2025 Fantasy Football: AFC North Sleeper

RB Kaleb Johnson, Steelers

The Steelers drafted this Sleeper in this year’s draft. I’m talking about rookie RB Kaleb Johnson. I’ve written often about how a player’s success is often determined by timing and circumstance. A notable example is Tom Brady. Being at the right place at the right time, when then-starter Drew Bledsoe went down after a serious hit that nearly killed him, Brady was there to step in…and the rest was history.

Johnson probably won’t be the RB version of Brady, but he definitely got drafted by the right team. The Steelers have always been known for their RBs, and Johnson will be the next one. Recently, HC Mike Tomlin has emphasized a two-back, tandem backfield, most recently consisting of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Harris is now gone, and Warren has elevated to the team’s RB1, with Johnson sliding in as the team’s RB2.

Taken in the third round with the 83rd pick, Johnson was the sixth RB to go off the board. But other than Ashton Jeanty, Johnson could very well end up being the best RB in this draft. If his junior year at Iowa is any indication, he’s going to have an amazing NFL career.

Last year with the Hawkeyes, he led the conference in rushing yards and touchdowns, gaining 1,537 yards with 21 rushing touchdowns (he also added two receiving touchdowns). He averaged a very solid 6.4 yds per rush and 128.1 yds per game. At 6’1″ and 225 lbs, he has a rare combination of size and speed.

There is no doubt that the Steelers are a team in transition with Aaron Rodgers at the helm for this one year. At his age and with his recent injury history, HC Tomlin will want to protect his aging QB, and what better way than with an aggressive, run-first offense? The snap breakdown between the two RBs may start with a 60%/40% split with Warren getting the early edge, but as the season wears on, I can see that becoming 50/50, and ultimately 60/40, in Johnson’s favor.As I said, other than Jeanty, Johnson will emerge as the no.2 RB to come out of this draft, and a 1000-1200 season should be on the horizon. Suppose he can find the endzone with the same regularity as he did at Iowa. In that case, this will be a steal for the Steelers, producing another winning season and another successful NFL running back selection.