Who Should I Start? Rachaad White or Kaleb Johnson

Thursday, January 29, 2:52 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White had his worst statistical season in 2025, even though Bucky Irving missed seven games due to injury. White was the RB35 in half-PPR scoring with 132 carries for 572 yards (4.3 yards per tote) and four touchdowns in 17 games played. He added a career-low 40 receptions on 45 targets for 218 yards through the air. White failed to score a receiving TD for the first time in his four NFL seasons. Even with Irving sidelined with injury, White wasn't given a workhorse role, as Sean Tucker saw plenty of involvement in a committee approach. The 27-year-old just didn't have a big enough role in Tampa's backfield when Irving was healthy, and he voiced his frustration about that at the end of the year. White will almost certainly look to sign elsewhere as a free agent, although a new location won't necessarily guarantee him a lead-back role in 2026.

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.