Who Should I Start? Brian Robinson Jr. or Kaleb Johnson

Tuesday, December 30, 9:27 PM

Across 16 games this season, San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr. has recorded 90 carries for 391 yards and two touchdowns. The 26-year-old has spent the entirety of 2025 in a secondary role behind star 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, who leads the NFL with 399 touches heading into the team's Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Robinson Jr. has been fairly efficient when given the opportunity so far this season, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He's also proven to be a productive lead back at certain points in his career, recording 2,720 rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns across 57 career NFL games. However, his production upside in San Francisco is firmly capped as long as McCaffrey remains healthy. Robinson Jr. should not be on fantasy radars heading into Week 18.

Friday, December 19, 11:21 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson continues to be one of the most disappointing rookies from the 2025 draft class. The 22-year-old Iowa product played a marginal role once again last week, amassing two carries for four rushing yards on a 3% snap share in the Steelers' win over the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. In total this year, he has 28 carries, 69 rushing yards, one catch, and nine receiving yards. He hasn't earned more than six touches in a single game, and he has played more than 12% of the offensive snaps in just two contests. It's not like Johnson has been relegated to special teams, either. He has just 11 special teams snaps this year and hasn't handled a single kick or punt return since a Week 2 blunder in the end zone that directly resulted in an opponent touchdown. Johnson and his fantasy managers are certainly ready to close the book on the 2025 season and turn the page to next year. With Kenneth Gainwell set to hit free agency in March, Johnson could have a chance to carve out a fantasy-relevant role behind Jaylen Warren in 2026.