Who Should I Start? Phil Mafah or Kaleb Johnson


Week 6 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Phil Mafah News

Phil Mafah Tries Out for Packers Amid Backfield Uncertainty

Tuesday, September 8, 4:47 PM

Free agent running back Phil Mafah tried out for the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, per Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com. A seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, Mafah played in just one game as a rookie and was waived by the Cowboys in late August. While it's not yet clear if he will find his next NFL home in Green Bay, the Packers enter 2026 with significant questions in their backfield. Star Packers back Josh Jacobs is currently on the NFL's Commissioner's Exempt List due to an offseason arrest, and it's unclear when or if he will be cleared to play. As a result, the team's running back room currently consists of the unproven trio of MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and Kaleb Johnson. The team is reportedly planning to take a committee approach to the backfield early in the year, and the fact that the Packers hosted Mafah on Tuesday could indicate that they do not have great confidence in any of their current options.


Week 6 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
2.9 17.0 0.1 0.5 3.5 0.0

Kaleb Johnson News

Kaleb Johnson Slipping Down Green Bay's Backfield Rotation

Friday, October 16, 7:57 AM

Green Bay Packers running back Kaleb Johnson saw his role shrink at the very moment an opening appeared in the backfield. Chris Brooks (ankle) landed on injured reserve ahead of Week 5, but Johnson didn't play an offensive snap in the first half of Sunday's 31-7 win over Chicago. He finished with nine snaps (15%), down from 15 (27%) against Tampa Bay in Week 4, when he rushed for 42 yards but also lost a fumble inside the 5-yard line. Pierre Strong Jr., promoted from the practice squad, logged 24 snaps and caught three passes, while MarShawn Lloyd played 26 snaps and scored twice. Johnson's seven carries produced 26 yards, with 23 coming on a single fourth-quarter run after Green Bay had built a comfortable lead. Through five games, he has 106 rushing yards, one reception, and no touchdowns. With Josh Jacobs still on the Commissioner's Exempt List, Johnson had an opportunity to establish himself, but he now looks like a speculative deep-league stash heading into Week 6 against Dallas.


Phil Mafah vs. Kaleb Johnson

Still trying to decide between Mafah and Johnson? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Phil Mafah is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Kaleb Johnson is projected to score 2.9 points.