Who Should I Start? Jaydon Blue or Kaleb Johnson

Monday, February 16, 6:57 AM

A fourth-round pick out of the University of Texas in the 2025 NFL Draft, Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue earned some preseason buzz as a potential dark horse candidate to emerge as the Cowboys' RB1. However, the 22-year-old was a non-factor for Dallas in 2025, spending most of the year on the inactive list as a healthy scratch. Across five games played, Blue recorded 129 rushing yards and a touchdown on 38 touches. Nearly half of his rushing production came in Week 18, when the competitive portion of the Cowboys' season had already concluded. Entering 2026, Cowboys RB1 Javonte Williams is set to hit unrestricted free agency. As such, there is once again a potential playing time opportunity open to Blue in the Dallas backfield, as the only other running back currently under contract with the Cowboys for 2026 is the similarly unproven Phil Mafah. However, it seems likely that Dallas will bring in another backfield option or two in either free agency or the draft. Based on Blue's disappointing rookie year, it's difficult for fantasy managers in dynasty formats to have much trust in his potential for future production.

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.