Who is David Johnson’s backup in Arizona?
By Josh Hill
David Johnson, the top fantasy running back in the NFL, is expected to miss some time which means scooping up his handcuffs.
A shellacking at the hands of the Detroit Lions was not the way the Arizona Cardinals were hoping the season would start. But here where are, heading into a week of recalculation all over the roster.
The most significant recalculation will be at running back. David Johnson, the centerpiece of the Arizona offense and the gem of so many fantasy football crowns, looks like he’ll miss some significant time with a wrist injury. This is a blow not only to his owners in fantasy but to a Cardinals offense that will now rely on his backups to fill massive shoes left behind.
Who exactly are his backups?
It figures to be a two-back tandem for the Cardinals with Kerwynn Williams and Andre Ellington filling in for him. Elijhaa Penny is also listed on the depth chart and will likely see a boost in carries if the Cardinals are indeed without Johnson for a period of time.
It’s best left to the Cardinals to worry about these three backs. Given the way the offense played on Sunday in Detroit, all signs point to this being a drop off year for Arizona. That means none of these backs are safe options in fantasy as none of them provide any sort of confidence.
Johnson isn’t put for the season, but the undetermined amount of time he’ll miss is unsettling. Don’t knee-jerk settle for his immediate backups in Arizona for your fantasy team. Options like Tarik Cohen and others would be better served as targets for your team.
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Johnson’s MRI is scheduled for Monday and we’ll know more about the length of time he’ll be out then.