ten in a rookie draft.
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RB Kaleb Johnson, PIT (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
Bronco Billy
Footballguy
What’s with the pitty-pat feet approaching the POA? I don’t remember seeing that when he was at Iowa. He’s going to need to clean that up or it’s going to be a problem. FWIW I’m high on his career prospects.
crushedspirit
Footballguy
He looked slowwwwww and hesitant
FarFromHome
Footballguy
The problem with us fantasy nerds is we put too much value on too little sample size. A decade ago I convinced myself not to move the value needle to much on one preseason game. Now, if a rb comes out and gets two carries and fumbled both, thats different to me. His first ever NFL game he didn't look anything near to what I saw from him from college. I'm still not moving his needle much. He started. Had a good stiff arm. Left the game healthy. Welcome to the league kid
taylormeetstheismann
Footballguy
FreeBaGeL
Footballguy
Amen. We see this every year. Preseason darlings suck in the regular season. Preseason drubs blow up in the regular season. I can't imagine there is any correlation between preseason hype (in either direction) and actual results.
cdclopper
Footballguy
This is what we say when a guy does poorly. "Its just pre season". When he does awesomely, we take it seriously.
massraider
Footballguy
Are owners 100% sure he's not behind Gainwell?
JohnnyU
Footballguy
Even if he is it won’t matter. Johnson should easily pass him on the depth chart in short order.
crushedspirit
Footballguy
Pre season stats mean very little and I don't care much with numbers in a meaningless game, but what I do watch is how a player looks, and he didn't look good in his small sample size.
Of course that doesn't mean he won't look better as the weeks go on.
Of course that doesn't mean he won't look better as the weeks go on.
FarFromHome
Footballguy
It's a sick game huh. Ha ha
Ramblin Wreck
Footballguy
Good post.
I remember Isaac Guerendo last year being under 3 YPC in preseason and he was just fine when he started for CMC. Breece Hall was 14 carries for 29 yards as a rookie in the preseason.
Ramblin Wreck
Footballguy
No idea what the Steelers depth chart shows but I bet he's ahead of Gainwell in week 1, or shortly thereafter. I don't believe RJ Harvey is RB5 in Denver either based on their depth chart.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
I agree with FarfromHome, but would like to add now is the time to take advantage.
I just had an offer of my 2026 2nd and Justice Hill for Kaleb and thought I was going to break my keyboard accepting. I am rebuilding, so my 2nd should be early, but this was a no doubter.
I just had an offer of my 2026 2nd and Justice Hill for Kaleb and thought I was going to break my keyboard accepting. I am rebuilding, so my 2nd should be early, but this was a no doubter.
FarFromHome
Footballguy
It's what us sharks do buddy. We prey on chum. It why I bumped the Garrett Wilson thread. This time of year I look at players people aren't talking about as the next shiny thing and try to take them. Ha ha
massraider
Footballguy
Owners need to be vigilant about sourcing their hype. There IS actionable news in the summer. But man, some people will listen to anyone. There's a guy on Twitter https://x.com/jagibbs_23
He's a great follow, and is enthusiastic, and cranks out good content. But lordy, he thinks every player is a steal.
In best ball or redraft, summer news is a big deal. Meaning, if I drafted Kaleb in dynasty, I ain't sweating 1st game looks. But if I have a home league or a best ball draft TONIGHT, am I still drafting based on opinion from May? Am I ranking Skattebo at the same spot in redraft as I might have in May? Donte Thornton?
I have not heard what I have been looking to hear about Kaleb.
LawFitz
Footballguy
If there is one thing I put some stock into during preseason it is eye test. It can be deceptive when getting too high on a guy making big plays against soon-to-be Uber drivers, but not as much when those same Ubers make a player look like a carbon copy of Najee Harris. Not writing off Johnson, but he also better not write back.
Tha Guru
Footballguy
Easy smash accept; congrats!
taylormeetstheismann
Footballguy
Is Justice Hill that valuable?
FreeBaGeL
Footballguy
I've never been a Kaleb guy but he didn't look bad to me. He's never been a big burst or cut guy. He looked like the same Kaleb I expected. Found the creases that were there and carried guys forward with good power. The drop wasn't ideal but other than that I saw nothing to worry about. He was finding more room to run until the rest of the starters went out and then he got stuffed for two big losses that made the final stats look worse.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
I don’t think so, but it is a 24 man roster with deep starting lineup so he has a little flex appeal.
My guess is the team that traded him to me is competing. He already thinks Kaleb is a bust, knows I wouldn't trade my first since I am rebuilding. So my early second plus a flex player is equal to a late first in his head and he drafted him at 1.07 and he doesn't lose much value. This is my guess
bluemanfoo
Footballguy
I remember I liked how Guerendo looked in preseason last year. Guerendo showed burst despite the lack of production. The knocks on Johnson were lack of speed and lack of creativity, and he didn't do anything to prove the naysayers wrong.
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Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
This right here
Every rush and target from him yesterday
Bronco Billy
Footballguy
They definitely coached him up from last week. Night and day difference in his decisiveness.
pinequick
Footballguy
Holy cow--awesome post/find. Jacob Gibbs is doing the lord's work here. I love resources like this. Thanks! (and I don't even have shares of this player, but compilations like this are fun to watch)
crushedspirit
Footballguy
They gave him an extended run yesterday to see what he can do, and there were signs of improvement.
Worthy of note is that Gainwell started the game with Mason and the rest of the first team. Warren sat out again, so it appears that Kaleb is the current #3 in the pecking order most likely used to spell Warren from time to time.
Much room for improvement, so it's a wait and see for me. I think his current ADP range is okay, but not sure I would take him ahead of Jaylen in redraft, especially in PPR leagues.
Worthy of note is that Gainwell started the game with Mason and the rest of the first team. Warren sat out again, so it appears that Kaleb is the current #3 in the pecking order most likely used to spell Warren from time to time.
Much room for improvement, so it's a wait and see for me. I think his current ADP range is okay, but not sure I would take him ahead of Jaylen in redraft, especially in PPR leagues.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Man, I traded up in a dynasty start-up draft to make this dude my RB2. Happy to see improvements but this is not exactly the early reporting I was hoping for. 
J Giles Band
Footballguy
Maybe one day he is a RB2... possibly even next season with Warren a FA. But I wouldn't bet on that THIS season.Man, I traded up in a dynasty start-up draft to make this dude my RB2. Happy to see improvements but this is not exactly the early reporting I was hoping for.
Good that it is a dynasty league.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Start up pick 7.10 in a SF.
RBs went a lot earlier than I expected. I traded into an extra pick to take him.
I have high hopes.
Just took him at 7.7 in an FFPC league. I still think he will have the biggest share of the backfield by the 2nd half of the year.
Harjiran
Footballguy
Steelers RB draft picks rarely seem to bust but I haven't seen much from Kaleb Johnson in preseason to move me off my initial impression that he's a player to avoid. If the OL opens up a big lane, he can run through it with some speed and elusiveness, but too often he looks tentative, a little ovewhelmed, and goes down on first contact. He's a rookie - maybe he'll figure it out - but for now it feels like Jaylen Warren is undervalued, perhaps Kenneth Gainwell too.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Warren has looked worse though.
Also Johnson leads the team with 7 forced missed tackles or whatever you call that.
Like others I expect his role to increase as the season goes on. Early on Warren & Gainwell will get much of the usage, but I don’t see them as a particularly high bar to clear.
He's only carried the ball twice with two receptions. Granted he fumbled on one of those but it hardly seems like much of a body of evidence to base this kind of comment on.
cdclopper
Footballguy
Not to mention we have seen enough of Warren that a little preseason action shouldn't move the needle.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Enough of a sample size that their own beat writer put out and entire article saying Warren might get benched.
'I Could See Him Getting Benched:' Beat Writer Offers Warning Over Jaylen Warren's Fumbles
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren has a big opportunity in 2025. His former backfield mate, RB Najee Harris, left in free agency. The Steelers drafted RB Kaleb Johnson in the third round, but Warren is the most experienced running back in Pittsburgh. For the most part, the Steelers treated...
steelersdepot.com
Nothing in that article says he's looked worse or bad. It just says he fumbled and if he keeps fumbling again it could open up the crack that Kaleb needs to get on the field and run away with the job.Enough of a sample size that their own beat writer put out and entire article saying Warren might get benched.
'I Could See Him Getting Benched:' Beat Writer Offers Warning Over Jaylen Warren's Fumbles
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren has a big opportunity in 2025. His former backfield mate, RB Najee Harris, left in free agency. The Steelers drafted RB Kaleb Johnson in the third round, but Warren is the most experienced running back in Pittsburgh. For the most part, the Steelers treated...
Banger
Footballguy
#clickbaitEnough of a sample size that their own beat writer put out and entire article saying Warren might get benched.
'I Could See Him Getting Benched:' Beat Writer Offers Warning Over Jaylen Warren's Fumbles
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren has a big opportunity in 2025. His former backfield mate, RB Najee Harris, left in free agency. The Steelers drafted RB Kaleb Johnson in the third round, but Warren is the most experienced running back in Pittsburgh. For the most part, the Steelers treated...
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
By their beat writer?#clickbaitEnough of a sample size that their own beat writer put out and entire article saying Warren might get benched.
'I Could See Him Getting Benched:' Beat Writer Offers Warning Over Jaylen Warren's Fumbles
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren has a big opportunity in 2025. His former backfield mate, RB Najee Harris, left in free agency. The Steelers drafted RB Kaleb Johnson in the third round, but Warren is the most experienced running back in Pittsburgh. For the most part, the Steelers treated...
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
Kaboly? 
He managed to stay awake for pressers lately?
That guy...let's just say when it comes to football he's the best guy you'll find for info on the WWE.
He has relationships with a couple vet players on the team, so when it comes to "locker room gossip" Kaboly's yer guy. When it comes to ball? He doesnt know it.
I'm also pretty sure he made that comment weeks and weeks ago, just generally speaking when asked question about Warren's historical fumbling issues.
Depot guy there is just quoting it like it was a response specific to that preseason game when he fumbled. It wasnt.
He managed to stay awake for pressers lately?That guy...let's just say when it comes to football he's the best guy you'll find for info on the WWE.
He has relationships with a couple vet players on the team, so when it comes to "locker room gossip" Kaboly's yer guy. When it comes to ball? He doesnt know it.
I'm also pretty sure he made that comment weeks and weeks ago, just generally speaking when asked question about Warren's historical fumbling issues.
Depot guy there is just quoting it like it was a response specific to that preseason game when he fumbled. It wasnt.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
He made it after their last preseason game.
J Giles Band
Footballguy
Local knowledge man... there is no expiration date on it.Kaboly?
That guy...let's just say when it comes to football he's the best guy you'll find for info on the WWE.
He has relationships with a couple vet players on the team, so when it comes to "locker room gossip" Kaboly's yer guy. When it comes to ball? He doesnt know it.
I'm also pretty sure he made that comment weeks and weeks ago, just generally speaking when asked question about Warren's historical fumbling issues.
Depot guy there is just quoting it like it was a response specific to that preseason game when he fumbled. It wasnt.
Thanks
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
Okay. Mea culpa.
Hes probably been asked about it more than once and given similar responses. Hes on every show on that station different days every week. They start to bleed together.
In this case all he is really saying is "if a guy keeps fumbling could Tomlin bench him? Yeah, tomlin could bench him." and a Steeler Depot writer (not an official beat writer, btw) milked it for an article. Not exactly a hot take that Mike hates turnovers enough to bench a vet.
Until his fumbling costs them games, 2025 is probably going to see Warren as lead dog. Hes got some juice as a runner, hes a really good pass blocker (KJ isnt) and A-a-ron cant move like he used to.
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