We were overly optimistic about D’Ernest Johnson’s ability to be a Week 7 stud and he made us look even smarter than we are when he put up 168 total yards and a touchdown — finishing as the fantasy RB4 that week. But, it’s not so much that we were enamored with Johnson’s talent or skill-set. Sure, Johnson is talented, but he fits like a glove in Kevin Stefanski’s devastating zone run scheme that has produced monster seasons and fantasy highlights for Dalvin Cook, Nick Chubb, and Kareem Hunt.
11/12 update: Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton are OUT for Week 10
With both Chubb and Felton on the COVID-19 list and both likely to miss the team’s critical Week 10 matchup against the Patriots, Johnson will get another chance to win his fantasy owners a week.
While the Patriots have improved against the run, in fantasy, volume matters, and Johnson should see north of 20 touches and at least 90 percent of the offensive snaps. For comparison, he played 69 percent of the offensive snaps and had 24 touches with Felton in the lineup in Week 7.
Of course, this is outlook is strictly based on Chubb’s availability. If he can produce two negative tests within a 24-hour period, he’ll play. If not, Johnson will be a smash play with or without Felton in the lineup.
As of now, Johnson is the only healthy and active running back on the Browns’ roster. Hunt, Chubb, Felton, and even John Kelly are all out as of Thursday.
“We are extremely confident in D’Ernest,’ said Baker Mayfield. “That has not been a question yet. You guys got to see that on display during the Thursday night game… We just have to be ready to go. Next man up mentality, and we are confident in D’Ernest, that is for sure.”
Once again, The Wolf is seven spots higher than the experts on Johnson. He sits at RB16 in The Wolf’s Week 10 Fantasy Rankings, proving he has real RB1 upside as the Browns’ true workhorse running back.
