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Acme Packing Company fantasy football takes on Kaleb Johnson
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Acme Packing Company about Kaleb Johnson.
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Positive
15
Negative
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All Acme Packing Company insights about Kaleb Johnson
NegativeDepth ChartOct 28, 2026
Packers running back expected to be scratched from the 48-man game-day roster for Week 8 vs. Panthers as the team manages their active roster down from 53 to 48 players.NegativeDepth ChartOct 27, 2026
RB Kaleb Johnson was a healthy scratch last week and will almost certainly be scratched again for Thursday's game-day roster, as the Packers work down from their 53-man active roster to a 48-man game-day roster.NegativeDepth ChartOct 27, 2026
Running back relegated to healthy scratch despite Packers trading draft capital to acquire him; when given carries against Tampa Bay, contributed 58 yards on two carries, but remains benched despite the team's desperate rushing situation.NegativeDepth ChartOct 27, 2026
RB Kaleb Johnson was a healthy scratch against Detroit and is expected to be scratched again for Thursday's game against Carolina as the Packers trim their 53-man roster to 48-man game-day roster.NegativeDepth ChartOct 26, 2026
Running back Kaleb Johnson is expected to be scratched from the game-day roster for Thursday's action against the Carolina Panthers to get the Packers down to a 48-man game-day roster.NegativeUsageOct 26, 2026
Kaleb Johnson has a -0.33 ADOT among Packers running backs, indicating he is being targeted on short routes near the line of scrimmage, in contrast to Josh Jacobs' 5.1-yard ADOT. This reflects the Packers' differential usage patterns for their running back group in the passing game.NegativeDepth ChartOct 26, 2026
Kaleb Johnson is now a healthy scratch for the Packers following Josh Jacobs' return; however, the source notes Johnson retains value due to his three-year cost-controlled rookie contract, which would terminate if waived.NegativeRoleOct 24, 2026
Fell behind MarShawn Lloyd and Pierre Strong Jr. down the stretch and is likely to be displaced from the game-day roster by the activation of Josh Jacobs, reducing his playing time opportunity against Detroit.NegativeUsageOct 19, 2026
Johnson averages 3.7 yards per carry for the Packers despite early offensive line struggles, providing context for Lloyd's historically poor 2.5 Y/A. While Johnson's numbers are bolstered by a few long runs and he has been bad on a per-play basis, he at least has some positive production to show.NegativeUsageOct 19, 2026
Johnson combined with Marshawn Lloyd and Pierre Strong for 15 carries on first downs, gaining just 25 yards net. Play-by-play shows Johnson had one first-down carry for -2 yards, contributing to the Packers' offensive struggles on early downs.NegativeUsageOct 19, 2026
Kaleb Johnson has been a non-factor in the Packers offense for two straight weeks following his Week 4 fumble against Tampa Bay. In Week 5 against Chicago, Johnson played only nine snaps (all in garbage time), while MarShawn Lloyd played 27 and Pierre Strong Jr. played 25. In Week 6 against Dallas, Johnson received even fewer looks, playing just two snaps. The source notes Johnson is under a three-year cost-controlled rookie contract and may be scratched as a developmental prospect when Josh Jacobs is activated, with Strong potentially elevated as a game-day replacement.NegativeUsageOct 19, 2026
Johnson recorded a loss of yardage on first down during a Packers drive in the fourth quarter.NegativeUsageOct 11, 2026
Johnson saw a dramatic snap count decline in Week 5, dropping from leading the Packers in rushing the prior week to just 9 snaps (compared to MarShawn Lloyd's 26 and Pierre Strong Jr.'s 24). Most of his action came late in garbage time; he did not play a single snap in the first half. The source notes that with Josh Jacobs and Chris Brooks set to return, the Packers face a roster crunch that will likely result in cuts among their running back group.NegativeRoleOct 9, 2026
Expected to be part of Packers' three-man RB rotation for Week 5 against Bears alongside Marshawn Lloyd and Pierre Strong Jr., with Chris Brooks ruled out.NegativeRoleOct 9, 2026
Johnson's fumble issues are even worse than Lloyd's, and he's under pressure to fix them quickly to retain any role in the offense; he believes a change in shoulder pads was part of the problem and is attempting to address the issue.NegativeRoleOct 8, 2026
Johnson is a primary running back for the Packers with Pierre Strong Jr. backing him up in the depth chart; Johnson has minimal special teams involvement with only three snaps played on kickoffs this season, contrasting sharply with Chris Brooks' 29 special teams snaps.PositiveUsageOct 8, 2026
Kaleb Johnson's run game has been hampered by his plodding nature combined with offensive line struggles, but recent reinforcements show promise. Last week's insertion of Laken Tomlinson and Travis Glover produced an immediate improvement in run blocking, resulting in a 31-yard explosive run by Johnson. This week's installation of Kevin Zeitler at guard is expected to further bolster the run game, with the source noting that a 'big guys moving forward' approach could benefit Johnson and allow defenses to pay more attention to the backfield.NegativeRoleOct 7, 2026
Johnson's fundamental errors and lack of vision are severely limiting the Packers' running back room. He fumbled near the goal line with one hand on the ball despite Tampa forcing a turnover opportunity, and on a designed duo play where Jonnu motioned to carry the cornerback into the hole for a one-on-one matchup, Johnson didn't execute or even attempt to attack the cornerback. The source characterizes the running back room as 'sub-replacement level' play that is 'really stretching how you can even build a coherent offense.'PositiveUsageOct 7, 2026
Johnson ran for 31 yards on a 2nd & 5 play out of 13 personnel in the 3rd quarter, working behind excellent blocking from the Rhyan/Tomlinson double-team on the nose tackle and one-on-one blocks from Travis Glover and Anthony Belton. Mark Redman looped inside as a lead blocker to take on the only other threat in the box, allowing Johnson to get into the open field for an explosive gain.NegativeMatchupOct 5, 2026
Johnson was tackled for a two-yard loss on a second-and-3 play in the second quarter when Buccaneers' defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches beat left tackle Jordan Morgan; Glover's pulling assignment was disrupted by Morgan's poor block, illustrating the Packers' ground game struggles despite Glover's solid pass blocking.NegativeUsageOct 4, 2026
Running back had a brutal fumble in Week 4 and is part of a struggling RB room. Johnson had the team's longest rush of the season at 31 yards, but the source emphasizes the fumble as 'about as brutal as it gets.' On 25 team rushes for 86 yards, Johnson and the RB room averaged just 1.2 YPC excluding two long runs, indicating severe efficiency and ball-security issues.NegativeUsageOct 4, 2026
Johnson received 15 snaps in Week 4 and was part of a feast-or-famine running back unit that relied on explosive plays. While the Packers had their best rushing game of the season, Johnson's longest run (one of two long runs totaling 58 yards combined) masked poor efficiency on other carries; the backs managed just 17 carries for 27 yards on the remaining 17 runs.PositiveRoleOct 2, 2026
With Marshawn Lloyd proving insufficient as starting back, Johnson is poised for increased workload; beefed-up offensive line and simplified running game scheme position him as logical choice to handle bell-cow role; Tampa Bay run defense provides first test of whether he can handle workhorse carries.NegativeMatchupOct 1, 2026
Johnson faces a tough matchup this week against Tampa Bay, which allows only 3.1 yards per attempt on the ground (second-best in the league) and has played against much better rushing attacks than the Packers can offer. However, the schedule improves significantly after: Chicago allows 5.1 yards per attempt (second-worst in league) and Dallas ranks 29th at 5.0 yards allowed. If the Packers' offensive line can get up to speed, Johnson should have better opportunities against weaker run defenses in mid-October.PositiveRoleOct 1, 2026
Johnson is the default pick to lead the Packers' ground attack in their revamped power-running scheme; he's been ramped up with 8 carries (career high) in Week 2 vs. Jets and 24 snaps (career high, second-most among Packers backs) vs. Falcons. At 224 pounds and 4.57-second 40-yard dash, he is physically tailor-made to hammer between the tackles in a gap scheme, though only 20% of his college carries came in gap plays (vs. Josh Jacobs' 42-47% in 2024-25). The source believes Johnson's broad shoulders will have to carry the load if the Packers are serious about powering their way to ground game success, and he's shouldered significant burdens before: 20+ carries in 8 of 35 college games, including 35 carries in one game.NegativeBustOct 1, 2026
Kaleb Johnson has been just as bad as Marshawn Lloyd through the first three games. His rushing yards over expected per attempt is even worse than Lloyd's, costing the Packers nearly two yards per carry. His EPA is marginally better only because of Lloyd's lost fumble, but his success rate is equally poor. Johnson's primary issue is identical to Lloyd's: he cannot read his blocks. Neither Johnson nor Lloyd have any capacity to run outside zone, which requires more running back vision than any other play-type. Moving to gap scheme should help Johnson by pre-determining his hole, but he remains part of the worst running back duo in franchise history.PositiveRoleOct 1, 2026
Running back expected to benefit from the Packers' shift back to a power run game scheme enabled by Zeitler's arrival and the new interior offensive line configuration. The source states: 'With the line likely to eventually consist of Aaron Banks or Laken Tomlinson at left guard, Zeitler at right guard, and Anthony Belton at tackle, the Packers will almost assuredly be back on board with the power run game. Hopefully that sets up well for a big back like Kaleb Johnson, even if he played in a zone scheme in college.'PositiveDepth ChartSep 25, 2026
Kaleb Johnson has moved up the Packers running back depth chart after playing zero snaps in Week 1. In Week 2, Johnson split snaps evenly with MarShawn Lloyd (on non-penalties), and by Week 3 he is now the RB2 ahead of Lloyd. On the season, Johnson has 36 snaps compared to Lloyd's 59 and Brooks' 85, but Johnson is making up ground on Lloyd.NegativeRoleSep 21, 2026
Johnson was added to the Packers' running back committee in Week 2 after receiving no snaps in Week 1; he played 14 snaps in Week 2 (second only to Brooks' 22) and received increased work late in the game when Lloyd was benched following his fumble. Johnson also fumbled in Week 2 but the Jets did not recover it.NegativeUsageSep 21, 2026
Johnson received kick return opportunities in Week 1 when Skyy Moore did not return kicks. However, Moore's dominant Week 2 performance makes it unlikely Johnson will see significant return opportunities going forward.PositiveUsageSep 20, 2026
Kaleb Johnson played 14 snaps against the Jets (14 on season) after playing zero snaps against the Vikings in Week 1, representing a stock-up situation as the Packers increase his involvement in the running back rotation.PositiveUsageSep 20, 2026
Johnson contributed to the Packers' offensive attack with a 12-yard run to start their fourth series in the second quarter, and later in overtime picked up 11 yards off the left end on the first play to move the chains and help set up the game-winning field goal drive.PositiveDepth ChartSep 18, 2026
Johnson is projected to be active on the game-day roster for Week 2 against the Jets as one of three running backs expected to suit up alongside MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks.NegativeRoleSep 14, 2026
Despite being acquired from Pittsburgh at the cutdown deadline and having prior experience with offensive coordinator Tim Lester and Arthur Smith, Kaleb Johnson did not play a single snap on offense in Week 1 against Minnesota, signaling limited immediate role despite the coaching familiarity.NegativeRoleSep 10, 2026
Johnson, newly acquired by the Packers, is identified as part of the backfield picture heading into Week 1. The source indicates that his role and contribution will be subject to scrutiny over the first few weeks of the season, positioning him as a player whose usage and fantasy relevance remain to be determined in the early going.NegativeBustSep 9, 2026
Kaleb Johnson, a second-year third round pick, was so disappointing to the team that drafted him that they traded him for just a sixth round pick; his poor performance and low trade value indicate minimal fantasy relevance for 2026.PositiveDepth ChartSep 9, 2026
Johnson was listed as the Packers' third-string running back despite being signed just a week prior, but the source believes he will be the number two ball-carrier in Green Bay while Josh Jacobs is out; Chris Brooks, listed as second-string, is characterized as more of a blocking back than a true ball-carrier, suggesting Johnson's depth chart placement undervalues his role.PositiveRoleSep 8, 2026
Traded for at the cutdown deadline to back up MarShawn Lloyd as Green Bay's number two ball-carrying option; Johnson was the 55th overall player in his draft class but had early struggles in Pittsburgh and fell down the depth chart. He's hoping to rebound with the Packers' return to the outside zone scheme, which he ran frequently at the college level under Tim Lester, who now serves as a senior the source for Green Bay.NegativeRoleSep 4, 2026
Backup running back acquired via trade from Pittsburgh Steelers to Green Bay at cutdown deadline (2025 third-round pick for 2028 sixth-round pick); averaged 2.8 carries per game as a rookie for the Steelers in 2025; also played under offensive coordinator Tim Lester at University of Iowa, a former Green Bay under head coach Matt LaFleur.PositiveRoleSep 2, 2026
Packers trade acquisition during cutdown weekend; the source notes the Packers paid a small premium to land Johnson, indicating they prioritized getting exactly the player they wanted. Johnson made a good impression on Day 1 with the team, suggesting early fit and readiness in the new offense.NegativeDepth ChartSep 1, 2026
Kaleb Johnson is expected to be active on the gameday roster for Week 1, though there is a small chance he could be scratched early in the season as a healthy scratch to allow him more time to learn the playbook; his Iowa experience under former Packers Savion Williams Tim Lester in a similar running game should help him hit the ground running.PositiveRoleAug 31, 2026
Kaleb Johnson was acquired by the Packers on cutdown day in a trade that sent a 2028 6th-round pick to the other team; the trade appears solid, and with the Packers moving toward an outside zone scheme, the fit should be better for his skill set.PositiveRoleAug 30, 2026
Kaleb Johnson was traded for by the Packers for Green Bay's original sixth-round pick in 2028, positioning him as a key running back option following Josh Jacobs' Commissioner Exempt list placement.PositiveRoleAug 30, 2026
Traded to Green Bay Packers from Pittsburgh Steelers; expected to be part of the Packers' regular season running back rotation alongside MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks following Josh Jacobs' placement on the commissioner exempt list.NegativeRoleAug 30, 2026
Third-round rookie RB traded from Pittsburgh to Green Bay after being buried on the Steelers depth chart behind starter Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, and Travis Homer. In 2024 regular season, Johnson carried the ball 28 times for 69 yards (2.5 yards per attempt), the third-most attempts on Pittsburgh behind Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. He was fourth on the Steelers in rushing yards, behind even tight end Jonnu Smith (9 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD). Johnson's primary role was special teams: 11 snaps in 10 games, 8 of those kickoff returns with a long of 29 yards. With Green Bay, he enters a crowded backfield with Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, and Chris Brooks.