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Kaleb Johnson fantasy football news and podcast insights

Source-backed player signal from monitored fantasy football podcasts, shows, videos, articles, and social posts.

RBPIT40 insightsLatest Aug 23, 2026
7
Positive signals
28
Negative signals
8
Sources
Aug 23, 2026
Latest update
NegativeRoleAug 23, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
Iowa product received the most carries (10 for 39 yards) in the Jets game but the source remains concerned about his lack of burst and tackle-breaking ability compared to elite runway-dependent backs like Derrick Henry. Johnson hasn't shown threatening top speed and the source notes his lack of burst has become a real concern in the NFL. Despite this, the source is not as bearish as most Steelers fans. The competition for RB3 remains wide open behind starters Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle.
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PositiveRoleAug 22, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
Johnson was a prime roster cut candidate after the Packers preseason game where he played just five snaps and gained 3 yards on two carries. Against the Jets, McCarthy deployed him more freely, leading the team with 10 carries for 39 yards. While those numbers are modest, they signal he has a fighting chance to beat out Travis Homer and Lew Nichols to back up Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle. Johnson had 28 carries for 69 yards as a rookie but was mostly a non-factor after an early-season special teams gaffe against Seattle.
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PositiveRoleAug 21, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson got an early look against the Jets, playing much earlier than he did in the preseason opener against the Packers. He started the drive behind Will Howard in the formation and was out there for most of a late second-quarter drive with two carries for seven yards so far. The move suggests he may still have a fighting chance of staying on the roster, ahead of Travis Homer and Lew Nichols who beat him out in playing time last week. Johnson totaled 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns in his final season at Iowa but was mostly relegated to the bench last season behind Warren and Kenneth Gainwell with just 28 carries for 69 yards.
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PositiveValueAug 21, 2026Windy City Gridiron
The source's 5th-rated RB in the 2025 class is unlikely to make the Pittsburgh Steelers' final 53-man roster come opening weekend; reports indicate he has fallen out of favor in Pittsburgh, entering the contest after journeyman and former Bear Travis Homer. A change of scenery could be mutually beneficial, though success in Ben Johnson's scheme in Chicago is uncertain. The source identifies him as a potential trade or waiver target for Chicago.
Insight pageSourceOriginal
NegativeRoleAug 20, 2026Behind the Steel Curtain
Kaleb Johnson, a 2025 third-round pick, looked fine during his eight snaps against Green Bay but received significantly fewer offensive reps, carries, and special teams snaps than other RB3 contenders. Despite a fresh start under new coaching staff in 2026, Johnson has struggled to stand out from the team's depth at running back. The source suggests the rest of the preseason might be essential for Johnson's chances at salvaging his career in Pittsburgh.
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NegativeUsageAug 20, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
Kaleb Johnson, a 2025 third-rounder, looked fine during his eight snaps in the Packers preseason game but received significantly fewer offensive reps, carries, and special teams reps than other running back contenders in the RB3 battle. Despite a fresh start under new coaching staff in 2026, Johnson has still struggled to stand out from the team's depth at the position and didn't get many chances to prove otherwise against the Packers. The source states that the rest of the preseason might be essential for Johnson's chances at salvaging his career in Pittsburgh.
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PositiveNewsAug 18, 2026Zain Dhanani
Zain Dhananion X

Some good insights: Roman Wilson learned all 3 WR spots and they like him at WR3 as a versatile piece (Jalen Tolbert imo) Germie = WR4 right now RB Kaleb Johnson is fighting for that RB3 spot with Travis Homer (and others)

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NegativeBustAug 16, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
Third-round pick Kaleb Johnson from Iowa has had a rocky acclimation to the Steelers, logging just two carries for 3 yards in preseason action. His minimal usage didn't appear to reflect the coaching staff protecting him; he had to wait until the second half to enter the game as other backs received more meaningful and extensive looks. With Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle figuring to handle the lion's share of touches, Johnson finds himself in a precarious position as a backup without significant value as either a receiver or blocker on third downs.
Insight pageSourceOriginal
NegativeRoleAug 14, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
Johnson received zero offensive snaps in the first 30 minutes of the Steelers' preseason opener and finished with just two carries for three yards, placing him fifth in the running back rotation behind Travis Homer, Lew Nichols, Rico Dowdle, and Jaylen Warren. As a rookie, Johnson carried the ball only 28 times for 69 yards. The source states 'the writing is on the wall' and concludes it looks like a foregone conclusion that Johnson won't be on the roster come September, suggesting the Steelers should explore trading him for draft capital.
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NegativeRoleAug 14, 2026Behind the Steel Curtain
Johnson had zero offensive snaps in the first 30 minutes and finished with just two carries for three yards in the preseason opener. The source notes that Travis Homer took first-team reps and Lew Nichols rotated in with meaningful carries, placing Johnson at RB5 in the rotation when accounting for inactive Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren. The source emphasizes the significance of this lack of playing time given Johnson's disappointing rookie season (28 carries, 69 yards) and states: 'The Steelers told you without saying a word how they feel about the former third-round pick.' The source concludes: 'it looks like a forgone conclusion that he won't be on the roster come September' and recommends the team trade him for draft capital.
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NegativeBustAug 14, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
Pittsburgh's third-round draft pick in 2025 was practically invisible, recording just two carries for three total yards. With top running backs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle sitting out, he was still out-carried by Lew Nichols (10 carries, 36 yards), Eli Heidenreich (nine carries, 21 yards), and Travis Homer (four carries, eight yards). The source describes this production as an ill omen for his chances to make the 53-man roster, noting it would be a stunning outcome for a back who was genuinely great at Iowa, totaling 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns in his final 2024 season with the Hawkeyes, but has not been able to make that success translate in the NFL enough to get McCarthy's attention.
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PositiveUsageAug 12, 2026Underdog NFL
Underdog NFLon X

Steelers training camp notes, per @​MikeDeFabo: • Roman Wilson is “firmly” in WR3 role • Pat Freiermuth "appears to be a more central piece" in the Steelers offense compared to last season and has been a “go-to target” in two-minute drill • Kaleb Johnson still contending for RB3 role but "rarely creating more than what’s blocked"

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