If it wasn’t for Bijan Robinson being one of the best RB prospects to enter the NFL in the last decade, Roschon Johnson may have very well been a Day 1 or 2 selection in the NFL Draft.
Instead, the Chicago Bears may have found their future starter at the RB position in the fourth round. But what can fantasy football managers expect from Johnson in 2023?
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Roschon Johnson’s Fantasy Outlook
Johnson joins a Bears offense that led the league in rushing in 2022. That is a good thing.
The Bears spent their first-round pick in the NFL Draft on standout OT prospect Darnell Wright. That is also a good thing.
Lastly, the Bears also decided not to re-sign their leading rusher from the backfield, David Montgomery, this offseason. That is a great thing.
Montgomery accounted for 201 carries and 34 receptions for 1,117 total yards in 2022, leaving a lead RB role vacant in the Bears backfield.
Khalil Herbert is expected to have the inside track to the lead role, but Johnson’s skill set is a real threat to take the starting role in this backfield at some point this season.
Johnson has an NFL build, exceptional contact balance, quality burst, vision, and pass-catching skills. Herbert possesses some of those skills too, but one place where Johnson excels where Herbert struggles is pass protection.
One of the most overlooked factors that impact the playing time of a rookie RB is pass protection.
One reason I'm so high on Chicago Bears RB Roschon Johnson is that he put a lot of great pass pro reps on tape playing behind Bijan Robinson.
His current ADP is in the 13th round pic.twitter.com/VbIF9Y6QII
— Derek Tate (@DerekTateNFL) July 29, 2023
Not only did Herbert struggle in pass protection, but he only caught nine passes last year.
If Johnson maintains his efficiency as a runner at a similar clip during his days as a Longhorn, then it may be tough for Herbert to keep him off the field.
Should You Draft Roschon Johnson at His Current Price?
As is the case with a plethora of rookie RBs, the returns on Johnson may be limited to start the season. He will need to climb the depth chart to overtake Herbert and D’Onta Foreman for a meaningful amount of snaps to become relevant in fantasy.
MORE: 2023 Fantasy Player Projections
But with a three-down skill set, which boasts the best pass-catching and pass-protection skills of an RB on the roster, in a run-heavy scheme, Johnson is well worth investing a 13th-round pick at his current ADP of 150 overall.