Chicago Bears RB Roschon Johnson turned 12 opportunities into 14.5 fantasy football points against the Green Bay Packers last weekend. Now, with D’Onta Foreman sidelined, managers are giddy about what the fourth-round pick could do this week. The opportunity is there, but does that mean you should plug Johnson in as a Flex in Week 2?
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Should I Start or Sit Roschon Johnson in Fantasy This Week?
I’m still in wait-and-see mode. Johnson certainly checks the boxes, and with a role opening up, this is a player to be bullish on as the season progresses. This is just a tough spot to slide him into your starting lineup.
This week, Johnson checks in as my RB41 and is outside the “starter” tier for everyone in our PFN Consensus Rankings. He has the upside to finish as a top-30 option, but with an unclear role in an offense that is unlikely to provide many scoring opportunities, I’m still favoring Khalil Herbert in this backfield and others — like all four viable backs in the Broncos/Commanders game.
Fantasy Outlook for Johnson vs. Buccaneers
The rookie was efficient in his debut, though it’s worth noting that the majority of Johnson’s opportunities came after the game was decided, with Green Bay building a big lead. That said, there’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of chances, and he did just that.
It was always Roschon Johnson SZN pic.twitter.com/ITEtx457Kh
— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) September 17, 2023
With D’Onta Foreman being a healthy scratch today, it’s clear that the Bears want to see what they have in their explosive prospect. Johnson earned seven targets in the season opener with his ability to pass block putting him on the field in those situations.
MORE: Kyle Yates’ Last-Minute Fantasy Start/Sit Advice for Week 2
No, you don’t get points per block in most leagues, but it helps Johnson earn a level of trust that will lead to fantasy-friendly opportunities.
As encouraging as everything around Johnson is, he’s still not a top-30 running back for me this week. In Week 1, we saw the Buccaneers do what the Buccaneers do. They clogged the middle and looked to possess the ball on offense.
That’s trouble for a Bears offense that has three viable ball carriers, not to mention a recently acquired WR1 who is likely to be more involved against a vulnerable secondary.
Last week against Minnesota, Tampa Bay allowed just 2.4 yards per carry and won the time-of-possession battle. They gained confidence with time and orchestrated three 10+ plays in the second half. My concerns aren’t about Johnson’s talent, it’s about projecting anything above 10 touches in a tough matchup.