Who Should I Start? Ty Johnson or Ke'Shawn Vaughn

Friday, January 24, 10:53 PM

Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson remains an unreliable fantasy option ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs. Johnson has consistently operated as the No. 2 running back behind James Cook, and he has also lost plenty of opportunities to rookie Ray Davis. Outside of an impressive Wild Card Weekend in which Johnson caught a touchdown pass and posted his season-high for rushing yards, the veteran running back has been tough to trust in fantasy football. This week won't be any different. In fact, Johnson's job could get even harder as he takes on a dominant Kansas City run defense. The Chiefs have been lethal against running backs this year, allowing the third-fewest rushing yards, fifth-fewest catches, and fourth-fewest receiving yards to the position during the 2024 regular season. Furthermore, they didn't surrender a single receiving touchdown to running backs. Johnson makes his biggest impact when he can capitalize on a defense's mistakes, such as two weeks ago against the Denver Broncos when he made a phenomenal touchdown catch in the back of the end zone. Against a stout, well-coached Chiefs defense, that won't be easy to do. Fantasy managers and bettors may want to look elsewhere for production at the running back position, though your options are certainly slim with just four teams left in the playoffs.

Tuesday, December 3, 6:22 PM

The San Francisco 49ers claimed running back Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets on Tuesday and also signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn to their practice squad, according to a source. In corresponding moves, the Niners officially placed both Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) on Injured Reserve, meaning they'll be out for at least the next four games. CMC has a PCL sprain and will need six weeks to recover, so his season is essentially over unless the Niners make a run to get into the playoffs. Abanikanda didn't play in a single game for the Jets this year but could serve as the team's No. 3 down the stretch behind rookie Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor. Vaughn also hasn't seen the field in 2024 after averaging 3.7 yards a carry in four previous seasons with Tampa. They can both stay on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues.