RADIO
Should I drop Kaleb Johnson for fantasy football Week 2? Is Kaleb Johnson a safe player to cut? Read the fantasy football waivers outlook.
Kaleb Johnson was almost invisible during offensive snaps in Week 1, leaving fantasy managers wondering if the rookie will carve out a role this season. For a player who drew plenty of buzz as a potential sleeper during draft season, his lack of usage was disappointing. Is he worth holding onto, or is it smarter to pivot toward a player with a clearer path to touches?
The Steelers spent a third-round pick on the former Iowa standout, and that level of draft capital suggests the team expects him to make an impact sooner rather than later. Still, patience can be difficult when production isn’t immediate, especially in fantasy formats with limited roster spots. Fantasy football is a week-to-week game, and managers often don’t have the luxury of waiting for a rookie to develop while points are left on the table.
The real question becomes whether you wait and see if Johnson emerges, or move on now in favor of a veteran like Kenneth Gainwell, or another rookie riser such as Dylan Sampson.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
- Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
- Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
- Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Should I Drop Kaleb Johnson in Fantasy Football?
Johnson’s role in Week 1 was discouraging. He was used primarily on special teams, while the Steelers leaned on the steady hands of Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren to protect Aaron Rodgers. That deployment suggests the coaching staff trusts their veterans for now, especially with a franchise quarterback who thrives on timing and protection.
Still, it’s important not to overreact to a single game. Rookie running backs often start slow before breaking out as the season progresses. Johnson’s physical tools are undeniable — he has the burst, power, and vision to be the most dynamic back on Pittsburgh’s roster. The Steelers didn’t draft him in the third round to be a permanent kick returner. His path to relevance is simply on a slower timeline.
If you’re in a deeper league or have strong bench depth, Johnson is a classic stash candidate. The payoff could be significant if he works his way into a rotation or takes over as the lead option later in the year. Dropping him too early could mean watching a league mate grab him when his breakout finally comes.
Reminder to stop sleeping on Kaleb Johnson pic.twitter.com/8tADolHIAI
— Chris Ferland 🐝 (@chris_ferland) August 28, 2025
History provides plenty of examples where waiting paid off. Think back to rookies like David Montgomery, Cam Akers, or even James Cook, who didn’t see consistent touches right away but became difference-makers later in their rookie years. Johnson has the skill set to follow a similar trajectory.
The Steelers also have a history of leaning heavily on their backs once they trust them. If Johnson can earn the confidence of the coaching staff in practice and prove himself in limited game reps, his usage could spike quickly. Injuries or inefficiency from Gainwell or Warren could also accelerate his rise.
For fantasy managers in dynasty or keeper formats, Johnson’s value is even clearer. His combination of draft capital and talent makes him worth holding onto in almost every scenario. In redraft leagues, the decision is more dependent on roster construction and immediate needs.
Who Should I Pickup for Fantasy Football?
If you can’t afford to wait on Johnson, Dylan Sampson is a strong waiver wire pivot. Unlike Johnson, Sampson already carved out a meaningful role in Week 1. He led his team in carries and was also active in the passing game, drawing eight targets. That type of dual usage is gold in fantasy football, especially in PPR formats.
Sampson’s opportunity comes partly because Quinshon Judkins is still acclimating to the playbook and building up reps in practice. While Judkins may eventually carve out his own role, Sampson has the trust of the coaching staff right now and is producing when given touches. That’s the kind of short-term value that fantasy managers in need of immediate help can’t overlook.
Perhaps the most surprising part is that Sampson remains widely available. Rostered in just 46% of Yahoo! leagues, he’s one of the best early-season pickups still sitting on the wire. If you’re weighing whether to drop Johnson, Sampson is exactly the type of player you’d want to pivot toward — someone with both usage and upside.
Love how Dylan Sampson executed this pivot route. Got in and out of it so fluently like a WR and the difficult catch plus getting some YAC after to add on to it. The young man had a day in his debut. pic.twitter.com/XtenBpdwMM
— Cam White (@RouteUniverse9) September 9, 2025
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pickup off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to pickup...
Who Should I Pickup? Some common 2025 fantasy football waiver wire decisions are regarding players like Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, Bhayshul Tuten, Trey Benson, Ollie Gordon II, Tyler Allgeier, Najee Harris, DJ Giddens. But not to worry, we are here to help make these waiver wire decisions and build winning teams in 2025. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups in 2025. Our free Who Should I Pickup? tool will help make your fantasy football waiver wire decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to pickup... all free! Make the right decisions.
2025 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on players like Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, Bhayshul Tuten, Trey Benson, Ollie Gordon II, Tyler Allgeier, Najee Harris, DJ Giddens. They are some of the most common searches for 2025 fantasy football waiver wire pickups.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player name. In the second box, search for the second player name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy football rankings, projections, and more.
Recent Improvements For Who Should I Pickup? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Pickup? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win on the waiver wire in 2025. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, stats, projections, strength of schedule, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and updates them constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2025 for Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, Bhayshul Tuten, Trey Benson, Ollie Gordon II, Tyler Allgeier, Najee Harris, DJ Giddens:
More Waiver Wire Analysis
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
