Who Should I Start? Jaydon Blue or Kaleb Johnson

Monday, January 5, 9:56 AM

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue was a non-factor for the Cowboys during the 2026 season. Still, with them missing the playoffs and having nothing to play for in Week 17, they decided to rest a handful of starters, such as running back Javonte Williams, which allowed Blue to get the start. He made the most out of it, rushing 16 times for 64 yards (4.0 YPC) and scoring his first career touchdown. He out-touched rookie Phil Mafah 16 to five in this contest. Blue was not involved at all in the passing game and finished his rookie campaign with 38 rush attempts for 129 yards (3.39 YPC) and one touchdown. Cowboys lead running back, Williams, was on a one-year deal, meaning his return to the team will certainly impact Blue's 2026 outlook. The former fifth-round pick in 2025, Blue, remains a dynasty stash at best.

Friday, February 13, 7:42 AM

A third-round selection out of the University of Iowa in the 2025 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson appeared to have an opportunity to play a significant role in his team's backfield as a rookie. Instead, the 22-year-old spent the 2025 season buried on the Steelers' depth chart and barely got a chance to take the field. Across 10 games played, Johnson recorded just 78 yards from scrimmage on 29 touches. Veteran Pittsburgh running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell dominated the team's backfield work throughout the year, as each back topped 180 touches and 1,000 yards from scrimmage. Gainwell is set to hit unrestricted free agency this spring, which could eliminate one obstacle from Johnson's pathway to playing time. However, even if the Steelers do not bring Gainwell back, Johnson did little as a rookie to convince Pittsburgh that it should not bring in another veteran to complement Warren in 2026. Johnson is still very young, and he could work his way back into the team's plans with a full offseason of development. However, his fantasy stock in dynasty formats has taken a major hit after his underwhelming rookie campaign.