Week 15: Johnson vs Titans
Chris Johnson has passed his teammate Chris Ivory for the first time since early in the season as the best RB option on the Jets. He has 33 carries in the past two weeks and he might even get more touches as he faces his old team and should be highly motivated. Jets will ride him against the Titans who are 28th in aFPA to running backs. Johnson rates a high-end flex or RB3 for Week 15.
Week 14: Johnson vs Vikings
Chris Johnson split snaps and carries with Chris Ivory from the tailback spot which is what we can expect the rest of the season barring injuries. Johnson did eclipse the 100-yard mark for the first time this season aided by a 47-yard run. He still has not had a touchdown since Week 4, his only score of the season.
Johnson has a good matchup this week against the Vikings who are 29th in aFPA to running backs and despite the running backs splitting carries, the Jets intend to run the football as much as possible to protect QB Geno Smith. Start Johnson as a flex or RB3 for Week 14 against Minnesota.
Week 13: Johnson vs Dolphins
Chris Johnson is still clearly the backup to Chris Ivory on paper, but he played more snaps than Ivory last week (32 to 26). So does this mean Johnson is moving past Ivory? Too early to tell as we will truly call this a two-back rotation. The Jets offense is really in shambles and with Geno Smith returning to his role as the starting quarterback, it probably won't get better.
Keep Johnson on the bench against a Dolphins defense that is 16th in aFPA to running backs. It's a neutral matchup but that's not enough to help any of the Jets at this point.
Week 12: Johnson vs Bills
Chris Johnson is getting about 8 to 10 touches per game and he coming off the bye week, that trend should continue. He is clearly the backup behind Chris Ivory.
Johnson will face a Bills defense that is 2nd in aFPA to running backs so the matchup is bad, too. Keep Johnson on the bench for Week 12.
Week 10: Johnson vs Steelers
Chris Johnson actually had more carries than Chris Ivory last week, but that does not mean their roles have changed. The game was a blowout and Ivory was rested. Expect the touches to go back in Ivory's favor this week.
Johnson still has a role in the offense and the Steelers aFPA is 14th to running backs, so expect some results from him. He could help you as an RB3 or flex.
Week 8: Johnson vs Bills
Chris Johnson is still getting on the field, but he clearly is the No. 2 to Chris Ivory and his numbers are still low overall despite 80 total yards last week, his highest total since Week 1.
It's a tough matchup for all the Jets' backs as Buffalo is 2nd in aFPA to running backs. Keep Johnson on the bench for Week 8 as the Bills will not be as soft against the run as the Patriots were last week.
Week 7: Johnson vs. Patriots
Chris Johnson had his lowest output of the season last week - only three carries and one catch. Johnson has clearly fallen out of favor with the Jets coaching staff. He also has a bum ankle so everything is against him right now. The only good news was he did get 20 snaps which was the same as Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell.
Johnson has been one of the fantasy disappointments this season. Don't expect anything to change this week against New England. Keep him on the bench for Week 7.
Week 6: Johnson vs. Broncos
The carries were in single digits again last week for Chris Johnson. He is the backup for the Jets, at least for now. Even though the Broncos have been average against the run, Johnson should be on the bench for Week 6.
Week 5: Johnson vs. Chargers
Chris Johnson owners should be worried. He only carried the ball six times last week and Chris Ivory played twice as many snaps. Plus other running backs are getting in on the act. He did get in the endzone on a 35 yard run, but that is a mirage. The days of Chris Johnson as an effective runner are over.
Johnson's value has plummeted in 2014 and there is no reason to put him in your lineup this week. Use his big Week 4 performance as an opportunity to shop Johnson around for anything you can get. His main value right now is as a hold, hoping Chris Ivory gets hurt and Johnson becomes a volume play.
Week 4: Johnson vs Lions
Chris Johnson is splitting time with Chris Ivory which cannot make Johnson owners very happy. Many thought Johnson would be a solid No. 1 guy for New York. Ivory's numbers have been better, especially in the passing game. So, even though Johnson still has some value, it is not nearly as good as it could be if Johnson were making the most of his opportunity.
Johnson rates a RB3 for Week 4. Detroit's defense is good but running backs have had moderate success against the Lions. Start Johnson as a flex if you're desperate, but expect the same amount of workload that we have seen in recent weeks.
