Who Should I Start? Rachaad White or Kaleb Johnson

Wednesday, May 28, 3:59 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White saw his RB1 title stripped by rookie running back Bucky Irving last season. The Arizona State product was excellent in 2023, tallying over 1,400 yards of offense and nine touchdowns. However, he saw his production and touch share dip in 2024 as he became a committee back due to the emergence of Irving. Entering his fourth NFL campaign, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Gizzard sounds like he wants to keep him involved in the team's offensive game plan. "Really good route-runner. We all know he's really good with the ball in his hands on screens, drop back pass game," Gizzard said of White. "I don't want to compare him to a lot of other guys, but he is close to, if not as good as, anybody we see in terms of pass protection in the NFL." White's days as a workhorse back appear to be over, but he continues to stay on the fantasy football radar as a handcuff with standalone value, especially in PPR leagues. White has hauled in 185 receptions in 50 career games and would have RB1 upside due to touch volume if Irving has to miss any time in 2025.

Tuesday, July 15, 6:48 PM

The Athletic's Mike DeFabo writes that rookie third-round running back Kaleb Johnson is an ideal scheme fit for Pittsburgh Steelers coordinator Arthur Smith's offense after Iowa alum excelled on wide-zone runs with the Hawkeyes. Although the Steelers weren't very efficient, only three teams ran the football more in 2024. The 21-year-old Johnson has plenty of competition in Pittsburgh's backfield in his rookie campaign with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell in the fold, but he profiles as the team's back of the future and should get more chances out of the backfield as the season plays out. Johnson has a physical, bruising style and is also patient, which is reminiscent of former RB Najee Harris, but he should produce more big plays after racking up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries in his final season at Iowa. He'll be more attractive in standard-scoring fantasy formats as an RB3/flex candidate.