Emmett Johnson Fantasy Stats

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson is drawing praise from head coach Andy Reid for his work in pass protection. Reid said that Johnson's work in pass protection is one of the main reasons he's the RB2 right now, Charles Goldman reports. The rookie is playing so well that he beat out Emari Demercado for the backup role behind Kenneth Walker to begin the season. The expectation is that Johnson will serve as the change-of-pace back behind Walker. Johnson seems to be doing everything well and is one of the most important handcuffs in fantasy. The 22-year-old is well worth a look in the late rounds on draft day.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson ran hard in three preseason contests, averaging 4.7 yards per carry while bringing in six of his seven targets, showing enough for the team to comfortably move on from veteran Emari Demercado, who was just signed to a one-year deal in free agency. The Chiefs kept only three running backs on their initial 53-man roster, hinting at a potential three-down role for Kenneth Walker III and one of the league's most valuable insurance roles for Johnson. Brashard Smith adds versatility and special teams prowess, but Johnson figures to serve as the team's primary change-of-pace back and is capable of handling a bell cow role if needed after seeing more than 300 opportunities in his final year at Nebraska, turning in one of the most productive seasons of any back in the nation. While Walker's projected usage is likely to limit the rookie's standalone value, Johnson has quickly become one of the most important handcuffs in fantasy and is worthy of a late-round selection in deeper leagues.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson handled seven carries for 39 yards (5.6 ypc) and caught two passes for 15 yards in the 9-9 tie with the Seattle Seahawks. Johnson earned nine total opportunities in the content, including all five of the first running back opportunities. Johnson's 5.6 yards per carry were highest the highest mark for any rusher in this game. The 22-year-old out of Nebraska appears to be establishing himself as the running back to roster behind Chiefs workhorse Kenneth Walker. Johnson is officially listed third in the Chiefs running back depth chart, but that could just be a formality. Emari Demercado is currently listed as the Chiefs RB2, but is likely to operate as more of a third-down or passing-down specialist kind of back in the Kansas City offense. Johnson has the build, tackle-breaking ability, and pass-catching chops to step into a large role should anything happen to the Chiefs starter. Johnson should be viewed as a potential handcuff to roster for the 2026 season.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie fifth-round running back Emmett Johnson appears to be the clear No. 2 RB in KC in training camp behind starter Kenneth Walker, with Johnson getting the next touch after Walker in 9-on-7 drills in Monday's practice, according to Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star. Head coach Andy Reid had good things to say about the Nebraska product after he carried the ball 12 times for 59 yards and caught all three of his targets for 10 yards during the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. Johnson's carries and rushing yards led the team. The 22-year-old was listed as the RB3 on the first unofficial depth chart of the preseason behind Walker and Emari Demercado, but if Johnson continues to run hard and look good in camp and the preseason, it would not be a surprise at all to see him open his rookie campaign as the primary backup in KC. In addition to Demercado, Johnson is competing with Brashard Smith for the backup role. Walker will be close to a bell-cow back in his first year with the Chiefs, but Johnson's pass-catching ability alone might make him the best upside handcuff option in KC.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson was productive during his preseason debut versus the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. He rushed the ball 12 times for 59 yards and hauled in all three of his targets for 10 additional yards through the air in the loss. Johnson led all running backs in both carries and rushing yards during Saturday's game. Head coach Andy Reid noted after the game that Johnson ran the ball hard and aggressively during this game. The rookie back is currently listed as the RB3, but could make a push for the second-string role. His next chance to impress will come against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 22.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson has yet to emerge in training camp and has been working with the second- and third-team offenses. Johnson was drafted with the Chiefs' fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after a strong final season at Nebraska. He totaled 1,821 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025, leading the Big Ten in rushing yards. Now behind Kenneth Walker III and Brashard Smith and competing with veteran Emari Demercado, Johnson appears likely to be a non-factor early in the season. Fantasy managers who draft the rookie running back should expect a slow start and a potentially increased role if injuries occur to backs above him on the depth chart.

The Athletic's Jesse Newell considers Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson a faller early in training camp this summer after he was selected in the fifth round in April's NFL draft. Newell likes Johnson's long-term prospects with the organization, but as of now, he has "been a clear fourth in the RB pecking order in practices," behind both Brashard Smith and Emari Demercado. At minimum, KC should have plenty of special teams work for the rookie. Head coach Andy Reid said earlier this week that the team wants to see Johnson keep his pad level lower while running. "You go high at this level, and you're going to get rearranged," Reid said. "And you don't want that to happen." Right now, the Chiefs feel more comfortable with their other depth options at the position behind RB1 Kenneth Walker III. The 22-year-old from the University of Nebraska could make up some ground as camp goes on and in preseason action, but as things currently stand, he's merely a dynasty/keeper stash.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson could be a sneaky stash option for fantasy managers this season. The Chiefs selected the Nebraska running back in the fourth-round of this year's draft. The expectation is that the rookie back is going to compete for the backup role with Brashard Smith and Emari Demercado. The Chiefs signed Kenneth Walker III to be the workhorse back in Kansas City for years to come. His presence is going to diminish Johnson's overall upside. It's noteworthy that Walker has only played one full season since making his debut in 2022. Fantasy managers should view Johnson as an interesting handcuff candidate give Walker's injury history. The rookie back is certainly someone to look at in the middle rounds of dynasty rookie drafts.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and while Super Bowl MVP and free-agent acquisition Kenneth Walker III is the obvious headliner in a completely revamped running back room, the rookie should not be discounted as a potential Year 1 contributor. Johnson was one of the most productive collegiate runners in the country in 2025, and his work as a pass-catcher could see him step into an early role if he's able to overtake the team's lone returning RB from a season ago, 2025 seventh-round pick Brashard Smith. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes II has seen his scramble rate increase in recent years, but after a season-ending ACL tear in 2025, he may become more reliant on checkdowns to his running backs as he continues to regain trust in his surgically repaired left knee. And with Walker's own checkered injury history, Johnson takes on added value as a potential insurance back in an offense looking to rebound from several uncharacteristically lean years. Johnson is at the very least a name to remember at the end of deeper 2026 drafts, and as RotoBaller's dynasty RB47, he could be viewed as an undervalued asset worth targeting as part of a larger trade.

After a highly productive career at the University of Nebraska, running back Emmett Johnson was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Johnson dominated the Big Ten in 2025, recording 1,821 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns on 297 touches across 12 games. His path to the starting job with the Chiefs is blocked by running back Kenneth Walker III, whom Kansas City signed to a big-money deal in free agency in March. However, Johnson could emerge as the team's RB2 in 2026 if he can beat out fellow Kansas City backs Emari Demercado and Brashard Smith. Walker III was fully healthy in 2025, but he missed 10 games over the first three seasons of his NFL career from 2022 to 2024. If Johnson establishes himself as the primary backup running back for the Chiefs, his three-down skill set makes him a high-end handcuff option for fantasy managers. In dynasty formats, Johnson's stock is rising entering his rookie campaign.