Training camp risers to target at the end of your fantasy football drafts
By Raju Byfield
Fantasy Football Camp Impact: Duke Johnson Jr. (RB – HOU)
Duke Johnson was traded to an ideal situation in Houston. While he is no one’s idea of a feature back, he has been one of the best receiving weapons in the league out of the backfield. Since 2015 when Johnson entered the league, he leads all running backs with an amazing 2,170 receiving yards. His 235 receptions since that time ranks third in the league.
Johnson is expected to slide in as the number two back and could even see snaps as a wide receiver if Keke Coutee’s injury proves to be of the nagging variety. Watson has not fed a lot of targets to the running back position in his time in the league, but that is assured to change this season.
Bill O’Brien comes from a system that made the most of their receiving specialist running backs, and is sure to be giddy at the prospects of what Duke Johnson can do in an offense that features the dynamic game breaking talents of Deshaun Watson, Deandre Hopkins, and Will Fuller.
Lamar Miller is in the decline phase of his career and is no longer suited for a feature back type of role.
In fact, Duke Johnson has put up seven RB1 outings over the past two seasons while Lamar Miller put up only six. Miller started 27 games, Duke Johnson started only two (and recorded just nine combined touches in those two contests).
Duke Johnson could press for RB2 value in 2019. He should be viewed as more of a flex option with mammoth upside, and is a bargain at his current consensus ADP as the 47th running back off the board.