Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Week 13, leaving rookie Keilan Robinson in line to make his NFL debut as the team's No. 3 running back. Robinson, a rookie out of the University of Texas, was activated from injured reserve last week. Although he is suiting up for his first time as a Jaguar, Robinson could have trouble earning snaps behind Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby. On the other hand, Johnson's de-activation comes as a bit of a surprise. He had been a valuable contributor in his depth role, totaling 117 rushing yards and 77 receiving yards through 11 games.
Dec 1, 2024 11:43 AM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson could get some opportunities to produce this week against the Detroit Lions. With Tank Bigsby out with an ankle injury, Johnson should serve as the clear backup to Travis Etienne Jr. While the Jaguars have used multiple backs for most of the season, that is mostly due to Etienne Jr.'s previous season performances and Bigsby's emergence this season. In the weeks when Etienne Jr. missed due to injury, Johnson didn't produce much. He did do decent against the Patriots in Week 6, producing 70 total yards on 12 touches. However, the Patriots have been one of the worst run defenses this season, while the Lions have been one of the better run defenses this season. Unless Johnson gets involved in the passing game, he is nothing more than a desperate fantasy option in Week 11 against the Lions.
Nov 16, 2024 12:00 PM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (hamstring) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice. This is now back-to-back days that Johnson has been limited due to a lingering hamstring issue. Johnson has been quiet lately and only played four offensive snaps during last week's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. However, Johnson could see a bigger role this weekend with Tank Bigsby (ankle) unable to practice yet this week. Johnson would be the primary backup if Bigsby is unable to play, which would give him an uptick in value.
Nov 14, 2024 9:37 PM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (hamstring) is officially active on Sunday in Week 10 versus the visiting Minnesota Vikings after being listed as questionable on the final injury report. Johnson will join Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby in Jacksonville's backfield this weekend but won't have any standalone fantasy value. The 28-year-old usually works on obvious passing situations, but he'd need an injury to either Etienne or Bigsby to see significant snaps on offense for the Jags. In his second year with Jacksonville, Johnson has just 28 rushing attempts for 114 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and no touchdowns while catching eight of 13 targets for an additional 77 yards. In the two games that Etienne missed due to injury, Johnson saw 10 carries for 41 yards and caught four of six targets for 52 yards for Jacksonville.
Nov 10, 2024 11:58 AM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson could suddenly jump from third to first in the depth chart in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Both Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby are questionable this week, so Johnson would be the next man up. For Johnson to be fantasy-relevant, it would likely take both players to be ruled out. In recent weeks with Etienne Jr. or Bigsby out, the starter dominated the touches. The Eagles are also a tough matchup for running backs in general, so it's hard to see a third-string running back having that much upside against them. With all the injuries to the receiving core though, the starting RB could be more involved in the passing game than usual. It would take two injuries, but Johnson does have potential as a flex play in Week 9 against the Eagles.
Nov 2, 2024 12:46 AM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson is expected to once again see a heavier workload in the backfield. It seems likely that fellow back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) is going to be sidelined once again. That means, Johnson should serve as the primary backup to Tank Bigsby on Sunday. Last week, Johnson rushed nine times for 38 yards while hauling in three receptions for an additional 32 yards in the win over the New England Patriots. Fantasy managers should expect a similar workload from Johnson during Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers. That being said, Johnson should see enough time on the field to produce low-end flex value in Week 8.
Oct 27, 2024 10:22 AM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson rushed for 38 yards on nine carries during Sunday's Week 7 win over the New England Patriots in London. He also got involved as a pass-catcher, hauling in three of his four targets for an additional 32 receiving yards. While Johnson operated as the clear backup to Tank Bigsby on Sunday, it was promising to see him stay productive while earning double-digit touches. With that said, his usage could decrease in a more negative game script scenario, such as next week versus the Green Bay Packers. Johnson is worth monitoring on the fantasy radar, but managers can't justify starting him in 12-team leagues yet.
Oct 21, 2024 12:25 AM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson could get more touches than usual with Travis Etienne Jr. questionable for Week 7's London matchup with the New England Patriots. Johnson has been third string behind Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby, but after Etienne Jr. went down with injury last week, Johnson had increased opportunities, garnering six carries for 28 yards and two receptions for 16 yards. The former Cleveland Brown isn't an exciting option but should get some chances against a weak Patriots run defense that got gashed by Joe Mixon last week. There is a possibiliTy Johnson gets only a couple of touches and Bigsby gets most of them, or Etienne Jr. does play and it's a dreaded three-way split, but it's also possible Johnson gets double-digit touches, and some goal-line carries. He is risky, but Johnson serves as an interesting flex play in deeper leagues in Week 7.
Oct 19, 2024 2:07 AM EST
The Jacksonville Jaguars are re-signing running back D'Ernest Johnson to a one-year deal, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 28-year-old hit the open market on Monday but ultimately ended up coming back to the team's crowded running back room. Starter Travis Etienne has a secure spot as the lead back, while 2023 rookie Tank Bigsby is expected to see an enhanced role in 2024. This leaves Johnson in the RB3 and special teams running back role, so he'll remain off the fantasy radar next season unless both Etienne and Bigsby suffer injuries and miss time simultaneously. Johnson has rushed for just 846 yards since entering the NFL in 2019 with the Cleveland Browns.
Mar 12, 2024 12:39 PM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (knee) remained a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. Johnson has been limited in both practice sessions to begin the week. This is noteworthy because starting back Travis Etienne Jr. (ribs) has also been limited this week. The absence of Etienne would likely mean that Johnson would start this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens. However, they'd probably end up splitting up the snaps with Tank Bigsby. If Johnson sits, Bigsby would likely be tasked with being the primary backup, but there won't be a ton of value with the gig.
Dec 14, 2023 9:46 PM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. (ribs) and D'Ernest Johnson (knee) were both listed as limited on Wednesday's injury report. Etienne and Johnson were also on the injury report last week with their respective injuries but played through them in the Week 14 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Johnson has become the team's No. 2 back over Tank Bigsby and has been more involved in recent weeks, but Etienne is Jacksonville's clear lead back and will continue to be so. Etienne dominated the backfield touch share last Sunday. He had 14 carries for 35 yards and his ninth touchdown of the year while adding four catches for 37 yards. Expect that to continue this Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens. It's not an ideal matchup for the Jags offense, but Etienne will be in the low-end RB1 conversation in fantasy.
Dec 13, 2023 5:26 PM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. (ribs) and D'Ernest Johnson (knee) are both active for Week 14 against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday despite being listed as questionable on the final injury report. Etienne and Johnson were expected to play despite their questionable tags. The Jags will also surprisingly have quarterback Trevor Lawrence (ankle) under center for this one just six days after he suffered a high-ankle sprain on Monday night. With Lawrence's mobility likely pretty limited, the Jags could lean more on their backfield in Etienne and Johnson. However, the matchup against Cleveland's strong run defense isn't ideal. Fantasy managers should fade Etienne in DFS and consider him more of an RB2 in season-long leagues.
Dec 10, 2023 11:38 AM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. (ribs) and D'Ernest Johnson (knee) are both listed as questionable for the Week 14 contest versus the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Etienne was also questionable for Monday night's overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but he ended up suiting up and saw 15 touches for 79 yards and a touchdown. How Jacksonville's offense fares against a strong Browns defense this weekend will all hinge on whether quarterback Trevor Lawrence (ankle) is able to play through his injury. Etienne will have less upside as an RB2 if Lawrence sits out, but the Jaguars could also lean more heavily on their ground game if backup C.J. Beathard is forced to start. Either way, the 24-year-old Etienne should be downgraded in Week 14.
Dec 8, 2023 6:26 PM EST
After seeing a season-high eight touches in last week's win over the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson saw another eight touches in Week 12's 24-21 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Johnson carried seven times for 19 yards and caught one of his two targets for a 42-yard pickup. He played a season-high 39 percent of the offensive snaps compared to just three percent for rookie Tank Bigsby. Johnson has now played at least 21 percent of the snaps in each of the last three games and appears to have taken over the No. 2 role behind starter Travis Etienne Jr. The 27-year-old is by no means worth a starting lineup spot on his own, but he could be in line for lead-back duties in Jacksonville if Etienne were to go down with an injury.
Nov 27, 2023 12:21 PM EST
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson rushed six times for 36 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 25-7 preseason win over the Detroit Lions. He added two receptions for seven yards. Rookie camp star Tank Bigsby started over Johnson and got most of the work, with seven more carries and an additional 34 yards. Johnson was the only back to hit paydirt and lead the backfield in YPC (6.0), but he was still clearly the RB3 behind the former Auburn standout. It's also worth noting that JaMychal Hasty saw the field before Johnson, putting the ex-Brown even further from the fantasy radar than he already was.
Aug 20, 2023 8:42 PM EST
Johnson played 10 snaps on special teams and did not play on offense in Sunday's 28-14 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 18.
Jan 9, 2023 7:42 PM EST
Johnson played 15 snaps on special teams and none on offense in Sunday's 27-14 win over Houston in Week 13.
Dec 5, 2022 5:08 AM EST
Johnson did not play on offense during Sunday's 31-23 loss to Buffalo.
Nov 21, 2022 5:34 AM EST
Johnson caught his lone target for minus-2 yards and did not carry the ball in Sunday's 39-17 loss to the Dolphins in Week 10.
Nov 14, 2022 5:34 AM EST
Johnson had four carries for 17 yards in Monday's 32-13 win over Cincinnati in Week 8.
Nov 1, 2022 5:51 AM EST