Emmett Johnson Fantasy Stats

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.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson will open his career in a depth role, but his every-down skill set makes him an intriguing handcuff in case prized free agent signing Kenneth Walker III misses any time. Johnson doesn't have game-changing speed, but he does have a proven track record as a ball-carrier and pass-catcher in the Big 10. He led the conference with 1,451 rushing yards as a redshirt junior in 2025, and he also impressed with 370 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns. Walker is currently the Chiefs' every-down back, and Emari Demercado or Brashard Smith could rotate in as change-of-pace options. However, we question whether Demercado or Smith is capable of handling an every-down role if Walker goes down. Johnson could be better suited for that workload, making him an appealing dynasty stash at a low cost. He projects as a late second-round pick in 2026 rookie drafts.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has compared rookie fifth-round running back Emmett Johnson to former six-time Pro Bowl RB LeSean McCoy, according to Grant Gordon of NFL.com. Reid believes Johnson can contribute on the ground, as a pass-catcher, and on special teams. "First of all, he's got a good feel for things, a smart kid, good kid. He's got that lateral quickness. We had LeSean McCoy here for a bit, and he has a little bit of that to him, where he can shift gears and still get himself up the field quickly," said Reid, who coached McCoy with the Philadelphia Eagles and for a season with the Chiefs. Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are both gone, but the Chiefs added Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, Emari Demercado, and Johnson to a RB room that still includes Brashard Smith. Johnson was the sixth RB off the board in the 2026 NFL draft, but he was first in the FBS in 2025 with 151.8 all-purpose yards per game. He also had a career-high 1,451 rushing yards and 370 receiving yards at Nebraska last year. Because of his three-down skill set, if anything were to happen to Walker, who has a history of lower-body injuries, Johnson could benefit right away in 2026. Consider the 22-year-old a dynasty sleeper and a handcuff to Walker in single-year fantasy leagues.

The Kansas City Chiefs were "super high" on former Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson before selecting him in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL draft, and vice president of player personnel Ryne Nutt said the team was surprised he was still available in the fifth round when they traded up to take him. Johnson was the only player in college football to average more than 150 scrimmage yards per game last year, and he led the Big 10 with 1,451 rushing yards and finished second among all RBs in catches (46) while also scoring 15 touchdowns. He was graded as high as a third-round pick by some analysts. "He's a juke button, he has very good feet, vision, feel, and he's very good out of the backfield," Nutt described. The Chiefs lost Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt in free agency, but they signed former Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III. Johnson is projected to be the immediate backup to Walker in the lead-back role, and Arrowhead Pride's Ron Kopp Jr. doesn't think we should be surprised if he earns his way onto the field on passing downs. At the very least, Johnson will be a handcuff option as a late-round flier in fantasy football redraft leagues in 2026.

The Kansas City Chiefs have selected Nebraska running back prospect Emmett Johnson with the 161st overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Johnson was widely regarded as one of the top running backs available on Day 3, mostly because of his ability to join any system and take on an immediate role in the passing game. He had 46 catches, 370 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns at school last year, so we wouldn't be surprised if he consistently gets onto the field on third down. There's significant receiving upside here, but Johnson is a proven ball-carrier, too. He led the Big 10 in carries (251) and rushing yards (1,451) last year. With that said, the Chiefs signed Kenneth Walker III to a large contract this offseason, so Johnson's short-term ceiling on early downs is likely a change-of-pace back. Most of his short-term value will come in PPR leagues, as he might be able to carve out a steady receiving role on third downs.

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson could be the second or third back to hear his name called in the NFL Draft, but he could just as easily slip into the fantasy wasteland of a Day 3 selection. Such is the nature of a running back class with no true difference makers outside of Jeremiyah Love. When and where the amorphous grouping of second and third-tier backs comes off the board will come down to what type of player each NFL team is looking for, but where Johnson stands out is that his pass-catching ability should make him attractive to any number of franchises. Johnson led all Power 4 running backs with 46 receptions in 2025, on a 15.1% target share, and he could immediately find a role as a dedicated pass catcher in an NFL offense. With so many running backs clustered together, landing spot is going to affect dynasty draft boards more than any year in recent history, but Johnson currently sits as RotoBaller's rookie RB4, and he has as strong a claim as anyone to slip into the tail end of the first round in most rookie drafts.

University of Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson was one of the more productive backs in the country as a junior in 2025, recording 1,821 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns on 297 touches across 12 games. With 85 receptions over his last two collegiate seasons, Johnson can impact games as both a rusher and a receiver. The 22-year-old has a chance to hear his name called in the middle rounds of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. However, he's not considered to be a high-level athlete relative to other running back prospects, leading some to question whether he can work his way into a lead role in an NFL backfield. Johnson should be able to find a role in the pros due to his well-rounded skill set, but dynasty managers may want to take a conservative approach to projecting his upside. RotoBaller currently ranks Johnson as the 40th-best running back for dynasty formats.

University of Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson dominated college competition as a redshirt junior in 2025, collecting 1,451 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 251 carries across 12 games. Johnson contributed as a receiver out of the backfield as well, hauling in 46 receptions for 370 yards and three scores. Despite the standout college production, Johnson is not considered to be an elite NFL athlete at the running back position, limiting his high-end upside. Still, Johnson should come off the board on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft and has a chance to make an impact in an NFL backfield right away as a rookie. If Johnson can overcome some of his athleticism concerns, he has the well-rounded skill profile to become a three-down workhorse at the next level. While he's unlikely to take over as a team's lead rusher in the short term, Johnson could be worth targeting for dynasty managers in 2026. RotoBaller currently ranks Johnson as the RB44 in dynasty formats, right between fellow 2026 draft prospect Jonah Coleman and veteran Minnesota Vikings back Aaron Jones Sr.