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David Johnson

Uncertain value for 2020

Will David Johnson still be in Arizona next season? It doesn't seem likely. He's making a lot of money, and Arizona might prefer to bring back Kenyan Drake, or perhaps rely on third-year back Chase Edmonds. Both averaged about a yard and a half per carry more than Johnson did.

Johnson is now 28 years old, and between injuries and changing offensive systems, he's never approached his breakout 2016 season (when he went over 2,000 total yards and scored 20 touchdowns). I have Johnson (and Edmonds) in a dynasty league, and am considering moving him.

But I also think it's too soon to totally give up on him. Although Kliff Kingsbury seemingly soured on him in the offense, it's not like Johnson was completely ineffective. Especially in the passing game.

Johnson averaged 10.3 yards per reception last year, one of the top figures among running backs in the league (from players with 20-plus targets). There's still some juice in those legs.

RUNNING BACK RECEIVING, 2019
PlayerTmTgtNoYdsAvgLg
Raheem MostertSF221418012.939
Derrick HenryTEN241820611.475
Austin EkelerLAC1089299310.884
David JohnsonARI473637010.331
Rex BurkheadNWE382727910.332
Ryquell ArmsteadJAX241414410.331
Miles SandersPHI635050910.245
Ronald JonesTAM403130910.041
Dalvin CookMIN63535199.831
Aaron JonesGNB68494749.767
Mark IngramBAL29262479.525
Duke JohnsonHOU62444109.321
James WhiteNWE95726459.059
Chris ThompsonWAS58423789.039
Jalen RichardOAK43363239.033
Patrick LairdMIA30232048.921
Chase EdmondsARI21121058.831
Christian McCaffreyCAR14211610058.728
Tevin ColemanSFO30211808.637
Boston ScottPHI26242048.539
Saquon BarkleyNYG73524388.465
Adrian PetersonWAS23171428.422
Josh JacobsOAK27201668.328
Dare OgunbowaleTAM46352868.221
Joe MixonCIN45352878.233
DeAndre WashingtonOAK41362928.128
Ezekiel ElliottDAL71544207.827
Giovani BernardCIN43302347.835
Sony MichelNWE2012947.819
Nick ChubbCLE49362787.732
Kareem HuntCLE44372857.729
James ConnerPIT38342517.426
David MontgomeryCHI35251857.430
Nyheim HinesIND58443207.321
Chris CarsonSEA47372667.221
Peyton BarberTAM24161157.216
Damien WilliamsKAN37302137.132
Tony PollardDAL20151077.121
Le'Veon BellNYJ78664617.023
Melvin GordonLAC55422967.025
Leonard FournetteJAX100765226.927
Devonta FreemanATL70594106.928
Kenyan Drake2TM68503456.926
Latavius MurrayNOR43342356.930
J.D. McKissicDET42342336.926
Todd GurleyLAR49312076.723
Devin SingletaryBUF41291946.749
Alvin KamaraNOR97815336.641
Dion LewisTEN32251646.624
Jaylen SamuelsPIT57473056.527
Jamaal WilliamsGNB45392536.517
LeSean McCoyKAN34281816.523
Matt BreidaSFO22191206.317
Royce FreemanDEN50432566.019
Mark WaltonMIA2115895.918
Ameer AbdullahMIN2115885.916
Tarik CohenCHI104794565.831
Phillip LindsayDEN48351965.636
Ty JohnsonDET31241094.513
Kalen BallageMIA2414634.513

Some backs were helped by one long reception, notably Derrick Henry. But Johnson's long was 31 yards. I think he can still be an asset, fantasy or otherwise, in the right offense. Maybe because of injuries, Arizona wasn't the right spot for him in 2019. But I don't think he should be written off in 2020.

--Andy Richardson

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