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Should I drop Kaleb Johnson for fantasy football Week 5? Is Kaleb Johnson a safe player to cut? Read the fantasy football waivers outlook.
One of the great skills that you can possess as a fantasy manager is the ability to remain fluid and react to information to optimize your team’s ability to win each week.
Often, that means we need to adjust our roster when players are getting more or fewer opportunities than expected. At this point, we have four weeks of data that can inform our decisions. That is even more important with bye weeks starting in Week 5.
One player who is worth re-evaluating for 2025 is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie running back Kaleb Johnson. Is Johnson worth rostering in 2025? Let’s dive in to find out.
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Should I Drop Kaleb Johnson in Fantasy Football?
To say that Johnson’s rookie season has been a disappointment would be an understatement. Many believed Johnson would be a plug-and-play replacement for free agent departure Najee Harris in the Steelers offense. Harris averaged 274.3 rushing attempts and 58.3 targets over the last four seasons.
Instead, Johnson has struggled to make any impact behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell to start the season. Johnson logged just two carries for -1 yards in his first two games on a 3% snap share. His most meaningful contribution during that time was a botched kick return that resulted in a Seahawks touchdown. That led to Johnson dressing in Week 3 with zero touches.
Week 4 seemed like a prime opportunity for the rookie to get back on track. Warren was somewhat surprisingly inactive due to a knee injury, leaving Gainwell and Johnson as the team’s two primary running backs (the team also elevated Trey Sermon from the practice squad).
Johnson did have a bigger role in Pittsburgh’s win against the Vikings, posting season-highs in carries (six), yards (22), and snap share (20.8%). Unfortunately, that was nothing compared to the stellar game that Kenneth Gainwell had as the Steelers’ lead back (19 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns and six receptions for 35 yards on a 77.4% snap share).
Kenneth Gainwell gets his second TD of the day
MINvsPIT on @nflnetwork
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/mWE31vvnsE— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025
The Steelers have a Week 5 bye, which gives Warren an extra week to heal after missing Week 4. Considering he was a game-time decision against the Vikings, it seems extremely unlikely that he will miss more than one game due to his knee issue.
If you were holding on to Johnson, hoping an injury would open an opportunity for him to earn a bigger role in the offense, it is time to move on. The rookie’s role did increase without Warren, but he was still buried behind Gainwell in that game. There is still a chance he can carve out a role as the season goes on, but many fantasy managers need players who can contribute now that bye weeks are here.
Who Should I Pickup for Fantasy Football?
Several players on the waiver wire can provide more fantasy production than Johnson, although there aren’t many game-changing players.
The crown jewel of Week 5 waiver options is Houston running back Woody Marks (32% rostered on Yahoo). Marks is coming off a season-high 27.9 fantasy points on 17 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown, plus four receptions for 50 yards and a score. The rookie is stuck in a timeshare with Nick Chubb, but has continued to earn opportunities through the first four weeks.
Fantasy managers who can be patient can also target players like Tyjae Spears (31% rostered) or Gainwell (23% rostered). Spears is working his way back from the injured reserve (and Gainwell is on bye in Week 5), but both players should have consistent roles in the future.
Deep league options worth considering are Minnesota Vikings running back Zavier Scott (1% rostered) and Antonio Gibson (1% rostered). Scott has seen a consistent role as the change-of-pace back to Jordan Mason with Aaron Jones Sr. on injured reserve, racking up 10 carries for 31 yards, seven receptions for 63 yards, and a touchdown the last two weeks. He has 17.4 PPR points in Week 4.
Gibson has maintained a consistent role in the Patriots’ three-headed backfield to start the season. He has at least six touches in the last three weeks and has scored at least 8.7 fantasy points in two weeks.
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pickup off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here:
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Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Looking for a replacement? Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2025 for Isaiah Bond, Jalen Tolbert, Jaydon Blue, Adonai Mitchell, Jalen Coker, Jimmy Horn Jr., Jake Tonges:
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