Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Kaleb Johnson (2025 Fantasy Football)

This is what we’ve been waiting for, fantasy football enthusiasts. The NFL Draft is underway, and we finally get to see where the rookie prospects will launch their professional careers. And NFL Draft landing spots allow us to start to zero in on fantasy football and dynasty rookie draft pick values.

Throughout the draft, we’ll take a closer look at fantasy-relevant prospects, giving you an overview of their strengths and weaknesses, and assessing their fantasy value in both redraft and dynasty formats. Here’s our dynasty rookie draft advice for Kaleb Johnson.

Let’s dig in.

Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook

Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice

The Steelers added a committee partner for Jaylen Warren in Kaleb Johnson from Iowa. This is a bruising back who was productive in college, winning Big Ten RB of the Year after putting up 1,537 rushing yards in his final season. While it’s likely that Warren works as the 1A in this backfield, don’t be surprised if Johnson steals red-zone work or even completely takes over the Najee Harris role from last season. It’s clear that the Steelers want to have more of a committee, which is why they invested a Day 2 pick in Johnson despite a clear need at quarterback and Shedeur Sanders still on the board. I like targeting Johnson in the late second round of dynasty drafts. As for redraft leagues, this is a great bench stash in hopes he can earn a larger role and take over for Warren. You have to love that Johnson got third-round draft capital, as this makes it more likely that he can earn an immediate role.

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DBro’s NFL Draft Scouting Report & Player Comp

Scouting Report:

Kaleb Johnson is a fluid mover. He glides across the field with good bend around the edge. Some have questioned Johnson’s speed, but I have no worries about his raw speed. Johnson hits the gas as soon as he sees a sliver of daylight and can hit dingers.
Johnson has a great feel for pressing and flowing through a run in sync with his offensive line. He can stop on a dime in the second level, pivoting and then hitting the gas again as he blows past a defender. He can make people miss in a phone booth.
Johnson can stiff-arm a defender into the ground, but he isn’t a dominating physical runner. He excels with vision, footwork, bend and speed. He isn’t a pile-pushing physical presence as a rusher, but he does keep his legs moving through contact.
Johnson is still a work in progress in pass protection, but he has all the tools to become a serviceable option in this realm. His hands are strong like magnets. Once he gets his mitts on a rusher, he isn’t letting go of them. He needs to improve his pass-blocking technique by utilizing his lower half and setting up lower, but the raw intangibles are there.
Johnson was utilized as a receiving option in a limited capacity. He was a trustworthy option, though, with only two drops in his collegiate career. He mostly was used as a check-down option running flat or swing routes from the backfield. He did get the occasional angle route or outside alignment with a slant route. His loose hips and short-area agility give hope that he offers more in the NFL as a receiver than he showed in college.

Player Comp: Joe Mixon