Latest Updates
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| 5/8/2013 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson excited for new offense
News: The City Paper in Nashville reports that Titans running back Chris Johnson is excited about the new offense in Tennessee this year. “Basically we’re learning a new playbook right now and there’s a lot of different things going in,” Johnson said. “It’s something we should have a good time doing. Last year … we basically were trying to turn into like a passing team. Coming in this year [we know] it’s going to be a run-first offense.” The Titans have overhauled their offense to improve the run game. Most notably, they signed free agent guard Andy Levitre and used two picks in the first four rounds of the draft on guard Chance Warmack (first round) and center Brian Scwenke (fourth round). “We want to be able to run the ball when we want to and when we need to,” first-year offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. “Obviously, the commitment made to rebuilding the interior of the offensive line is a big part of that.”
Analysis: In 2012 the Titans averaged 23.6 rushes and just over 105 yards per contest and were last in the league in time of possession. Also, they had more than 20 running plays six times in 11 games with Chris Palmer as offensive coordinator. After Palmer was fired and Loggains was promoted they topped 20 in four of the final five games. Johnson has the chance for a bounce-back season, and he comes into the year as a Top 15 Fantasy running back on Draft Day worth a pick in Round 2. The addition of Shonn Greene will hurt Johnson, but he remains talented enough to produce at a high level even while sharing the ball.
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| 4/25/2013 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans beefed OL should help CJ1k
News: Tennessee has made it clear this offseason its dedicated to the run. After signing Andy Levitre and Robert Turner in free agency the Titans drafted Alabama road grader Chance Warmack with their first-round pick. This means the Titans will lean heavily on their rush attack, led by Chris Johnson, who has been very inconsistent behind a mediocre interior line for two consecutive seasons. The moves should culminate in Johnson (and Shonn Greene, also a new addition to Tennessee) putting up some solid stats.
Analysis: It's this simple for Johnson: Run hard, follow your blockers and pick up yardage. If he doesn't do it then there's no one he can blame but himself. The Titans also added Greene in case Johnson does flop early in 2013 just as he did in 2011 and 2012 before rebounding thanks in part to games against weak run defenses (he's decimated Buffalo in consecutive seasons). Fourteen hundred total yards should be his floor behind this O-line. Fantasy owners should still count on Johnson as a 250-touch guy and getting him as a potential second-round pick leaves room for some upside.
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| 3/21/2013 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson turns red over Greene
News: Chris Johnson told The Tennessean that he's not a big fan of the Titans signing Shonn Greene this offseason. It's expected that Greene will take around 10 touches per game along with goal-line duties. “I have never been a big fan of the two-back system, so I don’t know how we plan on using him,” Johnson said. "I'm not afraid of competition, but I was thinking we'd maybe get a draft pick for the other back. And you don’t give a guy that kind of money to be just a goal-line guy and in tough-yardage situations. ... I don't mind a guy getting a carry or two. But if I am the main guy and it is supposed to be my team ... it shouldn’t be an issue."
Analysis: Titans coach Mike Munchak said he will not use Greene in just short-yardage/goal-line situations, inferring that he will get complete series of plays to himself while Johnson sits on the sideline. This does bungle Johnson's Fantasy value, but he did it to himself with his inconsistent play for much of the last two years. But Johnson's upside keeps him in the conversation for a pick between 15th and 30th overall on Draft Day as a No. 2 rusher.
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| 3/13/2013 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Greene cramps Johnson's workload
News: The Titans signed running back Shonn Greene on Wednesday, signaling a modest shift in how they're approaching running backs in 2013. The Titans' brass has said they intended to add another back to the mix with Johnson and did so with a physical inside rusher who can convert short-yardage situations. Greene figures to cut into Johnson's workload a little bit more than previous running backs have and also serves as an insurance policy just in case Johnson comes out cold like he has each of the last two seasons.
Analysis: The Titans also upgraded their offensive line, adding guard Andy Levitre. That's key for their run game as they couldn't provide lanes consistently for Johnson. While losing touches to Greene will stink, Johnson has already been off the field in goal-line situations so that's not a killer. We think Johnson still has enough upside to warrant an early-round pick, but he's no longer a first-round talent. We'd aim for him in Round 2 and probably consider a guy like Greene in Round 9 as a handcuff.
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| 2/27/2013 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ1k doesn't like two-back system
News: In a quick interview, Chris Johnson told NFL.com Wednesday he would not like the Titans to bring in another running back to split reps with him. "Throughout all the years I've been in the league, when we get in the red-zone area they always put another guy in there," he said. " ... But if it comes down to a two-back system, I don't agree with that. ... I played in a two-back system in college (East Carolina) and I don't like it because you really can't get into a groove. That's something I wouldn't be happy with."
Analysis: Titans general manager Ruston Webster said from the NFL combine he anticipates drafting a change-of-pace running back to pair with Johnson. The Titans probably want another option in case Johnson comes into 2013 as a hasty runner like he's been for much of the last two seasons. Johnson's carry totals since entering the NFL: 251, 358, 316, 262 and 276. That's nearly 1,500 carries over six seasons, so it's no wonder why the Titans want someone to help him out but not necessarily split 50-50 with him. What's interesting is that the Titans paid Johnson a $9 million bonus this offseason, so paying him and then bringing in a talent to help him with his workload doesn't necessarily make fiscal sense. Fantasy owners should still count on Johnson as a 250-to-300 touch guy and getting him as a potential second-round pick leaves room for some upside. For now he remains a Top 15 running back, a value he should have no matter who the Titans draft in April.
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| 2/21/2013 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans aim to draft change-of-pace RB
News: Titans general manager Ruston Webster said from the NFL Combine Thursday he anticipates drafting a change-of-pace running back to pair with Chris Johnson. Head coach Mike Munchak said the same thing, adding it needs to be a priority for the team. This is in line with what running backs coach Sylvester Croom said less than two weeks ago about giving Johnson some help, though Croom said they really don't want to take Johnson off the field.
Analysis: Johnson's carry totals since entering the NFL: 251, 358, 316, 262 and 276. That's nearly 1,500 carries over six seasons, so it's no wonder why the Titans want someone to help him out. The Titans probably want another option in case Johnson comes into 2013 as a hasty runner like he's been for much of the last two seasons. What's interesting is that the Titans paid Johnson a $9 million bonus this offseason, so paying him and then bringing in a talent to help him with his workload doesn't necessarily make fiscal sense. Fantasy owners should still count on Johnson as a 250-to-300 touch guy and getting him as a potential second-round pick leaves room for some upside. For now he remains a Top 15 running back, a value he should have no matter who the Titans draft in April.
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| 2/11/2013 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans to give Johnson help
News: ESPN reports reports that new Titans running back coach Sylvester Croom said he wants to bring in another running back to take the load off Chris Johnson in 2013. “I truly believe if you’re serious about running the football, you’ve got to have two guys actually both able to carry the load during the season,” Croom said. “... If you’re going to really run, I’m talking 30-plus times a game, there aren’t many that can do that for 16 games anymore, their bodies can’t take it.” Croom said he doesn't want to take Johnson off the field. The report says "they still want to feature the explosive guy who can score any time he touches the ball from a handoff or a catch." But the Titans do want to have a second guy who can do other things in a different kind of role with a different style that can help the team in certain situations.
Analysis: It still sounds like Johnson will be the featured option for the Titans, and maybe giving him a break here or there will help his value. While many Fantasy owners have likely lost patience with Johnson, the reality is that he has eclipsed 1,400 total yards in each of his five NFL seasons. The touchdown production has slipped dramatically as he has 10 in two seasons after scoring 11 in 2010 and 14 in his monster 2009 campaign, and he had a career-low eight runs for 20-plus yards last year. But Johnson is still a must-start Fantasy option, and he should be drafted in Round 2 in all formats.
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| 2/7/2013 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to get his money in 2013
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans coach Mike Munchak said Thursday that running back Chris Johnson will be back and the team will pay his salary for 2013, which is $10 million. The report says Munchak said Johnson's status was never an issue and blown out of proportion.
Analysis: While many Fantasy owners have likely lost patience with Johnson, the reality is that he has eclipsed 1,400 total yards in each of his five NFL seasons. The touchdown production has slipped dramatically as he has 10 in two seasons after scoring 11 in 2010 and 14 in his monster 2009 campaign, and he had a career-low eight runs for 20-plus yards last year. A change in coaching philosophy and an improved O-line could turn Johnson's fortunes around but Fantasy owners won't gamble on him until after Round 1 is over. Expect his name to get called between the 12th and 22nd picks on Draft Day.
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| 2/5/2013 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
La Canfora: Titans keeping CJ1k
News: CBSSports.com NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reports the Titans intend to exercise the $10 million option on Johnson's contract. Nine million dollars will be guaranteed on February 9. Johnson said previously that he does not believe money has changed him and that his mediocre play can be blamed on a number of factors including his offensive line, the revolving door of position coaches and offensive coordinators he's had and his own failure to make plays.
Analysis: While many Fantasy owners have likely lost patience with Johnson, the reality is that he has eclipsed 1,400 total yards in each of his five NFL seasons. The touchdown production has slipped dramatically as he has 10 in two seasons after scoring 11 in 2010 and 14 in his monster 2009 campaign, and he had a career-low eight runs for 20-plus yards last year. A change in coaching philosophy and an improved O-line could turn Johnson's fortunes around but Fantasy owners won't gamble on him until after Round 1 is over. Expect his name to get called between the 12th and 22nd picks on Draft Day.
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| 2/1/2013 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson opens up on Titans' issues
News: Chris Johnson was candid in an interview with 104.5 The Zone in Nashville about his play over the last two years and the Titans in general. Johnson opined that it "kind of is a big deal" to have five different running back coaches and three offensive coordinators since he entered the league. He's hoping for the offense to shift back to what he worked with when Mike Heimerdinger was his offensive coordinator. Johnson also wished for the Titans to revamp their offensive line, noting that things went downhill once they lost their starting center to injury early in the year. As for the team in general Johnson said they're not close to winning a Super Bowl but could be if they added a couple of free agents and got him back on track. He wants to be the first player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards twice in a career and get to the Super Bowl but when the topic of the team picking up his $9 million extension came up, he said he's not sure where he stands as he's had no communication with the team since they made some coaching changes. "I couldn't say I wouldn't be surprised but it wouldn't be no bad blood," he said. He dismissed the idea that he stopped playing well because he got a rich contract extension, suggesting he's had money since being a first-round pick. "I don't take the blame for what all's going on, I'm sure I'm part of it because I'm part of the team," he said. "I don't like to make excuses, I just go with the flow and do my best with what's given to me."
Analysis: Reports have suggested the Titans will pay Johnson his $9 million roster bonus on Feb. 9, keeping him in the fold for at least another season. While many Fantasy owners have likely lost patience with Johnson, the reality is that he has eclipsed 1,400 total yards in each of his five NFL seasons. The touchdown production has slipped dramatically as he has 10 in two seasons after scoring 11 in 2010 and 14 in his monster 2009 campaign, and he had a career-low eight runs for 20-plus yards last year. A change in coaching philosophy and an improved O-line could turn Johnson's fortunes around but Fantasy owners won't gamble on him until after Round 1 is over. Expect his name to get called between the 12th and 22nd picks on Draft Day.
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| 1/4/2013 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans fire CJ1k's position coach
News: The Titans have dismissed running backs coach Jim Skipper, making him the third running backs coach to get fired from the team since Chris Johnson joined them in 2008. Johnson might not be to blame as he finished the 2012 season with 1,243 rushing yards and 232 receiving yards to go with six rushing scores.
Analysis: The Titans owe Johnson $10 million for 2013 -- including $9 million guaranteed by Feb. 9. All signs point to them paying the price to keep Johnson for another season. With 1,463 career carries and 230 career catches over a five-year career, the 27-year-old running back still has plenty to offer statistically. But with the rise of several other running backs over the past season, Johnson might slip to the second round of Fantasy drafts this summer.
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| 12/30/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ finishes with six TDs
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson fought through an ankle injury to play Week 17 vs. Jacksonville, and he contributed his sixth rushing touchdown of the season in a 38-20 win. Johnson, who came into the game as questionable, opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run on the opening drive. He finished with 56 rushing yards on 21 carries, with his longest rush going 19 yards. He added one catch for 9 yards. Johnson finished the 2012 season with 1,243 rushing yards and 232 receiving yards.
Analysis: Many Fantasy owners were hesitant to take a flier on Johnson this summer after his "down" campaign in 2011. Initially, it looked like Fantasy owners were right to be hesitant about CJ, who got off to another slow start this season. But he broke out with 141 rushing yards Week 4 and performed pretty well the rest of the season. He managed at least 10 Fantasy points in nine of his last 13 games. It's just that Johnson didn't rack up a ton of touchdowns again in 2012, which weighed down his Fantasy value. He still finished as a Top 15 Fantasy running back for a second straight season, but Johnson still has some room to improve to get back to being an elite Fantasy back. Johnson will be worth drafting as a low-end Fantasy starter again next summer and worth an early-round pick in all formats. We just hope his touchdown total will increase.
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| 12/30/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson able to go Sunday
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson, who was limited in practice by an ankle injury leading up to the game, is active for Week 17 against the Jaguars. On Friday, Johnson said he would be able to start the game even though he was listed as questionable on the injury report.
Analysis: Johnson is coming off a miserable performance at Green Bay last week in which he gained only 28 yards on 11 carries, but he should be in for a better performance against the Jaguars, provided his ankle doesn't limit him in the contest. He had 80 yards on 21 carries against them earlier this season. Keep Johnson active in Fantasy.
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| 12/28/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson going down with a fight
News: Despite only practicing on Friday this past week, Titans running back Chris Johnson (ankle) said he would start in the season finale against Jacksonville. Johnson missed the first two workouts while being hobbled by an injured right ankle before returning as a limited participant Friday. He was labeled as questionable on the injury report. "Every year everybody gets nicks and bumps and things like that," he told The Tennessean. "It shows I am durable and can play in a 16-game season. It is a situation where I know it is our last game and I know we are not going to the playoffs or anything like that, but I still want to go out there and fight with my teammates."
Analysis: Johnson has missed only one game during his five-year career as he has prided himself on staying in the lineup. Johnson, who has 1,187 rushing yards on 255 carries this season, will be seeking a rebound in Week 17 after posting just 28 yards at Green Bay last Sunday. In his previous outing against the Jaguars, he amassed 80 yards on 21 carries, but was unable to reach the end zone. Jacksonville is permitting the third-most Fantasy points to opposing running backs this year (21.9) so Johnson should be viewed as a high-end option if he stays active.
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| 12/27/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson expects to play
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson was held out for the second day in a row Thursday, as he continues to deal with an ankle injury. Despite being held out of practice, he told reporters that he will play Sunday in Week 17 against the Jaguars. Johnson suffered the injury in Week 16 against the Packers.
Analysis: Johnson rushed for 80 yards on 21 carries against the Jaguars in Week 12, so this should be a pretty good matchup for him. The lingering effects of the injury are cause for some concern, but Johnson’s confidence should make Fantasy owners feel better. The Jaguars allow the third-most Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, so Fantasy owners should keep him active in all formats, barring a setback.
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| 12/26/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson unable to practice
News: Tennessee running back Chris Johnson was unable to practice Wednesday in preparation of Week 17 against Jacksonville. Johnson was banged up in the Week 16 game at Green Bay and appeared to suffer an ankle injury. That is what kept him from practice Wednesday as the Titans get set for the regular-season finale. Johnson should be fine come Sunday and has been playing through nagging injuries all year, especially to his ankle. He faced the Jaguars Week 12 and rushed 21 times for 80 yards. He managed just 28 yards against the Packers last week, however.
Analysis: Johnson should be fine come Sunday and we don't expect this latest ankle issue to slow him against a Jacksonville team that has just been terrible against the run. The Jaguars are allowing the third-most Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs on the year and that bodes well for a big final performance from Johnson. We'd consider starting him across the board in Fantasy for the finale.
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| 12/23/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Banged-up Johnson unproductive
News: On the road in Week 16, Titans running back Chris Johnson wasn't able to take advantage of a Packers defense that entered the game allowing 4.5 yards per carry. He gained only 28 yards on his 11 carries for an average of 2.5 yards per carry. He did leave briefly at the end of the first quarter with an ankle injury, which may have limited his production the rest of the way, but his performance was in line with what he had done in his previous four games, when, apart from a 94-yard touchdown run against the Jets last week, he averaged 2.8 yards per carry. Johnson also had two catches for 13 yards in Week 16.
Analysis: For the most part, Johnson's production hinges on whether or not he breaks off a long run, and he didn't in this one. Whether or not the injury or the frigid conditions had anything to do with it is a matter of debate, but the fact of the matter is, apart from that one long run against the Jets, Johnson has been a massive disappointment in Fantasy lately. After the way he started this season, you know better to write him off. In fact, he has a pretty good chance of bouncing back against a shaky Jaguars run defense in Week 17. Still, he's a better fit as a No. 2 running back than a No. 1 running back in Fantasy.
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| 12/20/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans to lean on Johnson?
News: Apart from a 94-yard touchdown run against the Jets last week, Johnson hasn't been at his best lately, averaging 2.8 yards per carry over his last four games (again, apart from that one long run). He should have an opportunity to reverse the trend Week 16 at Green Bay though. With the forecast calling for a high in the upper 20s following a week of blizzard-like conditions in Green Bay, the Titans might be inclined to run the ball more than usual against a Packers defense that ranks 14th against the run, allowing 114.3 yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry.
Analysis: Of course, if the Titans fall behind big, they may have no choice but to air it out, leaving Johnson with disappointing totals. Still, the potential for a big game from Johnson makes him more or less impossible to sit in Fantasy this week, as is the case just about every week. He's an off-and-on runner for sure, but this matchup isn't the kind that should compel you to sit him.
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| 12/18/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson runs over Jets
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson registered his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season in Week 15 against the Jets. Johnson racked up 122 yards on 21 carries in the 14-10 win and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. However, he racked up most of his yards in the second quarter when he broke free on a 94-yard scamper that resulted in his fifth rushing touchdown of the season. Johnson ran almost untouched right up the middle of New York's defense and then used his speed to outrun a few defenders to the end zone. His 94-yard run was the longest touchdown run in Titans' franchise history.
Analysis: Johnson was actually bottled up for most of the night as he only gained 28 yards on his other 20 carries (1.4 ypc). However, the 27-year-old has proved numerous times throughout his career that he is capable of breaking off big runs as he now has six career rushing TDs of 80 yards or more, which is an NFL record. He now has over 1,100 yard on the ground this season and will look to keep things going when the Titans travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers in Week 16. Green Bay has struggled to defend the run at times this season, so consider Johnson a viable start heading into that contest.
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| 12/18/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson runs over Jets
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson registered his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season in Week 15 against the Jets. Johnson racked up 122 yards on 21 carries in the 14-10 win and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. However, he racked up most of his yards in the second quarter when he broke free on a 94-yard scamper that resulted in his fifth rushing touchdown of the season. Johnson ran almost untouched right up the middle of New York's defense and then used his speed to outrun a few defenders to the end zone. His 94-yard run was the longest touchdown run in Titans franchise history.
Analysis: Johnson was actually bottled up for most of the night as he only gained 28 yards on his other 20 carries (1.4 ypc). However, the 27-year-old has proved numerous times throughout his career that he is capable of breaking off big runs as he now has six career rushing TDs of 80 yards or more, which is an NFL record. He now has over 1,100 yard on the ground this season and will look to keep things going when the Titans travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers in Week 16. Green Bay has struggled to defend the run at times this season, so consider Johnson a viable start heading into that contest.
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| 12/17/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson ready to roll on MNF
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson will start on Monday night against the Jets, as expected would be the case. Johnson was probable entering Monday with an ankle issue. Johnson is looking to score for the first time since Week 10 at Miami and that was also the last time he rushed for over 100 yards in a game. That said, Johnson is facing a Jets defense allowing an average of 136.5 rushing yards per game. The Jets have surrendered 13 touchdowns on the ground, while yielding an average of 18.8 Fantasy points per week to running backs, which ranks 26th overall.
Analysis: Johnson already has four touchdowns and six games with at least 90 rushing yards under his belt this season. He's given Fantasy owners a little lower production than expected over the course of the last three weeks, but faces a more favorable matchup against the Jets. Johnson is just the eighth player in NFL history to run for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first five seasons and has owned Monday night over the course of his career. Fantasy owners should consider Johnson a viable start in most formats for the Week 15 game.
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| 12/15/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson ready for MNF
News: Tennessee running back Chris Johnson is officially considered probable for the Week 15 Monday night game against the Jets with his ankle issue. He missed practice Thursday but has been able to practice since. Johnson, who has four touchdowns on the season, has been shutout in the scoring department in each of his last three contests. He has racked up 239 total yards over that stretch (175 rushing, 64 receiving) and will be facing a New York defense that is allowing an average of 136.5 rushing yards per game. The Jets have surrendered 13 touchdowns on the ground, while yielding an average of 18.8 Fantasy points per week to running backs, which ranks 26th overall.
Analysis: Johnson is just the eighth player in NFL history to run for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first five seasons. After posting a very productive November, Johnson hasn't nearly been as effective in December, however. The 27-year-old has racked up just 95 yards on the ground over his last two games and is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry over that stretch. However, Johnson looks to have a good chance to get back on track this week as the Jets have really struggled to defend the run at times this season. Johnson has averaged 113 yards rushing over his three career games on Monday nights. Fantasy owners should consider Johnson a viable start in most formats this week.
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| 12/14/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson back in practice
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson was back in practice Friday as the team prepares for Week 15 at home against the Jets. He missed practice Thursday with an ankle injury but is still expected to play Monday night. Johnson, who has four touchdowns on the season, has been shutout in the scoring department in each of his last three contests. He has racked up 239 total yards over that stretch (175 rushing, 64 receiving) and will be facing a New York defense that is allowing an average of 136.5 rushing yards per game. The Jets have surrendered 13 touchdowns on the ground, while yielding an average of 18.8 Fantasy points per week to running backs, which ranks 26th overall. Johnson is just the eighth player in NFL history to run for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first five seasons.
Analysis: After posting a very productive November, Johnson hasn't nearly been as effective in December. The 27-year-old has racked up just 95 yards on the ground over his last two games and is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry over that stretch. However, Johnson looks to have a good chance to get back on track this week as the Jets have really struggled to defend the run at times this season. New York has surrendered 11 rushing TDs to opposing RBs on the year and Johnson has averaged 113 yards rushing over his three career games on Monday nights. Fantasy owners should consider Johnson a viable start in most formats this week.
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| 12/13/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ expected back Friday
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson was held out of practice Thursday because of an ankle injury, but he is expected back Friday. The Titans host the Jets Monday night. Johnson, who has four touchdowns on the season, has been shutout in the scoring department in each of his last three contests. He has racked up 239 total yards over that stretch (175 rushing, 64 receiving) and will be facing a New York defense that is allowing an average of 136.5 rushing yards per game. The Jets have surrendered 13 touchdowns on the ground, while yielding an average of 18.8 Fantasy points per week to running backs, which ranks 26th overall. Johnson is just the eighth player in NFL history to run for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first five seasons.
Analysis: It doesn't sound like CJ is dealing with a major injury, but it's worth keeping tabs on. Johnson could just be getting a rest day late in the season. After posting a very productive November, Johnson hasn't nearly been as effective in December. The 27-year-old has racked up just 95 rushing yards his last two games and is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry over that stretch. However, Johnson could get back on track this week as the Jets have really struggled to defend the run at times this season. New York has surrendered 11 rushing touchdowns to running backs, and Johnson has averaged 113 yards rushing over his three career games on Monday nights. Fantasy owners should consider Johnson a viable start in most formats.
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| 12/11/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson looking to find end zone
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson will be looking to get back in the end zone in Week 15 against the Jets. Johnson, who has four touchdowns on the season, has been shutout in the scoring department in each of his last three contests. He has racked up 239 total yards over that stretch (175 rushing, 64 receiving) and will be facing a New York defense that is allowing an average of 136.5 yards on the ground this season. The Jets have surrendered 13 TDs on the ground while yielding an average of 18.8 Fantasy points to opposing RBs, which ranks 26th overall. Johnson is just the eighth player in NFL history to run for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first five seasons.
Analysis: After posting a very productive November, Johnson hasn't nearly been as effective in December. The 27-year-old has racked up just 95 yards on the ground over his last two games and is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry over that stretch. However, Johnson looks to have a good chance to get back on track this week as the Jets have really struggled to defend the run at times this season. New York has surrendered 11 rushing TDs to opposing RBs on the year and Johnson has averaged 113 yards rushing over his three career games on Monday nights. Fantasy owners should consider Johnson a viable start in most formats this week.
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| 12/9/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson doesn't lead own team
News: Tennessee running back Chris Johnson struggled all afternoon on Sunday in the Week 14 loss at Indianapolis. Titans quarterback Jake Locker had an early 32-yard carry and Johnson was never able to overtake him as the team leader in rushing. In the end, Locker had 51 yards on four carries as Johnson finished with 44 on 19. Johnson caught three passes for 15 yards in the game as well. He did not score.
Analysis: Johnson has been a creature of inconsistency this season. He started the year slowly by failing to top 30 rushing yards in each of his first three games. He was basically a stud from that point on with four touchdowns and six games of at least 90 rushing yards between Weeks 4 and the Week 11 bye. Since the bye, however, Johnson has struggled again and has gone three straight without topping 100 yards. The good news is that he faces a Jets team in Week 15 that struggles defending against the run. Johnson can remain active in most Fantasy formats for that contest.
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| 12/6/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ ready to bounce back
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson will be looking to bounce back heading into Week 14 on the road against the Colts. Johnson was held to just 51 yards rushing against the Texans in Week 13. He'll face an Indianapolis defense that has allowed 122.6 yards per game on the ground this season. He rushed for 99 yards on 22 carries and caught two passes for 18 yards in his last meeting against the Colts in Week 8. Johnson has been held under 85 yards in the last two weeks. "When it is time for clutch plays in game-time situations, I don’t want to be on the sideline or just be in there blocking all the time," Johnson told The Tennessean on Thursday. "Of course I want to be out there and make plays. I am a playmaker."
Analysis: Johnson has fared well against the Colts in the past, averaging 70.3 rushing yards with a total of two touchdowns on the ground in eight career meetings. That said, he has not topped the 100-yard mark against the Colts since 2010, which is a four-game drought. It'll be interesting to see how Johnson will be involved on offense with a new coordinator, so we'll continue to keep an eye on his role moving forward. The 27-year-old has bounced back after a slow start to the season and is now seven yards away from hitting the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth consecutive season. Opposing running backs have scored an average of 18 Fantasy points per game this season. Fantasy owners should continue to roll with Johnson in all formats heading into Week 14.
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| 12/2/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson continues slide
News: Chris Johnson's two most memorable plays on Sunday, in the team's 24-10 loss to the Texans, were a 27-yard run in the team's first offensive series, and a block in the third quarter on a blitzing Texan which allowed Jake Locker to complete a 34-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Britt. Outside of that? Little to give Fantasy owners any confidence. He even mixed a fumble in for good measure.
Analysis: Johnson carried the ball just 13 times (three in the second half), while Locker threw 45. He finished the game with 51 rushing yards and 20 receiving yards (on four receptions). Granted, the Titans were playing from behind most of the game, but Johnson was pretty absent throughout. This does little to dispel the idea that Johnson is not a productive running back with Locker as QB, as he averages 7.2 Fantasy points per game with Locker as QB (he had five points on Sunday), but had averaged 14 with Matt Hasselbeck under center. Johnson gets the Colts in Week 14, a team he rushed for 99 yards against in Week 8. He should continue to be started in most leagues.
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| 11/27/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson looks to repeat success vs Texans
News: Remember the first three weeks of the season? When Chris Johnson had rushing outputs of four, 17, and 24 yards and a nation wondered what was wrong with him? In Week 4, Johnson faced off against the Texans and went off for 141 yards on 25 carries. It was the only game this season in which the Texans have allowed a player to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark. Over the next seven games, Johnson would have six with double-digit Fantasy points. And now, in Week 13, Johnson is lined up to take on the Texans again.
Analysis: Over his last five games, Johnson has scored four touchdowns, but has fumbled twice. He has carried the ball 20 or more times in three of his last five, and is averaging 128.2 yards per game in that span. For all the "Johnson stinks when Jake Locker is QB" theorists out there, we present this: When Locker is the quarterback, Johnson averages 7.2 Fantasy points per game. When Matt Hasselbeck is the QB, Johnson averages 14. However, Johnson had three very bad games to start the season -- while Locker was the starter -- a problem which could have been caused by several factors, not necessarily Locker's presence (Johnson's zero-point performance in Week 5 with Hasselbeck at QB may help that school of thought). With Locker out there or not, Johnson has played too well over the last several weeks to be left on the bench. He should be started in most formats.
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| 11/25/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson tops 100 total yards
News: Tennessee running back Chris Johnson was the only Titans player who could get anything rolling offensively early on in the Week 12 loss at Jacksonville Sunday. Johnson rushed 21 times in the game for 80 yards with a long carry of 31 yards. He did not score but did add two more catches for 29 yards. Johnson finished with 109 all-purpose yards on the afternoon.
Analysis: The Tennessee offense really struggled on Sunday outside of Johnson, who at times was leading the team both in rushing and receiving yards. Johnson has consistently played well for the Titans as he had touchdowns in two straight games coming off the bye Week 11. Johnson will head into Week 13 against Houston with a good chance for another solid effort against a struggling defense. The Tennessee offense may not be consistent, but Johnson can remain active in most Fantasy formats.
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| 11/21/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson looking to repeat history Week 12
News: Tennessee running back Chris Johnson enters Week 12 at Jacksonville with a solid history against the Jaguars over the course of his career. Johnson has averaged 94.4 rushing yards per game against the Jaguars over his last five contests against them with three touchdowns. That said, He's struggled his last three times out against Jacksonville with most of his damage coming in 2009 and '10 against them. In back-to-back games over that stretch Johnson rushed 50 times for 339 yards with all three scores. He hasn't topped 56 yards since against Jacksonville.
Analysis: Johnson has a favorable matchup against Jacksonville this week. The Jaguars are allowing the fourth-most Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs on the season. Johnson has 24 career games with at least 125 rushing yards, which is second-most over a player's first five seasons in NFL history. He's topped 125 in each of his last two games with a touchdown scored in each contest. Johnson is very much a must-start Fantasy RB for the Week 12 game at Jacksonville Sunday.
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| 11/11/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson ends ‘Phins’streak
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson added another stout rushing defense to his list of victims in Week 11. Johnson became the first running back to top 100 yards rushing in a game against the Dolphins in 22 games Sunday. Johnson, who is also the only back to rush for more than 100 yards against the Texans and Bears this season, rushed the ball 23 times for 126 yards in the game. His stats included an impressive 17-yard touchdown run in which he seemed to get stuck behind the line of scrimmage before bursting through on a cutback for the score. Johnson also brought in one reception for 8 yards in a 37-3 win.
Analysis: Those concerns about Johnson’s early-season struggles seem like a long time ago, as Johnson is averaging 130.4 yards per game over the last five with four touchdowns. Johnson has recovered his elite running ability, and the Titans are rewarding him as a result; he has rushed the ball 97 times over the last five games as well. Fantasy owners who hung on to Johnson during the down times are being rewarded, and the ones who bought low are seeing a huge return on their investment. Fantasy owners can’t like that Johnson is on a bye in Week 11, as they hate to see his momentum slowed by anything. The Titans return in Week 12 against the Jaguars, and Johnson should be considered a must-start Fantasy option in all formats.
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| 11/8/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson gets his groove back
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson carries his best stretches in four seasons into Week 10 against the Dolphins, a team that has been one of the top rushing defenses in the league so far. Johnson’s recent production has him feeling confident again, according to The Tennessean. “I am sure I answered some questions,’’ Johnson said. “Earlier a lot of people thought I wasn’t playing hard or just got the big (contract) and gave up or lost a couple of steps or things like that. If you have been paying attention, you know all of those are false.” Johnson has 526 rushing yards over his last four games with three touchdowns, but the Dolphins have yet to allow a running back to top 100 yards in a single game this season. Johnson will look to become the first of the year, a week after rushing for 141 yards and a score against a similarly tough Bears’ rushing defense.
Analysis: Johnson has had some success against the league’s tougher defenses so far this season, as he remains the only player to top the 100-yard mark against either the Bears or the Texans, who he accomplished the feat against in Week 4. Johnson has very quickly turned his season around, and is showing the form that made him one of the top Fantasy options in the league a few years ago. It remains to be seen whether Johnson will be able to reach 100 yards against a Dolphins rush defense that held the Colts' leading rusher to 60 yards in Week 9. The Dolphins are holding opposing running backs to just 13.3 Fantasy points per game, but Johnson has reached the point where he is worth starting in all Fantasy formats, regardless of the opponent.
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| 11/4/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson fills up stat sheet late
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson ran 16 times for 141 yards and a touchdown on Sunday against the Bears, arguably the toughest run defense in the NFL. He caught four passes for four yards, and was targeted six times. Johnson also fumbled twice, both in the first half, but didn't seem to be disciplined for it, so it probably shouldn't be a huge worry for his owners (outside of the points deducted for the turnovers).
Analysis: Johnson broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter when the score was 51-12. He had just 54 yards at the end of the third quarter. A pessimist would look at this and argue that it was a garbage time run that padded Johnson's stats. An optimist would simply say, "I don't care, he got me a ton of points this week, and yards are yards." The fact that Johnson was in the game with his team down 39 points -- and that they were running at that point -- at least gives an indication of their willingness to keep trotting him out there. But the enigmatic year continues -- Johnson now has 141 rushing yards against both the Bears' defense and the Texans' defense. Coming into Week 9, they had allowed the fewest and third-fewest rushing yards per game, respectively. In Week 10, the titans face the Dolphins, the team ranking second in rushing yards allowed per game. At this point, Johnson is a borderline must-start, and should be in your lineup no matter who he's facing.
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| 10/31/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to face tough Bears defense
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson, who has rushed for 90 yards or more four times in his last five games, faces a tough task in Week 9 against Chicago. The Bears have allowed the fewest Fantasy points per game, fewest rushing yards per game, and the second-fewest rushing touchdowns allowed this season. Additionally, Johnson's last two games, in which he rushed 39 times for 294 yards and two touchdowns, came against the Bills and Colts, who have allowed the most and sixth-most rushing yards per game, respectively, so far this season.
Analysis: As encouraging as Johnson's recent performances have been, the fact remains that he has put up games of four, two, two, and zero points this season. Granted, those were all in the first five games, but we can't just wipe them from his record. Making things a little more complicated for Johnson is his 141-yard game against the Texans (a top-five run defense) and his two-point performance against Detroit (18th against the run). One could tie Johnson's increase in productivity to the presence of Matt Hasselbeck. When Hasselbeck took over for Jake Locker in Week 4's game against Houston, Johnson had 23 rushing yards; he finished the game with 141. It's the most solid argument one can find for Johnson's revival. While the Bears matchup looks tough, Johnson can point to his success against Houston as an argument against blanket assumptions. An explosive force at running back, Johnson should be started in most leagues, despite the tough opponent.
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| 10/28/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson continues turnaround
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson finished with 99 yards on 21 carries during Tennessee's 19-13 overtime loss to Indianapolis in Week 8. Johnson average a sturdy 4.7 yards per game, but was unable to top the century mark in consecutive games for just the second time since the start of the 2011 campaign. He also contributed two receptions for 18 yards while collecting three targets from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
Analysis: Despite just missing 100 yards, Johnson continues to display renewed focus in the running game and is becoming a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses once again. He has now gained at least 90 yards, highlighted by a 195-yard performance last Sunday against Buffalo, in each of his past three games. The Titans are also showing added faith in Johnson as he posted his second-highest carry total of the season Sunday. Fantasy owners should continue to roll with Johnson in all formats despite a potentially tough matchup looming in Week 9 against Chicago.
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| 10/28/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Knee no problem for Johnson
News: As anticipated, Tennessee running back Chris Johnson is active for Week 8 against Indianapolis after dealing with a minor knee issue in practice last week. Johnson was listed as probable on the injury report after being a full participant in practice. The standout 27-year-old scored his first two touchdowns of the season last week and will face a Colts defense that is permitting 141.7 yards per game on the ground this year.
Analysis: Johnson was not in any danger of missing playing time as he continues to put his poor start to the season behind him. He could be in for another big outing as Indianapolis has yielded an average of 22.0 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this year. After a sluggish start, Johnson has returned to must-start status in all Fantasy formats for Week 8.
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| 10/26/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson searching for encore
News: Tennessee running back Chris Johnson was listed as probable on the team's injury report for Week 8 against Indianapolis after he was a full participant in practice the past week. Johnson is expected to play Sunday in his first game since rushing for a season-high 195 yards in Week 7 at Buffalo -- the fourth time in his career he has gained at least 190 rushing yards, the most among all active players. He also scored his first two touchdowns of the season and will face a Colts defense that is permitting 141.7 yards per game on the ground this year.
Analysis: Johnson was not in any danger of missing playing time as he continues to put his poor start to the season behind him. The 27-year-old showed his trademark speed against the Bills when he scampered 83 yards for a touchdown last Sunday, adding to his resume as one of the fast players in history. His four career rushing touchdowns of 80-plus yards is most in NFL history. Johnson could be in for another big outing as Indianapolis has yielded an average of 22.0 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this year. After a sluggish start, Johnson has returned to must-start status in all Fantasy formats for Week 8.
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| 10/21/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson carries Titans to win
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson got off to a quick start in Week 7 against the Bills, and he simply never let up in leading Tennessee to a 35-34 win. Johnson rushed the ball 18 times for 195 yards, with 139 yards coming just in the first half. Johnson scored for the first time in 11 games, as he found the end zone twice in the first quarter. Johnson’s first touchdown went for 16 yards in the first quarter, while the second was a classic 83-yard sprint to the end zone. Johnson finished with 10.8 yards per carry, the second-best mark of his career. His 195 yards on the ground represent the third-highest total of his career, and best since 2009.
Analysis: Johnson really likes facing the Bills; he rushed for 153 yards and two scores the last time the two teams met. He now has two 100-yard rushing games on the season, and this one makes his season line look much more impressive. Johnson now has 496 yards through seven games, with an average of 4.5 yards per carry. Johnson has really turned his season around recently, rushing for 451 yards over the last four games. Reports of his demise were obviously premature, and now Fantasy owners who have held on to Johnson for this long have to be excited about his immediate future. Johnson gets to take on one of the league’s worst rushing defenses in Week 8, as the Titans host Indianapolis next Sunday. The Colts allow 25.6 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Consider Johnson a strong Fantasy option in all formats for Week 8.
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| 10/21/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Bills cannot contain Johnson
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson posted his second 100-yard rushing game of the season in Week 7 against the Bills, and it only took him about 12 minutes to do that. He also scored his first touchdowns of the season in the first quarter. Johnson rushed for a 16- yard touchdown on Tennessee’s first drive, and then responded to a Buffalo touchdown with an 83-yard run for his second score of the game. He has 139 yards on nine carries in the first half and is well on his way to his finest day of the season. He is just 2 yards short of his high for the season.
Analysis: We knew this would be a good matchup for Johnson, but this has been ridiculous so far. Reports of his demise may have been a bit premature, given how tremendous his performance has been so far today. You have been disappointed in his performance this season, but Johnson rewarded Fantasy owners who decided to keep the faith. We look forward to seeing what Johnson does with another half of football left against this porous defense.
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| 10/18/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to run with Buffalo
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson has enjoyed facing the Bills in the past, which bodes well for Week 7’s matchup. Johnson has faced the Bills twice, once in 2009 and then against last season. He has totaled 285 yards rushing in those two games, with four touchdowns and has added 104 receiving yards as well. And, given the Bills’ struggles against the run this season, there is the hope that Johnson can continue to turn his season around this Sunday.
Analysis: The Bills are allowing 136.2 yards per game on the ground, and only three teams have surrendered more than Buffalo’s mark of 22.7 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Johnson is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry through the first six games, however he showed some life in totaling 91 yards against the Steelers in Week 6. Fantasy owners have understandably grown wary of relying on Johnson, but he should continue to be considered a viable starting Fantasy option for Week 7.
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| 10/12/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson finds some room
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson topped 100 yards from scrimmage for just the second time this season Thursday against the Steelers in Week 6. Johnson rushed 19 times for 91 yards, his second-best total of the season. He also added four catches for 23 yards to finish with 114 total yards on 23 touches. Johnson had a chance to score from the goal line in the second quarter, but he was stopped from 1 yard out. Jamie Harper took the next carry and plunged in for the score, as Johnson remains scoreless on the season. The Titans would go on to win the game, 26-23. "They did a tremendous job, getting on those guys up front and pushing them back and giving me some room to run," Johnson told the Tennessean about the team's offensive line.
Analysis: Johnson entered the game with a poor track record against what has proven to be a tough Steelers’ defense, so this performance was a bit unexpected. It would have been nice to see him score, but at this point we are just happy to see any signs of life from Johnson. He has been productive in two of his last three games as he tries to bounce back from what has been an awful start to the season. Even after averaging 4.8 yards per carry Thursday, Johnson is still posting a 3.3 mark for the season. Hopefully Johnson can string together back-to-back productive games in Week 7 against the Bills, who have been run over by opposing running backs this season. Buffalo has allowed 26.2 Fantasy points per game to the position this season, so Fantasy owners should consider Johnson a solid starting option for Week 7, given the matchup.
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| 10/9/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson facing tough test
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson looks to have another tough matchup on tap in Week 6 against the Steelers. Pittsburgh enters the contest ranked sixth in run defense after allowing an average of 95.3 yards rushing per game over the first four tilts. The Steelers have surrendered just two rushing touchdowns on ground while yielding an average 13.5 Fantasy points on the year. In four career meetings against the Steelers, Johnson has rushed for a combined 211 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Analysis: Johnson has once again been one of the most disappointing Fantasy options this season as he has rushed for just 210 yards on the ground over his first five games. He has also yet to find the end zone and has only topped 25 yards on the ground once on the year. To be fair, Johnson's offensive line deserves some of the blame for his lack of production and Tennessee's porous passing attack has allowed teams to stack the box against him. However, coach Mike Munchak seems to be at such a loss about Johnson's struggles, that he said both Jamie Harper and Darius Reynaud could see some carries this week in order to help bolster the running game. Still, Johnson will see the majority of the touches, but he could be on a shorter leash moving forward. While the 27-year-old has proved to be one of the more productive backs over the last few seasons, he should be considered more of a low-end option Thursday night.
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| 10/7/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ bottled up by Vikings
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson had a hard time finding many running lanes during Week 5 against the Vikings. Johnson finished with 24 yards on 15 carries in the 30-7 defeat and also lost a fumble. He had a long of 9 yards and averaged just 1.9 yards per carry. He also caught one pass for 5 yards and has racked up 210 yards on the ground over his first five games and has yet to find the end zone. "It's kind of disappointing to be going down the same road every Sunday," Johnson said.
Analysis: Some figured Johnson had turned a corner after turning in his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season last week against the Houston, but he reverted right back to his old ways Sunday afternoon. To be fair, Minnesota has been very good at defending the run and with Jake Locker ruled inactive and Matt Hasselbeck under center, the Vikings just crowed the line of scrimmage. Johnson has clearly been one of the more disappointing Fantasy option in the league this season and now looks to have another tough matchup on tap in Week 5 against the Steelers. Pittsburgh entered Week 5 ranked fourth against the run, so Johnson will have his hands full once again. Owners with other options may want to consider leaving the 27-year-old reserved Thursday night.
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| 10/2/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson looking to build off success
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson looks to have another tough matchup on tap in Week 5 against the Vikings. Minnesota enters the contest ranked eighth in run defense after allowing an average of just 85.3 yards per game. The Vikings have surrendered just one rushing touchdown on the year while yielding an average of 9.0 Fantasy points to opposing RBs, which ranks second overall. Johnson rushed for 61 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his lone career meeting against Minnesota back in 2008.
Analysis: Johnson finally broke out a bit last week as he registered his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season against the Texans. Of Johnson's 141 yards, 140 came on runs from inside the tackles and his performance even earned him some praise from coach Mike Munchak. “The amount of yards he got was different but as far as the plays and the formations, the things we've done before were similar,” Munchak said. “That's the type of defense we thought where the runs would come. I was happy for CJ that he had some success and for the line to have some success.” However, Johnson will face a stiff challenge in Week 5 as the Vikings have really done well defending the run thus far. Still, the 27-year-old should see plenty of touches, making him a viable start in most formats.
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| 9/30/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ lifts off in Houston
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson looked like he found a time machine Week 4 at Houston, as the veteran running back looked in vintage form eclipsing 100 rushing yards for the first time since Week 13 last season and 29th time in his career. After totaling 45 rushing yards and averaging 1.4 yards per carry through the first three games, Johnson broke out with 141 rushing yards on 25 carries at Houston. His longest rush went 19 yards. Johnson added two catches for 16 yards, but he did not record a touchdown in a 38-14 loss. "It was a pretty good game," Johnson said. "We ran the ball. I felt like my offensive line went out there and did a great job from the first snap, just getting up on guys, pushing those guys back, and just giving me somewhere to run."
Analysis: In a matter of one game, Johnson has gone from the most-hated Fantasy Football player to perhaps the most-talked about player after his brilliant performance Week 4. Perhaps the most impressive part is that he did it against a very good defense in the Texans. Johnson showed patience in the running game Week 4, waiting for plays to develop and then hitting the running lanes with a purpose. His confidence seemed restored and we can only hope this is the beginning of his resurgence. Johnson will have another tough matchup at Minnesota in Week 5, but after this game he can at least be considered a viable Fantasy start again.
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| 9/25/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Will CJ break through Week 4?
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson enters play Week 4 at Houston without a rushing touchdown in seven straight games dating back to last season and hasn't had a receiving touchdown since the final game of the 2010 campaign. He will look to change his fortunes Week 4, but it won't be easy. The Texans are yielding just 66.3 rushing yards and 11.3 Fantasy points per week to running backs, which is eighth lowest in the NFL. Also, no running back has netted a rushing touchdown against Houston this season, but Maurice Jones-Drew had a receiving touchdown in Week 2. Johnson has totaled 701 rushing yards, 179 receiving yards and four touchdowns (three rushing) in eight career games against Houston. He rushed for 79 yards on 25 carries in two games against Houston last season, while adding 76 receiving yards and no touchdowns.
Analysis: It's shaping up to be another horrid season for Johnson, who is averaging a whopping 1.4 yards per carry through three games. He is far removed from his days as a 2,000-yard rusher. Fantasy owners are frustrated with Johnson and are willing to sell him to rival owners for a bag of potato chips. We wish we had a crystal ball and tell you it will be OK, but Johnson just looks terrible right now and is not a trustworthy Fantasy option. This is a tough matchup Week 4, so if you have better options, then consider starting them over Johnson.
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| 9/23/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson again does little
News: For the third straight game to open the season, Titans running back Chris Johnson was held to less than 25 yards on the ground Week 3 against the Lions, finishing with 24 yards on 14 carries. He also had a 5-yard catch. Johnson did look good at times. In fact, he had three caries of 10 yards or more. But ultimately, he was doomed by significant losses on plays that broke down in the backfield. He had a 7-yard loss in the second quarter, a 3-yard loss in the third quarter, and two 8-yard losses in overtime.
Analysis: You can certainly understand why Week 3 went so wrong for Johnson. Having four carries that combine for minus-26 yards is almost impossible to overcome. It's also not all on him. If a play blows up before it even starts, blocking and play-calling are partially to blame. Still, if nothing changes, Johnson's Fantasy value is what ultimately suffers. The lost yardage has become all too common for him, and it dates back to last season. After another down performance in what looked like a favorable matchup, you have to treat him like a matchups type going forward. He still has the talent to turn his season around, but it's probably not going to happen against a tough Texans defense Week 4 at Houston.
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| 9/19/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson frustrated with run game
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson, who has gained only 21 yards on 19 carries so far this season, recognizes that the running game is coming up short but doesn't think it's entirely his fault. “People need to step up and do their job," he told the Tennessean. "They don’t need to let people beat them. It don’t matter who the opposing defense is, you can’t let your guy beat you. You just can’t give up plays. You have to make plays like they make plays." Fortunately, the Titans are hosting a Lions team in Week 3 that hasn't made too many plays against the run. They rank 17th against the run this year after ranking 23rd against it last year. Last week, 49ers running back Frank Gore ran 17 times for 89 yards and a touchdown against them.
Analysis: Johnson has had a miserable time so far this season, but in fairness, his matchups against the Patriots and Chargers have been pretty tough. If he struggles this week against the Lions, we'll really be sounding the alarms. Granted, the Lions' high-octane offense could force the Titans to play catch-up much of the day, which would limit Johnson's opportunities, but on a per-carry basis, he should be productive. The Lions allowed 5.0 yards per carry last year. No doubt, you shouldn't trust Johnson as your top Fantasy running back right now, but as a second back or flex option, he deserves one more chance.
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| 9/17/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans won't bench CJ
News: The Tennessean reports Titans coach Mike Munchak said he won't bench starting running back Chris Johnson despite his struggles. Munchak said his struggles aren't entirely his fault.
Analysis: Johnson is off to another disappointing start in 2012. He is averaging just 1.1 yards per carry through two games. Last year, he had at least a valid excuse. He missed most of training camp and then had to play catch up learning a new offense. This year, he is just flat out struggling. It seems, though, the Titans aren't putting all the blame on CJ, but Fantasy owners are losing faith quickly. The Titans host the Lions in Week 3, but if you have a better alternative, then you might consider using them.
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| 9/16/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson bottled up again
News: For the second straight game, Titans running back Chris Johnson had a hard time finding much running room in Week 2 against the Chargers. Johnson was held to just 17 yards rushing on eight carries in the 38-10 win and his long went for just 7 yards. He also hauled in a pair of receptions for 11 yards but was unable to get in the end zone. Jake Locker led the Titans' ground attack as he finished with 21 yards rushing on two carries. "I really don't know what's going on," Johnson said. "I don't know how we're going to fix it or whatever. Can't get the running game going, can't get no yards no matter what we do. I don't know at this point."
Analysis: Johnson was once again not much of a factor in Week 2 and for the second straight game he did not get a ton of touches. The 26-year-old only carried the ball three times in the second half Sunday and has just 18 carries over his first two games compared to the 33 he had at this point last year. While Johnson certainly deserves some of the blame for his first two performances, the Titans need to get their act together as an entire offense. Now Fantasy owners have to decide whether or not to leave Johnson active when the Lions come to town in Week 3. Detroit's defense has had plenty of issues of their own and based on Johnson's track record, it should only be a matter of time before he gets himself going. However, those with better options on the bench, may want to think about sitting Johnson down for a week. If not, owners will just have to leave him active and hope for the best.
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| 9/11/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson looking to bounce back in Week 2
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson will be looking to bounce back in Week 2 against the Chargers. Johnson was held to just 4 yards rushing on 11 carries in Tennessee's opening week loss to New England, which drew some criticism from head coach Mike Munchak Monday morning. “I think early he was again, looking for a bigger run than was there instead of taking the four or five (yards) that are there, the cutback, and the big one may come later if you get more touches,” Munchak told the Tennessean . “I’m sure he thought he was going to get a lot more than (11) carries in the game yesterday. But he didn’t." The Chargers held Oakland just 45 yards rushing in Week 1.
Analysis: Johnson's performance drew criticism from Fantasy owners as well as his head coach, but to be fair Munchak did add that Jake Locker also made some incorrect reads at the line of scrimmage. While most expect the Titans to try and establish the ground game early and often next Sunday, that could prove to be easier said than done against San Diego's run defense. The Chargers did a great job bottling up Darren McFadden in Week 1 and were pretty good at limiting opposing RBs production in 2011 as well. However, Johnson has had some success against them in the past he has rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns in two career meetings against San Diego. Consider Johnson a viable start in most formats heading into Week 2.
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| 9/10/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Munchak not happy with running game
News: Titans coach Mike Munchak told reporters Monday that were a few issues that led to Chris Johnson's poor day on the ground in Week 1 against the Patriots. While Munchak said some of the problems stemmed from quarterback Jake Locker making the incorrect reads at the line of scrimmage, he also thought Johnson was looking too much for big runs instead of taking what the defense gave him. “I think early he was again, looking for a bigger run than was there instead of taking the four or five (yards) that are there, the cutback, and the big one may come later if you get more touches,” Munchak said. “I’m sure he thought he was going to get a lot more than (11) carries in the game yesterday. But he didn’t.” The Titans will travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers in Week 2.
Analysis: Johnson was able to somewhat salvage his day by hauling in four receptions for 47 yards, but owners can't be happy about the 4 yards he netted on the ground. Munchak didn't seem to be all that thrilled about Johnson's performance either, but also added that he has no plans of taking away any of his carries heading into Week 2 against Chargers. While Johnson also caught off to a very slow start last year, owners should not hit the panic button just yet. He should still see the bulk of the carries moving forward and the Titans will likely look to establish the ground game early and often next Sunday. Johnson should be considered a viable start against San Diego.
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| 9/9/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson has disappointing day
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson had a disappointing game in Week 1 against the Patriots. Johnson had 11 carries for 4 yards, but he made up for that with six catches for 47 yards on seven targets. The six catches were a game high.
Analysis: You didn't draft Johnson for his receiving skills, and he even spoke about seeing his receptions go down this year after a career-high 57 catches in 2011. We still expect Johnson to play better, and CBS analyst Phil Simms, who called the game in Week 1, said on Fantasy Football Today Postgame that Johnson should still have a solid year. Don't hit the panic button yet, and look for Johnson to be a starter in all leagues again in Week 2 at San Diego.
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| 9/6/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson ready for start of year
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans running back Chris Johnson expects a better start in 2012 than he had in 2011 when he was coming off a lengthy holdout just before the season started. He's ready for Week 1 against the Patriots. “I expect to be better early. What people don’t understand, I got one practice with pads on and then after that it was time for the games,” Johnson said. “Honestly, when camp starts and you practice, you want to get used to being hit. I got back, and then we started playing games. … Things are going to be better this year. I came in in better shape, and I feel like being here really helped me a lot. I am not coming in trying to get on the same page as my offensive line, like last season. I am more comfortable. I’ll be all right, I know that.” Johnson last faced the Patriots in 2009 when he had 17 carries for 128 yards in a 59-0 loss.
Analysis: We like Johnson to rebound this year, and he should have a favorable matchup against New England. In 2011, the Patriots allowed 13 touchdowns to opposing running backs and 13 reached double digits in Fantasy points. Look for the Titans to lean on Johnson, and he should be considered a No. 1 option in all leagues.
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| 8/30/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson sits out preseason finale
News: Tennessee running back Chris Johnson did not play in the preseason finale against the Saints Thursday as he prepares for Week 1 against New England. Johnson played in each of the first three preseason games and rushed for 81 yards on 28 attempts with two touchdowns. Both TDs came in the second game at Tampa Bay.
Analysis: The last time Johnson ran against the Patriots, his Week 1 opponents, was back in 2009. Johnson tallied 128 yards on 17 carries that game, but did not score a touchdown. Unfortunately, that game won't have much bearing on how he fares this season against New England. That said, we're expecting Johnson to get back to being a top-flight running back this season. Fantasy owners are too as he's averaging being picked within the first 10 selections in most drafts. Johnson is going to be a weekly start and that will begin Week 1.
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| 8/24/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ stuffed vs. Cards
News: Tennessee running back Chris Johnson was the team's top rusher, but could not get it going offensively during Thursday's preseason game against the Cardinals. Johnson, who rushed for 46 yards his last time out, had 13 carries for 27 yards, averaging just 2.1 yards per carry in a 32-27 victory. His longest gain of the night came in the second drive of the game in the first quarter as he broke through for a nine-yard run. He was not involved much in the passing game, as he was targeted once but did not make a reception.
Analysis: Johnson had a hard time establishing some rhythm with the offense as eight of his 13 carries went for one yard or less. He has 28 carries for 81 yards and two touchdowns through his first three exhibition games as he continues to impress his coaches during training camp and preseason. We still consider him worth the gamble this season as Fantasy owners should plan on grabbing him by the middle of the first round of most drafts.
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| 8/17/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson looks sharp in second game
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson seemed to regain some of his old form during Friday night's preseason game against the Buccaneers. Johnson found the end zone twice during his limited action, including on a 14-yard scamper near the end of the first quarter. He also scored on a 14-yard run in the second period that was set up by a Tampa Bay turnover. Johnson finished with 46 yards rushing on 10 carries in the contest and was not targeted in the passing game. “I just see the hard work is paying off, but I still feel we have a long way to go,” Johnson said. “We’re progressing. We have to cut out a lot of the negative plays. It’s nothing really big, just one guy missing a block, or me tripping, or someone not doing the right thing. I don’t think we’re that far away.”
Analysis: Johnson did not play well during Tennessee's first preseason game and his poor performance had some Fantasy owners a bit concerned. However, he should have been able to put most of those concerns to bed with his latest performance. After turning in a sub-par campaign last season, Johnson has earned rave reviews from his coaches and teammates for his work ethic and attitude during training camp. Hopefully, Friday night is just a sneak peek of what is to come from the 26-year-old as he looks to regain his old form. Johnson is worth drafting as early as No. 4 overall in standard leagues and should be long gone in most formats by the time the first round is over.
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| 8/15/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson not worried about first game
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans running back Chris Johnson isn't worried about his lackluster start to the preseason. He gained only 8 yards on five carries against the Seahawks on Saturday and also dropped a couple of passes. “It’s just the preseason right now,” Johnson said Tuesday. “We’re still working, still in camp, trying to get better every day. I just feel like it’s another step we have to take, and (in the next preseason game) I feel like we’ll be comfortable and then we’ll take another step.” He said he understands that some fans --and Fantasy owners -- might overreact to the brief sample of work. “I’m sure they do,” Johnson said. “It’s a thing you go through … but anytime you play against another team (in the presesason), you don’t really game-plan against them or anything like that. You’re just going out there basically like another scrimmage.” Johnson did not, however, excuse the two dropped passes. “Basically, it’s a concentration thing, not looking the ball all the way in — trying to get up field and make a play,” he said. “It’s just something I have to concentrate on and focus. I’ve never really had a problem catching the ball. It was just a preseason game and I had a few drops, nothing major to be concerned about.”
Analysis: We expect Johnson to overcome his problems from the game with the Seahawks, but based on his play in 2011, this was not a good start. Still, Johnson has gotten rave reviews in the preseason, and we consider him worth the gamble this year since he should play at a higher level. He is worth drafting as early as No. 4 overall in standard leagues, and he should definitely be drafted in the first round in all formats.
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| 8/12/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ makes little impact in opener
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson saw limited action during Saturday's preseason opener against the Seahawks. Johnson participated in the first three series before he became a spectator for the remainder of the game in his first live action. He finished with five carries for just eight yards, averaging 1.8 yards per carry in a 27-17 defeat. His longest gain of the day came during the Titans' third offensive play as he took a handoff outside for nine yards. He was not involved very much in the passing game as he was targeted three times with no receptions.
Analysis: Johnson did not play very well and will have to shake off some rust throughout preseason. He was considered one of the largest disappointments in Fantasy football last year as he stumbled throughout the season following his lengthy holdout in training camp. He rushed for more than 100 yards only once in his first eight games and also reached the end zone only once in that span. And after topping at least 1,200 yards in each of his first three seasons, Johnson needed until Week 17 to reach four figures. But this year, Johnson has drawn rave reviews for his renewed work ethic and enters the season with expectations of a return to his previous form. Fantasy owners should plan on grabbing him by the middle of the first round of most drafts.
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| 8/7/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson drawing support groups
News: After a season filled with turmoil, Tennessee running back Chris Johnson continues to endear himself to coaches and team officials during the early part of training camp. The latest praise came from Titans coach Mike Munchak, who was dazzled by the resurfacing of his ability to dart through the line of scrimmage. "Chris had some great reads. The way he was hitting things, you don’t see hesitation," he told The Tennesseean. "C.J. looked quick, he was hitting things decisively. When he decided to go outside he hit it hard and showed some speed around the edge."
Analysis: Johnson was considered one of the largest disappointments in Fantasy football last year as he stumbled throughout the season following his lengthy holdout in training camp. He rushed for less than 100 yards only once in his first eight games and also reached the end zone only once in that span. And after topping at least 1,200 yards in each of his first three seasons, Johnson needed until Week 17 to reach four figures. But this year, Johnson has drawn rave reviews for his renewed work ethic and enters the season with expectations of a return to his previous form. Fantasy owners should plan on grabbing him by the middle of the first round of most drafts.
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| 8/3/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
GM says Johnson back to form
News: If you're looking for good news on Titans running back Chris Johnson then NFL.com gave you a reason for hope. According to a report, Titans general manager Ruston Webster said Johnson has been "the CJ of old." That's great to hear after Johnson struggled in 2011 following a lengthy holdout.
Analysis: So far all the reports out of Tennessee have been positive about Johnson, and we hope he's ready for a rebound year. Johnson has the chance to return as a No. 1 Fantasy running back. As long as he continues to get rave reviews, plan on drafting Johnson anywhere from No. 5 or 6 overall to the end of Round 1 in most formats. If he falls to Round 2 then consider it a steal because Johnson likely will not disappoint you for two years in a row.
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| 7/30/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson's receptions could decline
News: ESPN.com reports that Titans running back Chris Johnson, who had a career-high 57 catches last season, said he expects to be less involved in the passing game this year. "With the situation that we’ve got here, since I got here we got a lot of playmakers on this offense," Johnson said. "So it feels good to see a couple receivers out there putting up good numbers. I feel like it’s a different situation, if there’s a lot of us contributing, a lot of us making plays, I feel like it’s not a bad thing that I probably don’t get as many catches as I usually do.”
Analysis: We still expect Johnson to be heavily involved in the passing game since he's never had fewer than 43 catches in a season in his four-year career. Johnson should bounce back from last year's down campaign, and we consider him a No. 1 Fantasy running back in all leagues. He is worth drafting in Round 1 as early as No. 5 overall in standard and PPR formats.
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| 6/22/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson wants to be heavier
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans running back Chris Johnson left minicamp Thursday at 200 pounds. He’s planning on returning a little heavier to have himself prepared for training camp. After playing last season in the 191-pound range, Johnson said he’d like to be in the 197- to 198-pound range this fall. “I want to be a little heavier because it makes me feel a little sturdier and it helps me make it through the whole season with the bumps and bruises,’’ he said. Aside from working out in Orlando, Johnson plans to run hills in California for a few weeks before reporting to camp at the end of July.
Analysis: So far all the reports out of Tennessee have been positive about Johnson, and we hope he's ready for a rebound year. Johnson has the chance to return as a No. 1 Fantasy running back. As long as he continues to get rave reviews, plan on drafting Johnson anywhere from No. 6 overall to the end of Round 1 in most formats. If he falls to Round 2 then consider it a steal because Johnson likely will not disappoint you for two years in a row.
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| 6/19/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson excused Tuesday
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson missed Tuesday's practice at minicamp with an excused absence from the team for personal reasons. Johnson didn't miss any practices during OTAs and has impressed coach Mike Munchak with his attendance during the Titans' offseason program. Johnson is expected to return Wednesday.
Analysis: So far all the reports out of Tennessee have been positive about Johnson, and we hope he's ready for a rebound year. Johnson has the chance to return as a No. 1 Fantasy running back. As long as he continues to get rave reviews, plan on drafting Johnson anywhere from No. 6 overall to the end of Round 1 in most formats. If he falls to Round 2 then consider it a steal because Johnson likely will not disappoint you for two years in a row.
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| 6/11/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson hopes for heavy work
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans running back Chris Johnson wants a heavy workload in 2012 with as much as 25 touches a week, but offensive coordinator Chris Palmer indicated that's not likely to happen. “To say you’re going to get a guy 25 touches a game is pushing it,” Palmer said. “That’s 400 touches over the course of a season. He’s certainly capable of that, but what does it mean for the team? Does it help us win?” Palmer said "in an ideal situation, you’d like to be 45 percent pass, 55 percent run."
Analysis: In Johnson’s landmark season of 2009, he averaged 22 carries and three catches per game on his way to an NFL record 2,509 total yards. Last season, Johnson hit 25 touches in only three games. He had 20 touches in three other games. What does that mean for 2012? It’s anybody’s guess. But we expect Johnson to touch the ball a lot. He should be considered a No. 1 Fantasy running back in all leagues, and he is worth drafting toward the end of Round 1.
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| 6/8/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Coach noticing an improved CJ2K
News: Chris Johnson is on a mission. The Tennessee running back insists he's still the best in the NFL, and he's working hard this offseason to make sure he bounces back after the worst season of his career. Johnson has packed on 8 to 9 pounds of muscle as part of his strong commitment to the Titans' offseason program, a dramatic difference from last year when Johnson missed nearly the entire preseason holding out for a contract extension. He got his money, then the self-proclaimed best running back in the league ran for 1,047 yards. Coach Mike Munchak couldn't pinpoint Johnson's struggles when reviewing film at season's end but says that his rusher has made changes for the better. "A lot of the weeks he has been here all five when that is not even necessary to do," Munchak said. "I think he is realizing the benefits of being here and the benefits of being around his teammates. Like I said right from the beginning that builds a lot of chemistry and a lot of camaraderie and I think that is one of the biggest things that he has helped us with."
Analysis: Johnson himself is motivated to have a big year after tanking in 2011, so signs point to a rebound. Though Tennessee is slowly moving toward being more pass-oriented, we still see Johnson valuable because he'll see a lot of work every week and has the potential to rack up big numbers. That's why you still might see Johnson get picked between fifth and 12th in your drafts this summer. He'll be a risk no matter what he says or does this offseason because of last year's weak production, but the upside still makes him appealing, as is the opportunity to take him a smidge later than you might have in the last two years.
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| 6/1/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson continues impressive offseason
News: According to TitansInsider.com, coach Mike Munchak continues to heap praise on running back Chris Johnson. Munchak said Friday that Johnson has been in the weight room and is 8-9 pounds heavier than last year. Munchak said Johnson has been at the facility five days a week. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck echoed that sentiment by saying Johnson is doing everything asked of him in offseason.
Analysis: So far all the reports out of Tennessee have been positive about Johnson, and we hope he's ready for a rebound year. Johnson has the chance to return as a No. 1 Fantasy running back. As long as he continues to get rave reviews, plan on drafting Johnson anywhere from No. 6 overall to the end of Round 1 in most formats. If he falls to Round 2 then consider it a steal because Johnson likely will not disappoint you for two years in a row.
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| 5/31/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson looking 'great'
News: A more chiseled Chris Johnson has impressed Titans general manager Ruston Webster during offseason workouts. Johnson reported to the offseason program at 197 pounds -- six pounds more than his listed weight in 2011. “CJ has looked great,” Webster told TitansOnline.com. “He looks strong especially in his upper body. He's been here every day, competing, working hard.”
Analysis: So far all the reports out of Tennessee have been positive about Johnson, and we hope he's ready for a rebound year. Johnson has the chance to return as a No. 1 Fantasy running back. As long as he continues to get rave reviews, plan on drafting Johnson anywhere from No. 6 overall to the end of Round 1 in most formats. If he falls to Round 2 then consider it a steal because Johnson likely will not disappoint you for two years in a row.
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| 5/28/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Palmer is impressed with Johnson
News: Titans running back Chris Johnson is obligated to attend the team's offseason workouts after signing his record contract last season. Usually he's worked out on his own in Florida, but now that he's been working with the team in Nashville he's been in better shape. Offensive coordinator Chris Palmer is impressed. "C.J. has worked very hard," Palmer told The Tennessean. "He is here, running hard and working hard. I'm very optimistic about how he's going to perform this (fall)."
Analysis: Johnson himself is motivated to have a big year after tanking in 2011, so signs point to a rebound. Though Tennessee is slowly moving toward being more pass-oriented, we still see Johnson valuable because he'll see a lot of work every week and has the potential to rack up big numbers. That's why you still might see Johnson get picked between 10th and 15th in your drafts this summer. He'll be a risk no matter what he says or does this offseason because of last year's weak production, but the upside still makes him appealing, as is the opportunity to take him later than you might have in the last two years.
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| 4/24/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans' Johnson motivated for rebound year
News: Chris Johnson showed up Monday for the start of the Titans' offseason program, a big change from last year when he missed most of the preseason before signing a new contract extension that includes incentives for him to take part in most of the program. Johnson says he started working out on his own shortly after the worst season of his career, motivated to bounce back strong. He ran for 1,047 yards last season as the Titans ranked 31st in the NFL averaging 89.9 yards rushing per game. "Of course, it motivates me and makes me want to do better than last year," Johnson said. "I always like to get better and better every year. I feel like I didn't get better last year. There's a lot of things that go into it, but I'm not the type to make excuses and things like that. Basically, it's just working hard and trying to be better."
Analysis: Johnson's obviously an important part of the Titans' offense, and after stinking last season most people expect a bounce-back year. Tennessee's passing game is moving in the right direction, the offensive line got a new starter in Steve Hutchinson and the rusher himself realized that he has to get in good shape in order to be effective. We still see Johnson valuable if only because he'll see a lot of work every week and because he has the potential to rack up big numbers. That's why you still might see Johnson get picked between 10th and 15th in your drafts this summer. He'll be a risk no matter what he says or does this offseason because of last year's weak production, but the upside still makes him appealing, as is the opportunity to take him later than you might have in the last two years.
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| 4/18/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to workout with Titans
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans running back Chris Johnson plans to report when the team begins the offseason program next week, which is a change from his normal routine. Johnson, heading into his fifth NFL season, has plenty of reasons to be there, and not just from a financial standpoint. After Johnson opted to work out on his own in Orlando during his first few years in the league – players weren’t permitted to work out in team facilities last year because of the NFL lockout – the Titans made it clear they want him to be in Nashville with his teammates in the future. As part of the $53.5 million extension he signed last September, Johnson’s contract states he must participate in the majority of the team’s offseason workouts or he’d be docked $250,000. The contract allows him six absences.
Analysis: Johnson, coming off a disappointing 2011 season when he ran for a career-low 1,047 yards, should benefit greatly from working with his teammates and coaches during the offseason. Everyone involved in the running game, which was out of sync most of 2011, should. We expect Johnson to have a rebound year in 2012, and he should be considered a low-end No. 1 Fantasy running back. He is worth drafting toward the end of Round 1 or beginning of Round 2 in all leagues.
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| 3/20/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson's 2012 salary guaranteed
News: Despite producing some career-lows in 2011, Chris Johnson's 2012 salary will be fully guaranteed. The Titans had the option to pull the plug on Johnson's mega-rich contract extension through the fifth day of the new NFL year (March 18) but chose not to release him. Johnson will be paid $8 million for 2012. The Tennessean notes that a similar option is in Johnson's contract for the 2013 offseason in which $9 million will either be guaranteed by mid-March or Johnson will be released.
Analysis: The Titans are making moves to improve their offensive line, beginning with the signing of guard Steve Hutchinson. Head coach Mike Munchak also said earlier this offseason that the Titans are planning to "make a drastic improvement" in their run game. Johnson racked up 1,047 rushing yards, 418 receiving yards and four rushing touchdowns last year behind an offensive line that did a pretty good job in pass protection but did struggle to open up running lanes. Johnson himself will have to get his game back up to the level it was at before last season. Johnson had plenty of games where he couldn't show off his speed and often was taken down by the first defender that touched him. We still see Johnson valuable if only because he'll see a lot of work every week and because he has the potential to rack up big numbers. That's why you still might see Johnson get picked between 10th and 15th in your drafts this summer. He'll be a risk no matter what he says or does this offseason because of last year's weak production, but the upside still makes him alluring, as is the opportunity to take him later than you might have in the last two years.
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| 2/23/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
More expected out of Johnson in 2012
News: Titans head coach Mike Munchak said that he expects more out of running back Chris Johnson this season. Munchak addressed the O-line, explaining that he needs to do a better job teaching them this offseason so they're more efficient during the season, but expressed that Johnson knows he has room to improve. "I just think he needs to know what's expected of him, what's going to be demanded of him," Munchak said. " ... I think he's excited to get last year behind him as we all are as far as the running game goes. We know it's not going to be worse, believe me. We feel like we're going to be able to make a drastic improvement from where we ended up, but we have to go out on the field and do that when the real games start."
Analysis: We like Munchak's enthusiasm. Expect some changes among the big men up front for the Titans, though Johnson himself will have to get his game back up to the level it was at before last season. Johnson had plenty of games where he couldn't show off his speed and often was taken down by the first defender that touched him. We still see Johnson valuable if only because he'll see a lot of work every week and because he has the potential to rack up big numbers. That's why you still might see Johnson get picked between 10th and 15th in your drafts this summer. He'll be a risk no matter what he says or does this offseason because of last year's weak production, but the upside still makes him alluring, as is the opportunity to take him later than you might have in the last two years.
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| 1/19/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans sticking with C. Johnson
News: New Titans GM Ruston Webster addressed the future of RB Chris Johnson as well as his offensive line on Thursday, making it clear that the rusher will be back with the team next season. Johnson is due $8 million in 2012 and posted career-worst numbers after signing a rich contract just before the start of the 2011 season (missing all of training camp). Johnson racked up 1,047 rushing yards, 418 receiving yards and four rushing touchdowns last year behind an offensive line that did a pretty good job in pass protection but did struggle to open up running lanes. "We'll have to work on our run game and make it better," Webster said. "That may entail some things in the offensive line."
Analysis: Expect some changes among the big men up front for the Titans, though Johnson himself will have to get his game back up to the level it was at before last season. Johnson had plenty of games where he couldn't show off his speed and often was taken down by the first defender that touched him. We still see Johnson valuable if only because he'll see a lot of work every week and because he has the potential to rack up big numbers. That's why you still might see Johnson get picked between 10th and 15th in your drafts this summer. He'll be a risk no matter what he says or does this offseason because of last year's weak production, but the upside still makes him alluring, as is the opportunity to take him later than you might have in the last two years.
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| 1/13/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson due $8 million in '12
News: The Tennessean speculates that the Titans will not cut RB Chris Johnson and give him a guaranteed $8 million base salary for the 2012 season. The deadline for the decision is on the fifth day of the league's new year in mid-March. Johnson had an awful 2011 after signing a new contract, finishing with 1,047 rushing yards, 418 receiving yards and four measly rushing touchdowns. Prior to 2011 he averaged 1,532 rush yards, 336 receiving yards and 11 scores in his first three years in the league.
Analysis: Not only is Johnson due for $8 million in 2012, he's due $10 million in 2013 and at least $7 million in the following three years. That's a lot of dough for him to lose if he keeps playing poorly. Assuming the Titans keep him, which as of now seems likely, we still see Johnson valuable if only because he'll see a lot of work every week. His offensive line should see some improvement this offseason and he himself might get his act together after slacking following his landing of a big contract. That's why you still might see Johnson get picked between 10th and 15th in your drafts this summer. He'll be a risk no matter what he says or does this offseason because of last year's weak production, but the upside still makes him alluring, as is the opportunity to take him later than you might have in the last two years.
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| 1/1/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson finishes on high note
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson notched his seventh game of the season with at least 100 all-purpose yards in a Week 17 win over the Texans. Johnson led the Titans with 61 rushing yards on 15 carries, and he tacked on another 49 receiving yards on four catches. This marked the sixth time in the last nine games that Johnson exceeded the 100-yard mark in all-purpose yardage. He finished the season with 1,047 rushing yards, giving Johnson his fourth straight season with over 1,000 rushing yards.
Analysis: Johnson's season began with a holdout and then a slow start, but he finished the second half of the schedule with a flourish. Though it was something of a down year for Johnson, owners should target him in all formats next season, as he will continue to be one of the premier rushers in the league.
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| 1/1/2012 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson listed as active
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson (ankle) was not among the team's inactives for Week 17 at Houston. Though he had been listed as questionable on the injury report, Johnson had been expected to start.
Analysis: Johnson gets a tough matchup against the Texans in the regular season's final week, but now that we know that he will play, he is worth starting in most leagues. He can be trusted as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy RB.
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| 12/30/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson expected to start
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson is officially listed as questionable for Week 17 at Houston with a troublesome ankle injury. Johnson practiced for the first time Friday without issue and is expected to start Sunday's game, according to The Tennessean. Johnson is just 14 yards away from his fourth straight season with 1,000-plus rushing yards.
Analysis: Should he reach the impressive yardage milestone, Johnson will reportedly earn an additional $300,000 next season. Johnson will have his work cut out for him, though, as Houston is permitting just 12.1 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this year. However, he will still be worth starting in most formats that play in Week 17 as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy RB.
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| 12/29/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Coach: Johnson 'should be fine'
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson missed practice for the second day in a row Thursday as he continues to be hampered by an ankle injury. He is hoping to return for Friday's practice prior to the Titans' matchup against Houston in Week 17. "He looks pretty good last week as far as on-the-field running," coach Mike Munchak told The Tennessean. "He should be fine as far as being able to play at a high level."
Analysis: Not only is Tennessee fighting for a playoff berth, but Johnson is just 14 yards away from his fourth straight season with 1,000-plus rushing yards. Should he reach the milestone, he will reportedly earn an additional $300,000 next season. Johnson will have his work cut out for him, though, as Houston is permitting just 12.1 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this year. However, he will still be worth starting in most formats that play in Week 17 as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy RB.
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| 12/28/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson hopes to practice Friday
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson (ankle) did not practice Wednesday as the team prepared for Week 17 at Houston. Johnson has been dealing with an ankle injury the past two weeks and is hoping to be able to return for Friday's practice. Johnson said Wednesday that he is definitely feeling better. “Last week I had a lot of trouble walking on it,” Johnson said. “This week I feel a lot better.” Johnson was able to play after being listed as questionable for his last game, but was limited to just 56 yards on 15 carries. The Texans own the NFL's fourth-best rushing defense (96.7 yards per game).
Analysis: Not only is Tennessee fighting for a playoff berth, but Johnson is just 14 yards away from his fourth straight season with 1,000-plus rushing yards. Should he reach the milestone, he will earn an additional $300,000 next season, according to the Tennessean. Johnson will have his work cut out for him, as Houston is permitting just 12.1 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this year. However, he will still be worth starting in most formats that play in Week 17 as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy RB.
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| 12/28/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Much at stake for C. Johnson
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson has been slowed the last two weeks by an ankle injury, but he will have strong incentives to do well against the Texans in the regular season's final week. Not only are the Titans fighting for a playoff berth, but Johnson is just 14 yards away from his fourth straight season with 1,000-plus rushing yards. Should he reach the milestone, Johnson will earn an additional $300,000 next season, according to the Tennessean. Johnson will have his work cut out for him, as the Texans boast the league's fourth-ranked rushing defense.
Analysis: Between Johnson's sore ankle and his tough matchup, Week 17 is not the best time to count on him to be a top Fantasy option. However, he will still be worth starting in most formats that play in Week 17 as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy RB.
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| 12/24/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Ankle limits Johnson's production
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson finished with 56 yards on 15 carries during the Titans' 23-17 victory over Jacksonville in Week 16. Johnson, who had just 10 yards in the first half alone, remains 14 yards shy of his fourth 1,000-yard season. He entered the game questionable because of an ankle injury, but still posted 11 more carries than RB Jamie Harper. However, Harper registered Tennessee's only rushing score from the 1-yard line as he totaled just six rushing yards. Johnson was also held without a catch for the first time this season.
Analysis: Johnson appeared hobbled by the sprained ankle in the first half and was limited to just four carries. But with the Titans facing a Jaguars defense that has been decimated by injuries in the secondary, they didn't need him too much as QB Matt Hasselbeck rolled up 350 passing yards. After back-to-back 100-yard outings, Johnson has now been held to less than 60 yards in each of his past three games. Fantasy owners should keep track of his status in practice heading into Week 17 at Houston. Consider him a low-end No. 1 Fantasy RB for the matchup.
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| 12/24/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson stays in starting lineup
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson is active and in the starting lineup for the Titans' matchup against Jacksonville in Week 16, according to CBSSports.com. Johnson was listed as questionable on the team's injury report after dealing with a troublesome ankle injury. He was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday after missing Wednesday's session.
Analysis: Tennessee coach Mike Munchak said earlier this week that RB Jamie Harper would be ready for 10-15 carries if needed, but he still expects Johnson to receive the bulk of carries. Johnson did have some problems cutting in practice and that could be an issue on Saturday. The Jaguars are allowing an average of 15.1 Fantasy points per game to opposing backs this year. Consider Johnson a high-end No. 2 Fantasy RB for Week 16.
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| 12/23/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson officially questionable
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson is listed as questionable on the team's injury report for Week 16 against Jacksonville because of a troublesome ankle injury. Johnson was limited in practice Thursday and Friday after sitting out Wednesday's session. Titans coach Mike Munchak said Johnson should be able to play Saturday if he doesn't experience any soreness.
Analysis: Munchak added that RB Jamie Harper would be ready for 10-15 carries if needed, but he still expects Johnson to receive the bulk of carries. Johnson (930 rushing yards) said the injury shouldn't affect his speed as he aims to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth consecutive season. However, he did have some problems cutting in practice and that could be an issue on Saturday. The Jaguars are allowing an average of 15.1 Fantasy points per game to opposing backs this year. Consider Johnson a high-end No. 2 Fantasy RB for Week 16 if he plays.
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| 12/22/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans happy with CJ2K's progress
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson (ankle) was limited in practice Thursday as the team prepares for Week 16 against the Jaguars. However, coach Mike Munchak said Johnson looked good running, but he didn't cut too often. Munchak added that if Johnson has no soreness, then he should be in good shape for Saturday's game. He added that Jamie Harper would be ready for 10-15 carries if needed, but Munchak expects Johnson to get the bulk of carries.
Analysis: It does seem that Harper will be a little more involved on offense than he was in Week 15 -- the first game he replaced Javon Ringer as the backup RB. However, it does sound as though CJ2K will still pace the rushing attack barring a setback. That's good news for Fantasy owners. Consider Johnson a high-end No. 2 Fantasy RB for Week 16. Jacksonville is allowing an average of 15.1 Fantasy points per game to opposing backs this year.
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| 12/21/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans waiting on CJ2K
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson (ankle) did not practice Wednesday and coach Mike Munchak said the team will see how he looks Thursday when he tries to cut on his ankle. Munchak said Johnson took part in a portion of practice Wednesday, but he still listed him as did not practice. Munchak added that Jamie Harper would get the bulk of carries in Week 16 against the Jaguars if Johnson is limited or out.
Analysis: This is the first time all week the Titans seem concerned about Johnson's status since they now have a contingency plan in place. Thursday appears to be a big day for CJ2K. He said Tuesday that he expects to play, but we will just have to see how he progresses the rest of the week. Jacksonville is allowing an average of 15.1 Fantasy points per game to opposing backs this year. Consider Johnson a high-end No. 2 Fantasy RB for Week 16, but CJ2K owners might want to add Harper off waivers just in case Johnson has a setback.
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| 12/20/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson misses practice
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson was held out of practice Tuesday as he continues to deal with a sore ankle, according to The Tennessean. Johnson suffered a sprained ankle in the Titans' last game on Sunday, but is expected to play in Week 16 against Jacksonville. "I think I should be good enough to go," he said. "It’s pretty sore -- I haven’t ran on it and ... yesterday I was limping pretty bad. But I am doing much better."
Analysis: Johnson said the injury shouldn't affect his speed as he aims to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth consecutive season. The 26-year-old is just 70 yards shy of the mark after overcoming a slow start to the season. "Any running who runs for over 1,000 yards, it puts you up there in a group with elite running backs," he told The Tennessean. Johnson should eclipse his lowly output from his previous meeting against the Jaguars when he had a season-low nine carries for 24 yards. Jacksonville is allowing an average of 15.1 Fantasy points per game to opposing backs this year. Consider Johnson a low-end No. 1 Fantasy RB for Week 16.
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| 12/19/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K nursing sore ankle
News: Titans coach Mike Munchak said Monday that RB Chris Johnson has a sore ankle, but he is expected to play Week 16 against the Jaguars. “We saw him today, we don't think there's any reason he'll be out for the game,” Munchak said. Johnson ended up with 109 total yards in a Week 15 loss to the Colts. He finished with 55 rushing yards on 15 carries, with his longest rush going 35 yards, and he had eight catches for 54 yards. Johnson was credited with a 49-yard touchdown in the second half, but it came back after a replay which showed Johnson was downed by a defender after 5 yards.
Analysis: The sore ankle had nothing to do with CJ2K not being able to run all over the Colts in Week 15. Indianapolis has been able to limit Johnson on two occasions this season. The Colts have had a good game plan against him. Still, CJ2K finished with 10 Fantasy points Week 15 and has been playing much better in the second half of the season. If active, which is expected, then start CJ2K in Fantasy Week 16.
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| 12/18/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K totals 109 yards in loss
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson ended up with 109 total yards in a Week 15 loss to the Colts. He finished with 55 rushing yards on 15 carries, with his longest rush going 35 yards, and he had eight catches for 54 yards. Johnson was credited with a 49-yard touchdown in the second half, but it came back after a replay which showed Johnson was downed by a defender after 5 yards.
Analysis: It seems Johnson is the only running back that can't seem to have big rushing performances against the Colts. He did have a decent day in the end against Indy, but he still finished with just 89 rushing yards in two games against the Colts, who have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Continue to keep CJ2K active in all Fantasy formats heading into Week 16 against the Jaguars.
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| 12/15/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K a good road warrior
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson only had 34 yards in Week 8 against Indy, and he must avoid a similar performance to help prevent the winless Colts from pulling off an upset in the AFC South rematch Week 15. “The pressure won't be on us to be the first team to lose to the Colts,” Johnson said. “It's more on us to stay alive for the playoffs.” Johnson averages 85.2 rushing yards per game in 20 career contests against AFC South opponents. Johnson also averages 98 rushing yards per game in December.
Analysis: Johnson was a different running back in Week 8. He was still trying to get into game shape and learn the Titans zone running scheme. But he has looked more like his old self lately. He has rushed for 100-plus yards in three of his last five games. He is coming off a disappointing outing against New Orleans, but we feel he is due for a big game against the Colts. Indianapolis is allowing RBs to average 126.9 rushing yards and 22.5 Fantasy points per week, which is the third-highest average in the NFL. Don't forget either that three of Johnson's four 100-yard games this season have come on the road. Make sure to start CJ2K in all Fantasy formats.
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| 12/11/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson struggles against Saints
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson had a disappointing game Sunday against New Orleans in Week 14. Johnson was held to 11 carries for 23 yards and five catches for 43 yards on six targets. Johnson had 343 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his previous two games before facing the Saints.
Analysis: We hope Johnson can get back to the RB we saw against Buffalo and Tampa Bay in the two outings before facing New Orleans, and he has a great matchup in Week 15 at Indianapolis. The problem is he already faced the Colts once this season in Week 8 and finished with 34 yards on 14 carries and added 17 yards on three catches. We expect him to do much better in the rematch, and Johnson should be considered a No. 1 Fantasy RB in all formats.
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| 12/8/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson over illness
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson said he is feeling better after battling through an illness last week. The All-Pro RB reportedly lost 10 pounds in between the Titans' last two games. “I don't want to go through that again,” Johnson said. “It was a situation where I had to tough it out.” Johnson rushed for a team-high 153 yards and two touchdowns in the 23-17 win last weekend versus the Bills. In Week 14, Johnson gets a Saints' defense that has given up at least 5 yards a carry on rushes to both the left and right sidelines, according to NFLGSIS.com. “You have to try to run a lot of misdirections,” Johnson said. “You have to catch them in the right play when they blitz."
Analysis: New Orleans is allowing 114.6 rushing yards per contest and have given up nine rushing touchdowns in 12 games. If Johnson can post solid numbers when he's not 100 percent, imagine what he'll be able to do this weekend. Opposing running backs are averaging 18.67 Fantasy points per contest on the Saints defense. Fantasy owners should keep Johnson active as he's a No. 1 RB option.
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| 12/5/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Illness doesn't slow down C. Johnson
News: Despite losing a reported 10 pounds last week due to his illness, RB Chris Johnson was still able to turn in another big-time performance in Week 13 against the Bills. Johnson rushed for a team-high 153 yards and two touchdowns in the 23-17 win, while adding one catch for 4 yards. "We knew that he wasn't feeling his best, (but) he was very productive," coach Mike Munchak said. "We've been doing all we could to change the outcome of the run game."
Analysis: Johnson was able to play through his illness on Sunday and once again torch the Bills. In 2009, he totaled 232 yards (132 rushing) and two rushing touchdowns against Buffalo, and he was just as productive in Week 13. The best part of Johnson's Week 13 performance is that he looked like his former self. He was showing patience by waiting for the running lanes to open and then bursting through them for big gains. It's unfortunate it's taken CJ2K so long to get going, but if you need him for the Fantasy playoff run, then he is peaking at the right time. Keep CJ2K active in all Fantasy formats heading into Week 14 vs. New Orleans.
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| 12/4/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K shining late in 2011
News: It's taken a while, but Titans RB Chris Johnson is showing up for Fantasy owners late in the season. Johnson had his third 100-yard rushing performance in his last four games during a 23-17 win over the Bills in Week 13. Johnson got off to a fast start with 86 rushing yards in the first quarter, which included a 48-yard touchdown run. Johnson added a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter for his first multi-touchdown game of the season. He rushed for a team-high 153 yards on 23 carries, while adding one catch for 4 yards. "I think it's momentum. I think it's finally having things go well for a couple games in a row," Johnson said. "When you start making plays, the momentum starts carrying (over)."
Analysis: CJ2K loves going up against the Bills. In 2009, he totaled 232 yards (132 rushing) and two rushing touchdowns against Buffalo, and he was just as productive in Week 13. The best part of Johnson's Week 13 performance is that he looked like his former self. He was showing patience by waiting for the running lanes to open and then bursting through them for big gains. It's unfortunate it's taken CJ2K so long to get going, but if you need him for the Fantasy playoff run, then he is peaking at the right time. Keep CJ2K active in all Fantasy formats heading into Week 14 vs. New Orleans.
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| 11/30/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Can Bills slow down CJ2K this time?
News: The last time the Bills saw Chris Johnson in 2009, the Titans RB slashed the defense on his way to 132 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards and two rushing touchdowns. Fantasy owners will be hoping Johnson can produce similar results when the two teams meet again in Week 13. Buffalo is yielding 19.2 Fantasy points per week to RBs, which is ninth-highest in the NFL. Buffalo has also yielded 12 touchdowns (10 rushing) to RBs and have allowed three RBs -- Cedric Benson, Ahmad Bradshaw and DeMarco Murray -- to rush for 100-plus yards this season.
Analysis: The universe seems to be back in alignment since CJ2K is looking like his former self. He has rushed for 100-plus yards in two of his last three games, which included a 190-yard effort in Week 12. It was the third time in his career he rushed for 190-plus yards. The Bills present another favorable matchup, so make sure to have CJ2K active in Fantasy Week 13.
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| 11/27/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson bounces back big
News: One week after rushing for a season-low 13 yards against the Falcons, Titans RB Chris Johnson had a huge game in a Week 12 victory over the Buccaneers. In the 23-17 win, Johnson ran the ball 23 times for a season-high 190 yards, as he gained at least 20 yards on four different plays. His longest play of the day, a 34-yard run in the fourth quarter that brought the ball five yards shy of the red zone, ultimately led to a Damian Williams touchdown reception that put the Titans up for good. Johnson also coughed up the ball early in the third quarter, which started a series of six plays that produced three turnovers by the two teams. Johnson was targeted twice in the passing game, and he made one catch for 3 yards.
Analysis: Johnson's production has been uneven this season, though he has managed to churn out yardage consistently against poor defenses. His opponent in Week 13, the Bills, have not defended the run well this year, though they have been better than the Bucs. Johnson is clearly due for a downturn, but he will still be worth starting in most leagues.
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| 11/22/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson thriving against bad D
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson had his worst game of the year in Week 11, amassing just 28 all-purpose yards -- including 13 rushing yards -- against the Falcons. Johnson has struggled against the better rushing defenses in the league, such as Atlanta's, but in Week 12, he will have the luxury of running against a porous Buccaneers defense. Three different running backs have mustered at least 100 rushing yards against Tampa Bay this season, and only the Panthers have allowed opposing running backs to compile more Fantasy points.
Analysis: Johnson's production has really varied with the quality of his matchups. as his only 100-plus yard rushing games this season have come against the Panthers and Browns -- two poor rushing defenses. The Bucs fall into the same category, so despite Johnson's awful Week 11 performance, he can be trusted as a No. 1 Fantasy RB in Week 12.
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| 11/20/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson disappears again for Titans
News: After totaling 284 yards over his last two games, Titans RB Chris Johnson was a non-factor in Week 11 against the Falcons. He gained a season-low 13 yards on 12 carries and also had three catches for 15 yards in the 23-17 loss. He had a long run of 6 and averaged 1.1 yards per carry. Johnson finished second on Tennessee in rushing behind QB Matt Hasselbeck (17 yards). "They are a pretty good defense and they made a lot of plays," Johnson said. "If we executed better we could've had a better day in the running game."
Analysis: Johnson has been one of the more infuriating options in Fantasy so far this season as just when it looked like he was going to turn things around, he laid an egg. He has rushed for fewer than 50 yards in five games so far this season and will really have to make a strong push down the stretch to record his fourth straight 1,000-yard campaign. If he continues to struggle, Javon Ringer could start seeing carries again so keep an eye on the situation going forward. With the Buccaneers on the schedule for Week 12, Fantasy owners might be weary about getting Johnson active in all formats.
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| 11/15/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson to keep things rolling?
News: After rushing for a season-high 130 yards his last time out, Titans RB Chris Johnson will look to keep things going in Week 11 against the Falcons. Atlanta ranks fourth in the league in run defense, giving up under 91 yards per game, and allowed an average of 12.7 Fantasy points to opposing running backs.
Analysis: Johnson had the breakout performance Fantasy owners had been waiting for in Week 10 against Cincinnati and could get on a roll down the stretch. The Bengals actually rank better against the run so far this season but the Falcons are coming off a performance a week ago in which they held New Orleans to just 41 yards rushing. Johnson seems to have backed off Javon Ringer in recent weeks so he should see the majority of the touches on Sunday. Consider Johnson a No. 2 Fantasy RB for Week 11.
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| 11/13/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
The rebirth of CJ2K
News: Welcome back to Fantasy relevance, Chris Johnson. The Titans running back finally had a signature performance Week 10 at Carolina. Johnson's efforts paced Tennessee in an impressive 30-3 rout. Johnson had his second 100-yard performance of the season and added his second rushing touchdown. He rushed for a season-high 130 yards on 27 carries, which included a 1-yard score in the fourth quarter. Johnson also finished as the Titans' second-leading receiver with 44 yards on four catches .As Johnson entered the media room after the game, QB Matt Hasselbeck walked out and yelled, "Fantasy points!" "Matt told me I was on his Fantasy team, and that he stepped out at the 1 to help me get in the end zone," Johnson said with a laugh. "So everyone has to thank Matt and all the Fantasy owners."
Analysis: This is two weeks in a row now that Johnson has had 10 or more Fantasy points (in standard formats). Unfortunately, it could be too little, too late for some Fantasy owners. But if you were lucky enough to survive CJ2K's first-half slump, then he is gearing up at the right time for those owners. He is no worse than a No. 2 Fantasy RB for Week 11 at Atlanta.
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| 11/9/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Is Week 10 when CJ2K returns to form?
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson heads into Week 10 at Carolina needing just 36 rushing yards to join Eddie George and Earl Campbell as the third player in franchise history with 5,000 rushing yards. And it's a very reachable goal. The Panthers are yielding 25 Fantasy points per week to RBs, which is highest in the NFL. Also, Johnson is averaging 106.3 rushing yards per game in 12 career contests against the NFC.
Analysis: After an awful start to the season, CJ2K showed some life in Week 9 with 64 rushing yards and 46 receiving yards. However, he was slowed down in the second half after Cincinnati started loading the box. CJ2K saw his starting percentage decline to 75 in Week 9 after he failed to run all over Indy in Week 8, which was another favorable matchup. We just hope this is the week that CJ2K finally returns to form, so definitely consider putting him in your starting Fantasy lineup.
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| 11/6/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson tops 100 total yards
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson showed a little more spirit on Sunday of Week 9 against the Bengals. Johnson was really rocking and rolling early on as he quickly proved explosive both running and catching the football. Johnson showed a gear he hadn't been showing this season previously and he also appeared to have a little more tackle-breaking ability. Johnson was definitely slowed after halftime, however, as the second half did not provide Fantasy owners with the same production. In the end, Johnson finished with 14 rushing attempts for 64 yards and he added four catches for 46 more for a total of 110 yards on the afternoon without a touchdown.
Analysis: Johnson had a long run of 20 yards and a long catch of 21 and was more than halfway to the century mark rushing at halftime. He couldn't get there as the Bengals held him in check in the second half. Still, he was able to top 100 total yards, at least. Johnson has his best chance yet at a huge game in Week 10 at Carolina. The Panthers are allowing the most Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season and have been routinely burned by the opposition running the football. The running back who can catch passes as well as run on the ground has the most potential against the Panthers and Johnson does have the ability to do that. Carolina has already allowed a 200-yard rusher this season -- Matt Forte Week 4 -- so Johnson has to be licking his lips. After looking solid Week 9, Fantasy owners should finally feel a little more comfortable using him in Week 10.
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| 11/2/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson losing Fantasy trust
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson will remain the starter heading into Week 9 against the Bengals, at least according to his head coach Mike Munchak on Monday. That said, Johnson is expected to continue splitting carries with Javon Ringer fairly evenly and rightly so as Ringer has performed better of late. Johnson and Ringer each received 14 carries in Sunday’s win over the Colts. “We still believe in him, he’s still our starter and I think his teammates feel the same way,” Munchak said. Johnson gained 34 yards on his 14 carries in Week 8 and also caught three passes for 17 yards.
Analysis: Johnson has been extremely disappointing so far this season and will need to rush for nearly 700 yards over his final nine games to reach 1,000 for the fourth straight campaign. While that sounds like a doable feat, his struggles thus far have not instilled a ton of trust in Fantasy owners. Plus, Tennessee takes on Cincinnati in Week 9 and the Bengals have been solid against the run this season. Seattle RBs totaled 18 carries for 58 yards last week so the Titans could struggle on the ground. With Johnson expected to split with Ringer and his own play a shell of what it once was, owners should consider the 26-year-old as no better than a No. 3 Fantasy RB going forward.
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| 10/31/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Munchak: Johnson to remain starter
News: Titans coach Mike Munchak said Monday that RB Chris Johnson will remain the team’s starting running back. Johnson and Javon Ringer each received 14 carries in Sunday’s win over the Colts. “We still believe in him, he’s still our starter and I think his teammates feel the same way,” Munchak said. Johnson gained 34 yards on his 14 carries in Week 8 and also caught three passes for 17 yards.
Analysis: Johnson has been extremely disappointing so far this season and will need to rush for nearly 700 yards over his final nine games to reach 1,000 for the fourth straight campaign. While that sounds like a doable feat, his struggles thus far have not instilled a ton of trust in Fantasy owners. With Johnson expected to split with Ringer and his own play a shell of what it once was, owners should consider the 26-year-old as no better than a No. 3 Fantasy RB going forward. Tennessee takes on Cincinnati in Week 9.
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| 10/30/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson breaks hearts with 51 total yards
News: Chris Johnson had his best matchup of the season vs. the Colts in Week 8, and he still underwhelmed. Johnson had 34 yards on 14 carries and added 17 yards on three catches. Save for an 11-yard burst late in the first half, Johnson's carries were typically the same as they've been: Small gains because of poor blocking by his O-line or because of his tentative play. On most of his runs he quit fighting for yardage after first contact. He also had a chance for a decent gain when he caught a short pass in space and couldn't beat a Colts defender charging for him. Perhaps the most significant development: the Titans used Javon Ringer as much as Johnson, including inside of 3:00 when they grounded down the clock. Ringer totaled 60 yards on 14 carries with 42 yards on five catches. Head coach Mike Munchak indicated after the game that Johnson will split reps with Ringer going forward.
Analysis: Fantasy owners have no choice but to consider Johnson no better than a No. 3 Fantasy RB going forward. He cannot be considered a must-start RB because he's just not getting the job done. The Titans host the Bengals in Week 9, and their run defense is among the most stout in the league. With Johnson expected to split with Ringer and his own play a shell of what it once was, Fantasy owners should consider other options if they can.
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| 10/27/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K to get on track vs. Colts?
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson has rushed for just 69 yards over his last two games but should be able to get back on track in Week 8 against the Colts. Indianapolis ranks 31st in the league against the run, giving up nearly 151 yards per contest, and have allowed an average of 24.1 Fantasy points to opposing running backs. In two games against the division foe a year ago, Johnson posted 150 yards and a touchdown on the ground with another 119 yards and an additional score through the air.
Analysis: Johnson has been very disappointing for the Titans -- and Fantasy owners -- thus far as he has just one 100-yard rushing performance through the first six games. But he claims that he is 100 percent healthy and seems motivated to prove his doubters wrong in Week 8. He is still an elite option in Fantasy and has a favorable matchup with the Colts so consider Johnson a low-end No. 1 RB on Sunday.
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| 10/24/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ: 'I wouldn’t say I am the issue'
News: After finishing with a season-low 18 yards on 10 carries in Tennessee's loss to Houston in Week 7, RB Chris Johnson insisted he is 100 percent healthy after holding out all of training camp in order to get a new contract. Johnson has failed to top 100 rushing yards in five of his six games this season. In the previous two seasons, he did not top that mark in only 12 games combined. “Basically, if you are watching the game and you really can’t tell what is going on with the run game then I would say you really don’t know football,’’ Johnson told The Tennesseean. “I wouldn’t say I am the issue. I am very confident I have been doing the things ... I do.”
Analysis: Johnson paced the NFL in rushing yards during his first three NFL seasons, but has just 268 yards this year and is on pace for a career-low 715. His teammates said it's the entire offense that has struggled as Johnson has managed only one touchdown this year. "He is still the same player, he doesn’t change overnight," RB Ahmard Hall told The Tennessean. "He's 24 years old -- you don’t just lose it like that. If he doesn’t have any space to run, he can’t do what he does. We have to give him space." Johnson earns a favorable matchup in Week 8 against lowly Indianapolis. Consider him a low-end No. 1 Fantasy RB against a defense that is permitting an average of 150.9 rushing yards per game.
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| 10/23/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson takes a step backwards
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson couldn't get much going in a Week 7 loss to the Texans. Despite leading the team in carries and receptions, Johnson racked up only 45 all-purpose yards. He managed just 18 yards on 10 carries while gaining 27 yards on six receptions. It was Johnson's lowest yardage output of the season, and he also failed to score a touchdown. Aside from a strong performance in Week 4 at Cleveland, Johnson has yet to get untracked, but he doesn't blame his late start to the year or injuries for his woes. "I feel like I’ve been back," Johnson said. "My conditioning and missing camp (isn’t) the problem with the running game."
Analysis: Johnson ran for 101 yards three weeks ago against the Browns, but he has fallen back into a slump after that encouraging performance. Perhaps Johnson was rusty after coming off his bye week, and perhaps he could be dealing with the aftereffects of a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 5. Whatever factors may have been in play this week, owners may have to consider a Johnson a risky play as a No. 1 Fantasy RB heading into a Week 8 matchup against the Colts.
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| 10/19/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson looks to rebound
News: In Week 7, Titans RB Chris Johnson will try to bounce back from a disappointing Week 5 effort at Pittsburgh, when he rushed for just 51 yards and left the game early with a hamstring injury. After getting rest during a Week 6 bye, Johnson is expected to be ready for his upcoming matchup against the Texans, a team he has performed well against in the past. Johnson has generally done well against his AFC South rivals, averaging 91.7 rushing yards per game, and he has saved his best for Houston, averaging 103.7 yards over six games. This year, the Texans have allowed opposing running backs to average 100.0 rushing yards per game.
Analysis: Between his preseason holdout and injuries, Johnson has had some trouble getting on track this season, but he has shown enough production to still be worth starting. Especially since he has a fairly favorable matchup with the Texans in Week 7, owners should look to use Johnson as a low-end No. 1 Fantasy RB.
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| 10/10/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K expected to play after bye
News: Titans coach Mike Munchak said Monday that RB Chris Johnson, who left the game in the fourth quarter Week 5 against the Steelers with hamstring tightness, is expected to play Week 7 against the Texans after the team comes off its bye. Munchak also wasn't happy Johnson rushed for just 51 yards against Pittsburgh, despite getting his first touchdown of the season. "Chris needs to play better, but we all need to play better," Munchak said.
Analysis: CJ2K has just one 100-yard performance in five games and it seems all that missed time in the preseason is catching up to the veteran back. Hopefully, he will get time to work on his game during the bye week and Johnson will be in for a big second half. Fantasy owners can only hope after spending a first-round pick on the former 2,000-yard rusher. Plan to start CJ2K in Week 7 as the Titans come off a bye.
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| 10/9/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson scores TD before leaving
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson had another lukewarm performance Week 5 at Pittsburgh, rushing for just 51 yards on 14 carries. He ran for 21 yards on his very first carry, but it was more of a scamper than a sprint -- one aided by good blocking -- and was his only run of 10 or more yards in the contest. He did score his first touchdown of the season on a 1-yard run in the third quarter before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter with tightness in his hamstring. With the Titans down three touchdowns, his removal was likely for precautionary reasons. “I caught the ball, ran downfield and didn’t feel any energy,” Johnson said. “When I ran the next play it just felt a little tight."
Analysis: Johnson also had three catches for 14 yards, but the fact of the matter is he again wasn't especially productive for Fantasy purposes, lacking his usual burst and breakaway speed. Because of the touchdown, this performance will look encouraging to some Fantasy owners, especially coming on the heels of his first 100-yard game, but Johnson didn't look like himself in either contest. Instead, he looked tentative, which could be the result of him missing the entire preseason because of a contract holdout. Even at less than his best, Johnson is clearly still useful in Fantasy, but he's not a clear-cut No. 1 Fantasy RB. With the Titans on bye in Week 6, Johnson's hamstring should be healed enough for him to play against the Texans in Week 7.
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| 10/5/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to run it up on Steelers?
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson has been an enigma this season as he rushed 46 times his first three games for a grand total of 98 yards without a touchdown. Johnson turned things around a bit Week 4 at Cleveland with 23 rushing attempts for 101 yards. Johnson said after last game that he's playing with more confidence now, entering Week 5 at Pittsburgh. That said, Johnson, even when he was leading the NFL in rushing, has never done well against the Steelers. In three career games against Pittsburgh, Johnson has rushed 47 times for a total of 160 yards and one touchdown.
Analysis: Johnson still has yet to score this season and the Titans continue to play well regardless. Normally, Pittsburgh's defense is excellent, but this year has been different. The Steelers are allowing the 11th-most Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Arian Foster rushed 30 times for 155 yards and a TD against the Steelers just last week. The Steelers have allowed a rushing touchdown in three of four games this season and will be without starting defensive players Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and James Harrison. That all should help Johnson find some wiggle room, though he still has yet to look like the rusher who totaled well over 1,490 yards in each of his first three seasons. Consider Johnson a low-end No. 1 or high-end No. 2 Fantasy RB for Week 5 and hope for the best.
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| 10/2/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson makes most of matchup
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson, who entered the game averaging a pathetic 32.7 yards per game and 2.1 yards per carry, looked more like himself at Cleveland in Week 4. Johnson ran for 101 yards on 23 carries, taking advantage of the league's 29th-ranked run defense. Of those 101 yards, 25 came on a single run to the outside in the first quarter. Johnson also had two catches for 11 yards in the contest. He said after the game that the performance should help his confidence. "Trying to get over the 100-yard mark for the first time this season and keeping drives moving helps," he said. "Creating more chances to get more touches helps."
Analysis: Johnson's performance was a little closer to what Fantasy owners expected from him when they drafted him early in the first round. He still went without a touchdown, though, so for Fantasy purposes, he was again a bit of a disappointment. The performance wasn't even necessarily an encouraging sign for the future, considering the Browns' struggles against the run all season. Johnson missed a few opportunities to break off big runs, looking tentative on his cuts and often settling for short gains. Johnson has been slow to come around after missing the entire preseason because of a contract holdout. He still has big upside, but he's a borderline No. 2 Fantasy RB at Pittsburgh in Week 5.
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| 9/28/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson has chance to rebound
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson is off to a miserable start in 2011, rushing for 32.7 yards per game and 2.1 yards per carry, but he has perhaps his most favorable matchup yet Week 4 at Cleveland. The Browns rank 29th against the run, allowing 128.7 yards per game. They allowed 121 rushing yards to Cedric Benson in Week 1 and 95 rushing yards to rookie Daniel Thomas in Week 3. Browns coach Pat Shurmur is leery of Johnson following in their footsteps. "He hasn’t had a chance to show what I know he’s capable of doing," Shurmur said, adding that Johnson’s holdout wasn't the issue and that he’s "running fast and [getting] good blocking."
Analysis: Johnson missed the entire preseason because of a holdout but ultimately got the big contract he wanted. Both are possible explanations for why he's struggling now. A four-game suspension for fullback Ahmard Hall certainly hasn't helped, but Titans coach Mike Munchak doesn't think it's a valid explanation. The bottom line is Johnson simply isn't playing well. He has struggled with his cuts and hasn't shown his usual burst. If it's a matter of shaking off the rust from the offseason or learning a new offense, you have to think he'll come around sooner or later. He's too talented not to. But if it's a lack of motivation now that he's gotten paid, that's another matter entirely. The favorable matchup makes Johnson worth using as a No. 2 Fantasy RB in Week 4, but he's less than an automatic start given his struggles.
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| 9/26/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Is Hall the difference maker for CJ2K?
News: Despite Tennessee’s struggles in the run game, coach Mike Munchak didn’t attribute Chris Johnson's slow start to the absence of FB Ahmard Hall. Quinn Johnson has started in place of Hall during his four-game suspension. “(Chris Johnson’s) more familiar with him, but I don’t think that’s a factor,” Munchak said.
Analysis: Munchak might not want to attribute Johnson's slow start to Hall sitting out, but Fantasy owners need something to look forward to as CJ2K has been a huge bust to this point in the season. Perhaps Hall's eventual return in Week 5 at Pittsburgh will be the psychological lift Johnson will need to get back on track. Continue to roll with Johnson heading into Week 4 against the Browns and continue to hope that he will eventually be ready to turn the corner.
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| 9/25/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson stuffed by Broncos
News: It's gone from bad to worse for Chris Johnson's Fantasy owners. The newly-paid rusher for the Titans totaled just 21 yards on 13 carries against a Broncos run defense ranked 28th coming into the game. He also had 54 yards on four catches, most of which came on a 34-yard haul on a go-route down the left sideline against linebacker Wesley Woodyard. The running back tied for the team lead in rush yards with punter Brett Kern, who gained 21 yards on a fake.
Analysis: Johnson was inconsistent with his effort. Sometimes he would show his classic burst in his cuts and sometimes he was slow. On one play Matt Hasselbeck threw a perfect screen pass that went through the arms of a lackadaisical Johnson. Toward the second half the Titans began using Javon Ringer a little more, albeit with some rough results. Something's off here with Johnson, who did just get paid $30 million guaranteed before the season. If you own Johnson you have to lower expectations for him as the Titans move forward, though a matchup at Cleveland in Week 4 suggests good things. If you don't own Johnson, now's not a bad time to trade for him on the cheap, even though a Week 5 matchup at Pittsburgh looms large. Consider Johnson no better than a No.2 RB for that next game at the Browns, who allowed 119 yards to the Dolphins running backs.
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| 9/25/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson starting against Denver
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson (ribs) is healthy and active for the Week 3 game against the Broncos. Coach Mike Munchak said on Thursday that he expects Johnson's confidence to be good for Sunday's game. That's encouraging after the start CJ2K has produced through two weeks. The Titans have said they want to get backup RB Javon Ringer more involved on offense, but they aren't turning their backs on Johnson.
Analysis: Because the matchup against the Broncos is good and because Johnson isn't about to get taken off the field, Fantasy owners have to keep trusting him. Unless you have some really impressive options to go with over Johnson in Week 3, you can and should start him. The Broncos are allowing RBs to average 18 Fantasy points per week.
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| 9/23/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans RB prepping for Week 3
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson was a full participant in practice Friday for a second straight day. Johnson appeared on the injury report Wednesday as he got a day off to rest sore ribs, but he is expected to play and start Week 3 against the Broncos. He is listed as probable.
Analysis: Coach Mike Munchak said on Thursday that he expects Johnson's confidence to be good for Sunday's game. That's encouraging after the start CJ2K has produced through two weeks. The Titans have said they want to get backup RB Javon Ringer more involved on offense, but they aren't turning their backs on Johnson. Because the matchup against the Broncos is good and because Johnson isn't about to get taken off the field, Fantasy owners have to keep trusting him. Unless you have some really impressive options to go with over Johnson in Week 3, you can and should start him. The Broncos are allowing RBs to average 18 Fantasy points per week.
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| 9/22/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K back at practice Thursday
News: As expected, Titans RB Chris Johnson (ribs) returned to practice Thursday after resting on Wednesday. Coach Mike Munchak said Johnson looked good in practice and should play Sunday against the Broncos. “Chris was able to take reps in every period and ran hard, which was good to see," Munchak said. “His confidence will be good for this game.”
Analysis: Johnson got some rest Wednesday because he was sore, but this injury isn't expected to threaten his Week 3 status. Johnson has 77 rush yards on 33 carries and 37 receiving yards on nine catches through two games, averaging 2.3 yards per carry and 4.1 yards per catch. Johnson had just 53 yards on 19 carries and 11 yards on three catches last season against Denver, and that was when he was healthy, not coming off of a long hold out and still a big part of the Tennessee offense. Granted, the Broncos' defense has undergone some major changes since then, but they stunk last year and still found a way to contain Johnson. As for the Titans, you have to figure the offensive line will run block better against Denver's smaller D-line. Because the matchup against the Broncos is good and because Johnson isn't about to get taken off the field, Fantasy owners have to keep trusting him. Unless you have some really impressive options to go with over Johnson in Week 3, you can and should start him.
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| 9/21/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Time to panic on Johnson?
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson has 77 rush yards on 33 carries and 37 receiving yards on nine catches through two games, averaging 2.3 yards per carry and 4.1 yards per catch. Obviously that's way below expectations. We checked out Johnson's Week 2 game against the Ravens and saw a running back who struggled to get out of his cuts and show explosion. But we also saw a running back who accelerated a little bit better on runs to the edge and delay handoffs. We also saw an offensive line that couldn't handle the Ravens' barrage of run defenders for pretty much every single carry Johnson had. But that same offensive line blocked well on two of Javon Ringer's runs for 10 or more yards, both of which involved Ringer cutting quickly and effectively while going to the left side of his line. Some speculate that the Ravens sold out to stop the run when Johnson was in and not as much when Ringer was in, but the Ravens still had seven in the box on both of Ringer's runs. Johnson sat out practice Wednesday due to rib soreness, but says he expects to return Thursday.
Analysis: We know the Week 2 matchup was tough for the Titans and their Week 3 matchup against the Broncos (28th vs. the run) at home is an improvement. Or is it? Johnson had just 53 yards on 19 carries and 11 yards on three catches last season against Denver, and that was when he was healthy, not coming off of a long hold out and still a big part of the Tennessee offense. Granted, the Broncos' defense has undergone some major changes since then, but they stunk last year and still found a way to contain Johnson. As for the Titans, you have to figure the offensive line will run block better against Denver's smaller D-line. But we also know that Titans coach Mike Munchak will continue to work Ringer into the run game, especially if Johnson continues to struggle. Moreover, the Titans pass offense is ranked seventh in the NFL right now thanks to Matt Hasselbeck and Kenny Britt, and Munchak will play to their air attack if it means winning games. Does this make Johnson a bust? Not yet -- because the matchup against the Broncos is good and because Johnson isn't about to get taken off the field, Fantasy owners have to keep trusting him. Unless you have some really impressive options to go with over Johnson in Week 3, you can and should start him.
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| 9/19/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Coach trying to protect CJ2K
News: Titans coach Mike Munchak said during his Monday's press conference that he wants to get RB Javon Ringer more involved on offense in the coming weeks. However, it's not because he is down on Chris Johnson, who has struggled to begin the season. Munchak doesn't want to overwork Johnson as the Titans have done in past seasons. “We all have confidence that when he is in there, something good can still happen. It is not, 'C.J. is not in the game, we can’t run the ball,'" Munchak said. “I have always been a big Javon Ringer fan. I think he runs hard, he is smart, he can play third down for us and is a good blocker. We are very confident when he is in the game. And he handled it very well (against Baltimore). He is a guy who can make plays. I am excited he is healthy.”
Analysis: The fans started to boo CJ2K on Sunday, but Munchak came to his defense on Monday and preached patience. “You don’t want that from anybody, but to me it’s part of the game. People pay a lot of money to be in those seats,’’ he said. “Fans are entitled to be frustrated, but the good thing is he’s not frustrated.” Fantasy owners are also frustrated because they used a first-round pick on Johnson and he hasn't performed like one through two games. Munchak said it's going to take some reps before Johnson learns the team's zone-blocking scheme. CJ2K should be OK with time as long as he avoids injury, so you have to continue to keep him active heading into Week 3 against the Broncos.
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| 9/18/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K can't break loose Week 2
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson had another disappointing performance Week 2 against the Ravens. Johnson did touch the ball 27 times, but he gained just 53 yards on 24 rushes and 12 yards on three catches. His longest carry went 7 yards and he didn't score a touchdown. To make matters worse, backup RB Javon Ringer scored a touchdown on the opening drive in the second half and looked more comfortable in the team's offense despite missing Week 1 with a back injury.
Analysis: The Titans knew it was going to take some time for CJ2K to learn their zone-blocking scheme after he missed most of the preseason due to a contract dispute. But Fantasy owners are growing impatient because they didn't spend a first-round Fantasy pick on Johnson for him to post these kinds of numbers. CJ should be OK with time as long as he avoids injury, so you have to continue to keep him active heading into Week 3 against the Broncos.
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| 9/14/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K needs to get in sync with line
News: Titans head coach Mike Munchak has taken a lot of heat after his team struggled to run the football in Week 1 against the Jaguars, particularly camp holdout Chris Johnson, who rushed for 24 yards on nine carries. But Munchak said on his weekly radio show that Johnson is in good shape physically, but it's going to take him some time to get back in sync with his offensive line. “That was my biggest concern when he was holding out,” Munchak said as his team prepares for Week 2 against the Ravens. “People were concerned for his conditioning. I was concerned for his feel for the zone game because when you run a zone play, it’s a three-cut deal. You have to get a feel for the block in front of you. That does take a while to get a feel.”
Analysis: Munchak went on to add that Johnson lacked patience in his runs Week 1 saying there were a couple of times he cut back too early, but the only way to correct that is giving his star back more opportunities. How many he will get in Week 2 will probably be dictated about how the game is going, and after Baltimore tore apart Pittsburgh in Week 1 you wonder how effective the Titans will be? The Ravens held Steelers RBs to 57 rushing yards and no touchdowns in Week 1. Johnson is usually a must-start Fantasy RB, but this might be a week where you look to someone else with a more favorable matchup. Clearly, Johnson has some work to do.
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| 9/11/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson stifled on the road
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson, in his first game action since last season, took his lumps Week 1 against the Jaguars. He was not much of a factor in the running game, and it was evident early on. Johnson was stifled on each of his first few carries by a swarming Jacksonville defense, and he ended up with just 24 yards on the afternoon on nine carries. He was a bit better as a pass-catcher, hauling in six balls on seven targets for 25 yards. Johnson had just 49 total yards in the 16-14 loss.
Analysis: Johnson didn't look very rusty, but the offensive line did. He was able to make defenders miss in space in the passing game, but as a runner -- he had no space. His number of carries was so minimal because the offense as a whole could not get going before they turned to the passing game late which nearly yielded a win. We expect much better from Johnson and the offense going forward, as he is eased into game action after his lengthy holdout. Fantasy owners should still consider him to be a viable RB option in all leagues when the team hosts the Ravens in Week 2, though it won't be an easy day based on Baltimore's domination of Pittsburgh in Week 1.
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| 9/7/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
OC hints at reduced carries for CJ
News: Titans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer hinted that RB Chris Johnson could receive less carries than normal against the Jaguars in Week 1. The All-Pro RB will only have five practices before Sunday’s opener. Johnson averaged 19.75 carries per game last year and 22.4 in ’09. “You have to make sure you don’t do something to damage him,” Palmer said. Johnson said he is getting more comfortable every day in the team's offense, but he isn't sure how many touches he will get Sunday. “When I go out there and start playing I’ll know how much I can go and I’ll know when I have to back down and things like that,’’ Johnson said. “I am used to the heat since I’d been working out in Florda, but not in a pad and helmets. We’ll see when I get out there.”
Analysis: Johnson held out pretty much all preaseason before the Titans finally ponied up the cash to give him a new contract. The Titans are well aware of camp holdouts being at risk for injury, so it's not surprising the OC hints at perhaps a few less touches for CJ earlier in the season. He also does need to learn a new offense, so that could contribute to the team's thinking. But once Johnson is up to full speed the team will cut him loose since this offense will be built for him. It's still worth starting Johnson in Week 1 in all Fantasy formats because he will get enough touches to do some serious damage. He rushed for 164 yards and one touchdown in two games against Jacksonville last season.
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| 9/5/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans won't completely limit CJ
News: After Titans practice on Monday, coach Mike Munchak expressed that the Titans won't have a count on how many touches he'll give Chris Johnson. Johnson is coming off of a 35-day holdout and is just now comfortable with the Titans offense but is still expected to have some growing pains in picking up the blitz and taking hits. Munchak isn't too worried. "We are not going to sit here and say he is only going to get X amount of carries," Munchak said according to The Tennessean. "It depends on how those carries go. Hopefully they are all big runs and he will have less carries."
Analysis: Johnson should still be good to go in any Fantasy format for Week 1 considering the offense is built around his production. We anticipate a slight drop-off in touches, but that's to be expected as he tries to get into game shape -- and it doesn't mean he won't produce nice stats. Keep an eye on his practice habits leading up to the opener, though we like Johnson as a No. 1 RB across the board as long as he's healthy.
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| 9/2/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans to be 'smart' with Johnson
News: When Chris Johnson returns to practice next week, coach Mike Munchak said he will be cognizant of not overworking the running back to avoid a potential hamstring injury. “We have to be smart,” Munchak said. “He’s not bashful when it comes to what he can accomplish, and that’s a good thing.” Johnson was expected to join the Titans later Friday, sign his extension and take a physical.
Analysis: Munchak said Friday that Johnson has plenty of time to get ready for the opener at Jacksonville on Sept. 11. Exactly how much he'll play remains to be seen, but we'll have more information on that during the week. He remains an easy Top-3 pick in standard formats and a Top-5 choice in PPR leagues. Munchak said Johnson likely will be spending some extra time with running backs coach Jim Skipper over the next few days. Johnson also has lots of new people to introduce himself to with offensive coordinator Chris Palmer and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
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| 9/1/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Confirmed: Johnson's holdout over
News: The Titans confirmed Thursday that the team had agreed to terms on a revised deal with holdout RB Chris Johnson. The running back will be under contract for the next six years through 2016, and the revised deal is worth $53.5 million with $30 million guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the contract. Coach Mike Munchak told WKRN-TV at halftime that Johnson will re-join the Titans Friday when the team returns from New Orleans. "We're glad it's behind us now," Munchak said. "This gets us 10 days to get him ready to play (for the opener vs. the Jags)."
Analysis: This is the confirmation Fantasy owners had been waiting for after several reports had indicated the two sides were close to a deal. Johnson will report to the team now likely with plenty of time to be available for Week 1 at Jacksonville, though that will have to be monitored. There remains some concern that he could strain a hamstring or take on another minor injury as is common with players who hold out, but that's a small bump in the road for Johnson's prospective Fantasy owners. At least the fears of a lengthy holdout have been dismissed with this news and Johnson is now an easy Top-3 pick in standard formats and a Top-5 choice in PPR leagues.
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| 9/1/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Report: Titans, Johnson agree to deal
News: The Tennessean reports that the Titans have agreed to a four-year deal with holdout RB Chris Johnson. The deal is reportedly worth $53.5 million with $30 million guaranteed. Johnson is expected to return to the team this weekend and begin getting in shape and preparing for Week 1 against the Jaguars.
Analysis: With reports indicating that Johnson and the Titans had been closing in on a deal, this is the confirmation Fantasy owners had been waiting for. Johnson will report to the team now likely with plenty of time to be available for Week 1 at Jacksonville, though that will have to be monitored. There remains some concern that he could strain a hamstring or take on another minor injury as is common with players who hold out, but that's a small bump in the road for Johnson's prospective Fantasy owners. At least the fears of a lengthy holdout have been dismissed with this news and Johnson is now an easy Top-3 pick in standard formats and a Top-5 choice in PPR leagues.
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| 9/1/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Report: Johnson talks 'intensified'
News: ESPN reports that talks between Titans holdout Chris Johnson and the team 'intensified' on Wednesday. They were expected to continue on Thursday. On Tuesday, NFL Network reported that the two sides were close to a deal.
Analysis: NFL Network reiterated that a deal between Johnson and Titans could come as soon as this weekend. With the team's opener just 10 days away, there will need to be significant progress made in order for Johnson to have a chance to play in Week 1 at Jacksonville. We've seen several NFL holdouts come back, only to hurt themselves because they rush to the field too quickly (see Darrelle Revis last year and Steven Jackson and Larry Johnson during their respective holdout years). Obviously, once he's back with the Titans the sky will be the limit for his production even with a rusty start. Expect Johnson to be a Top-5 pick in all drafts once the deal is announced. Until then, he could slide as late as 10th overall in drafts; it will vary from owner to owner and league to league. We'll keep everyone posted.
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| 8/30/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Report: Titans, Johnson close to deal
News: The Titans and Chris Johnson are reportedly close to terms on a contract extension that would end the speedy running back's summer-long holdout. NFL Network reports that the Titans have become aggressive in their negotiations and have "opened up the bank vault" for Johnson. Again, NFL Network reiterated that a deal between Johnson and Titans could come as soon as this weekend. Johnson is currently holding out from the team in an effort to land a rich contract deal (he's scheduled to make under $1 million in 2011). The two sides have been in negotiations for weeks. Johnson was on the Reserve/Did Not Report list on Monday.
Analysis: It might be time to push Johnson back up those draft boards, though some will question the shape he's in and his ability to stay healthy. We've seen several NFL holdouts come back, only to hurt themselves because they rush to the field too quickly (see Darrelle Revis last year and Steven Jackson and Larry Johnson during their respective holdout years). Obviously, once he's back with the Titans the sky will be the limit for his production even with a rusty start. Expect Johnson to be a Top-5 pick in all drafts once the deal is announced. Until then, he could slide as late as 10th overall in drafts; it will vary from owner to owner and league to league. We'll keep everyone posted.
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| 8/30/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
'Breakthrough' coming in CJ2K talks?
News: The Titans and the representatives for Chris Johnson are talking again, and NFL Network speculates that there could be a "breakthrough" for a deal as soon as the weekend, well before the start of the regular season. Johnson is currently holding out from the team in an effort to land a rich contract deal (he's scheduled to make under $1 million in 2011). The two sides have been in negotiations for weeks. Johnson was on the Reserve/Did Not Report list on Monday.
Analysis: Johnson is clearly deserving of a raise and the Titans' offense needs Johnson to remain competitive. The clock's ticking here, and there's always a chance that Johnson could miss the start of the season if he doesn't agree to a deal. At this point, we wouldn't blame owners picking with an early first-round pick for passing on Johnson, who might now require drafting two handcuff running backs in Javon Ringer (Rounds 9-10) and Jamie Harper (Rounds 11-12). Just remember this: Johnson, if he were in camp, would easily be a Top 3 choice if not the best choice for Fantasy owners. Once he signs and comes back to the Titans, that's where you can expect him to end up. Until then ... he might fall anywhere from fourth overall to 14th overall; it will vary from owner to owner and league to league. We'll keep everyone posted.
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| 8/29/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson placed on 'Did Not Report' list
News: The Titans waived nine players and placed RB Chris Johnson on the Reserve/Did Not Report list on Monday. The moves were made in order to reach the 80-player roster limit prior to Tuesday's deadline. Johnson remains in a holdout.
Analysis: Johnson said Thursday that "nothing has changed" with his contract situation following his meeting with the team Wednesday in Tennessee. Johnson, who is aiming to be the highest paid player in the NFL, leads the NFL in yards rushing over the past three seasons. However, Fantasy owners are getting nervous about Johnson on Draft Day due to this holdout. We still consider him a Top 10 overall selection, and his upside still puts him in Top 5 territory. But if you draft Johnson at this point you need to handcuff him with Javon Ringer as early as possible. We'll continue to update you on his situation.
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| 8/25/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson: Nothing has changed
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans RB Chris Johnson said Thursday that "nothing has changed" with his contract situation following his meeting with the team Wednesday in Tennessee. Johnson said he has returned to Florida to continue training on his own. “I feel like I came in and they gave me their points and we gave them our points and we are not seeing eye-to-eye right now," said Johnson, who is aiming to be the highest paid player in the NFL. Johnson leads the NFL in yards rushing over the past three seasons and has said he wants at least $30 million in guaranteed money.
Analysis: This standoff between the Titans and Johnson is lasting too long, and Fantasy owners are getting nervous about Johnson on Draft Day. We still consider him a Top 10 overall selection, and his upside still puts him in Top 5 territory. Continue to monitor what happens with his contract, and hopefully something gets done prior to Week 1. But if you draft Johnson at this point you need to handcuff him with Javon Ringer as early as possible.
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| 8/24/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K leaves Titans without a deal
News: The meeting between Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt and Chris Johnson and the running back's agent has ended. No deal was announced and there was no update on Johnson' contract holdout, but a person told The Associated Press that the meeting ended midday Wednesday. "I'm not sure there was any progress made," Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt said in a statement, "but I do think it was beneficial to meet. We were able to discuss several different elements of a potential contract but there was no agreement on those topics. I do expect to have another conversation with (agent) Joel (Segal) in the next day or so." The Titans say they will make the three-time Pro Bowler the highest paid running back in the NFL. Johnson leads the NFL in yards rushing over the past three seasons and has said he wants at least $30 million in guaranteed money.
Analysis: Hopefully some progress was made between the two sides -- Johnson is clearly deserving of a raise and the Titans' offense needs Johnson to remain competitive. The clock's ticking here, and there's always a chance that Johnson could miss the start of the season if he doesn't agree to a deal. At this point, we wouldn't blame owners picking with an early first-round pick for passing on Johnson, who might now require drafting two handcuff running backs in Javon Ringer (Rounds 9-10) and Jamie Harper (Rounds 11-12). Just remember this: Johnson, if he were in camp, would easily be a Top 3 choice if not the best choice for Fantasy owners. Once he signs and comes back to the Titans, that's where you can expect him to end up. Until then ... he might fall anywhere from fourth overall to 14th overall; it will vary from owner to owner and league to league. We'll keep everyone posted.
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| 8/23/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K to meet with Titans
News: Chris Johnson posted on Twitter that he's heading to Nashville to meet with his agent and Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt on Wednesday morning. Johnson has been embattled in a contract holdout with the team and has yet to report to training camp. The sensational running back said he's taking to trip to "see where we're going," adding that his situation could get better or worse. Johnson also told a friend on Twitter when asked about getting a new deal that "it's gon workout soon." Johnson arrived at the Nashville airport Tuesday night and didn't say much on the situation. He told The Tennessean that he doesn't know if a deal will be worked out. "I want to be here," Johnson said. "We'll see."
Analysis: There's reason for cautious optimism here -- Johnson hasn't met with the Titans much, if at all, this summer, so he could be there to sign his name on the dotted line and report to camp. If it happens, he'll immediately shoot up to the Top 3 spots in Fantasy drafts worldwide. If he leaves Nashville without a deal, we'll refer back to our Chris Johnson analysis as outlined on Monday night. Wednesday should be a significant day for Johnson's 2011 season.
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| 8/21/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Drafting CJ2K becoming complicated
News: A couple of developments on Saturday changed the dynamics of drafting Chris Johnson, who is still holding out from the Titans. One, the Titans didn't use backup RB Javon Ringer (hip) in their preseason game against the Rams because he's banged up -- instead, rookie Jamie Harper got a chance to play and shined, rumbling for 83 yards on 11 carries with a one-yard touchdown plunge. That could open the door for Harper and/or Ringer to be used in place of Johnson until he returns to the roster. And speaking of that, the price tag on Johnson went up after Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald received $50 million guaranteed in a new contract extension. Johnson feels he should be one of the highest-paid "playmakers" in the league and might ask for a bigger guaranteed deal than he would have before Fitzgerald's signing.
Analysis: As of the the posting of this update, the Titans have 21 days until they start the regular season at Jacksonville. Johnson might be in good shape while holding out but still probably needs a week of practice to get into "game shape." The clock's ticking here, and there's always a chance that Johnson could miss the season if he doesn't agree to a deal with the Titans. At this point, we wouldn't blame owners picking with an early first-round pick for passing on Johnson, who might now require drafting two handcuff running backs in Ringer (Rounds 9-10) and Harper (Rounds 11-12). Just remember this: Johnson, if he were in camp, would easily be a Top 3 choice if not the best choice for Fantasy owners. Once he signs and comes back to the Titans, that's where you can expect him to end up. Until then ... he might fall anywhere from fourth overall to eighth overall.
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| 8/17/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Munchak: Johnson needs to be here
News: Titans head coach Mike Munchak isn't concerned with Chris Johnson's knowledge of the team's offensive playbook. Instead, he's concerned that the rusher is missing out on getting into game shape by participating in training camp practices. Johnson is holding out for a new contract. "He doesn't necessarily need book study," Munchak said according to the The Tennessean. "He needs reps. He needs to be in the huddle. He needs to get to know the players. The quarterbacks are both new. He's never been around them. He needs to have offensive linemen in front of him to get his reads. Those are the things he needs. The assignment part I don't think will be as tough for him. It's just getting reps and getting his legs used to those cuts and doing the things he needs to do in the NFL."
Analysis: We think Munchak hit the nail on the head -- by not participating in practice, he's not going to be physically ready for the punishment he'll take on. But there's still some time for him and the Titans to agree to terms and have him work out with the team despite all the media reports that suggest a lengthy holdout. If you're drafting now, you can either pass on Johnson with a first-round (and potentially first-overall) pick and run the risk of not owning one of the most dynamic rushers in the NFL, or you can take him and make it a point to draft his primary backup, Javon Ringer, with a middle- to late-round pick. One thing's for sure: Our outlook on Johnson will get worse the longer he holds out, and there is a chance his holdout will bleed into the regular season. We'll keep you posted.
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| 8/15/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Still no sign of Johnson at Titans camp
News: Chris Johnson remains a holdout as the Titans continue on with training camp. The superstar rusher refuses to report until he receives a contract that makes him the highest-paid running back in league history, and the Titans refuse to offer him any contract until he reports to camp. The Tennessean chimed in Monday that Johnson's desire for $30 million guaranteed is too high compared with other players at the position; DeAngelo Williams got $21 million this offseason to stay with the Panthers. If his asking price doesn't come down, his holdout could potentially last a while.
Analysis: Until Johnson shows up at the Titans' camp, Fantasy owners are going to freak out about drafting him. Here's the smart thing to do: If you spend the first-round pick on Johnson, make it a point to draft his primary backup, Javon Ringer, in Round 11 or so. That way, in the event that Johnson does not show up anytime soon, you're covered with a replacement that you snagged in the draft late. Then once CJ2K shows up and signs his new deal, Ringer is waiver-wire material. We still recommend taking the elusive Johnson with an early first-round pick in all leagues, but if he continues to hold out through Week 3 of the preseason, we'd be ready to pass on him.
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| 8/13/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
RB Johnson not ready to report
News: CBSSports.com senior writer Mike Freeman reports Titans RB Chris Johnson is encouraged by what GM Mike Reinfeldt said on Friday about the team's willingness to make the camp holdout the highest-paid running back in the NFL as long as he shows up for the preseason. However, Johnson remains cautious and isn't expected to report any time soon.
Analysis: Until Johnson shows up at the Titans' camp, Fantasy owners are going to freak out about drafting him. Here's the smart thing to do: If you spend the first-round pick on Johnson (and why wouldn't you?), make it a point to draft his primary backup, Javon Ringer, in Round 12 or so. That way, in the event that Johnson does not show up anytime soon, you're covered with a replacement that you snagged in the draft late. Then once CJ2K shows up and signs his new deal, Ringer is waiver-wire material. We still recommend taking the elusive Johnson with an early first-round pick in all leagues.
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| 8/11/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
GM: CJ2K will be highest paid
News: The Titans are ready to make Chris Johnson the highest-paid running back in the NFL. The general manager says they just need him to show up in training camp to finalize that extension. General manager Mike Reinfeldt told The Associated Press on Thursday that Johnson's agent was the first person they called once the NFL's lockout was lifted. The Titans reworked Johnson's contract a year ago to give him more money in 2010 and promised to talk to him again a year later. Reinfeldt says they already have talked about the perimeters of this new deal for Johnson and would like to have the running back in camp to learn the offense with a new coach while negotiations are finished. So far, Johnson has stayed away until he gets that new deal.
Analysis: Until Johnson shows up at the Titans' camp, Fantasy owners are going to freak out about drafting him. Here's the smart thing to do: If you spend the first-round pick on Johnson (and why wouldn't you?), make it a point to draft his primary backup, Javon Ringer, in Round 12 or so. That way, in the event that Johnson does not show up anytime soon, you're covered with a replacement that you snagged in the draft late. Then once CJ2K shows up and signs his new deal, Ringer is waiver-wire material. We still recommend taking the elusive Johnson with an early first-round pick in all leagues.
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| 8/9/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Still no CJ at Titans camp
News: The deadline for players under contract to report to training camp to accrue a season toward free agency is Tuesday, but it still didn't motivate Titans RB Chris Johnson to end his holdout. Johnson, who has two years left on his current contract, didn't report to training camp Tuesday and his absence has reached 12 days. The Titans can also fine Johnson $30,000 for each day he misses camp. The team said they are willing to talk about a contract extension, but they won't do it until their star running back reports for camp.
Analysis: In the grand scheme of things, Johnson not getting an accrued season probably doesn't mean a lot if he gets the contract extension he wants. He is set to make $800,000 this season and $2.2 million in 2012, but clearly he is looking for a significant pay raise. This doesn't affect Johnson's Fantasy value right now, but that might change the longer he continues to holdout. Not only does Johnson have to learn a new offense under first-year coach Mike Munchak and work with a new QB in Matt Hasselbeck, but how many times have we seen a player hold out and their risk for injury increase. Continue to monitor this situation, but Johnson is still worth an early first-round draft pick in all Fantasy formats.
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| 8/6/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans willing to compromise with CJ?
News: With star RB Chris Johnson maintaining his holdout, Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt indicated the team could be open to negotiating a new contract without Johnson hitting the practice field, according to The Tennessean. “We’ve asked him to come in. He has a contract,” Reinfeldt said Saturday. “As far as practicing, that’s something we can work out. It’s important to be here and attend the meetings. We’re not asking to put him in harm’s way either. There’s a subtlety there that’s part of it.”
Analysis: Reinfeldt said he sent a letter to Johnson's agent requesting that his client return to training camp, but stated he hasn’t received a response. Johnson began his holdout at the start of training camp and is being fined $30,000 for each day he misses. “They’re just not sure they want to do that at this point in time,” Reinfeldt told The Tennessean. Johnson seems determined to earn more than his scheduled $1 million this season, but the Titans have refused to budge -- yet. Fantasy owners should keep a close eye on the developments as Johnson should again be considered an elite option this year worthy of a selection in the first few picks of upcoming drafts.
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| 7/31/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans want Johnson in camp
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson remained a holdout from Titans training camp on Saturday as he continues to seek a new contract. Reports indicated the star could remain out for as long as it takes to reach a new deal, but Tennessee management said that strategy will not work. "We told Chris and his agent we are willing to sit down and talk about a contract, but he needs to get into camp before we are willing to do that," Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt told The Tennessean. “That is kind of our position. He needs to be here with the rest of the Titans, getting ready to play games. He is a good football player, we have a good relationship with Chris and his agent and we hope that would continue. (But) he is under contact. He should be here; everybody else is. It’s the right way to do it."
Analysis: Johnson, who is under contract through 2012, is scheduled to make $800,000 this season. The 25-year-old has amassed at least 1,200 rushing yards in each of his three NFL years and is one of six players in league history to run for 2,000 yards in a season. He told new coach Mike Munchak that he would report to camp Thursday, but was a no-show. “It is up to us not to allow it to be a distraction," Munchak told told The Tennessean. “Since I’ve had this job already there have been quite a few distractions, so I think we’ve learned how to put those things aside." Johnson's holdout could extend into preseason games, but he remains an elite RB option worthy of a selection within the top three picks of Fantasy drafts.
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| 7/29/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson not coming Friday
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans RB Chris Johnson is not reporting to training camp Friday. He's still in his hometown of Orlando. Johnson is going to make it clear he wants a new contract this season.
Analysis: We'll continue to monitor what happens with Johnson and hope he shows up soon. If he reports for training camp in a timely manner he will remain a Top 3 overall pick on Draft Day in all leagues. But if he's a holdout for a significant amount of time then his value could drop, and his outlook for this season could be in trouble.
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| 7/28/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson wants new deal now
News: The Sports Xchange reports that Titans RB Chris Johnson wants a new deal prior to the start of training camp Friday. Johnson, who rushed for 2.006 yards in 2009, said via Twitter that he has talked about his options with fellow fourth-year veteran DeSean Jackson of the Eagles. Jackson was a no-show as training camp began Thursday. Johnson is scheduled to make $800,000 in base salary in 2011 and the final two years of his contract could pay him a maximum of $2.67 million. Under terms of the new labor agreement, teams can fine veteran holdouts $30,000 per day for missing camp. The Titans' position might have been slightly compromised Wednesday, when the Panthers gave $21 million in guarantees to 28-year-old running back DeAngelo Williams. Johnson has been asked for nearly $30 million in guaranteed money. The Titans last offseason raised his salary of $1.5 million to $2.05 million, but Johnson said at that time he expected the team to address his long-term contract status before 2011.
Analysis: Last year, Johnson ran for 1,364 yards and 11 touchdowns, one year after a 2,006-yard, 14-TD masterpiece. He is an elite RB and a tremendous Fantasy option, and we hope the Titans view him that way as well. Continue to monitor what develops, and hopefully Johnson does not hold out for a lengthy period of time. If he reports for training camp in a timely manner he will remain a Top 3 overall pick on Draft Day in all leagues. But if he's a holdout for a significant amount of time then his value could drop, and his outlook for this season could be in trouble.
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| 7/26/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson ready to hold out
News: NFL Network reports Tuesday that Titans RB Chris Johnson will not report to training camp without a new contract. On Monday, the agent for Johnson, who is set to make $800,000 in base salary this season, told USA Today that his client is due more money. "He's clearly outplayed his rookie contract," Joel Segal, Johnson's agent, said. "So we're hoping for a new contract in the near future as the lockout ends, and we can speak to the clubs. Another call will need to be made. We'll talk to (Titans GM) Mike Reinfeldt and hopefully can explore that situation with Chris. Chris and I have, at length, gone over every possible scenario, and we're prepared."
Analysis: This is terrible news since Johnson enters this season as a No. 1 Fantasy RB in all leagues and is worth drafting as a Top 3 overall selection. We hope his contract status is resolved and shows up on time without missing training camp, but Johnson should still perform at a high level this season. Continue to monitor what develops, and plan on drafting Johnson early on Draft Day as long as a potential hold out does not linger.
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| 6/24/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K might hold out this summer
News: Chris Johnson is owed just $800,000 in 2011, chump change considered what other running backs in the league make. NFL.com reports that Johnson will insist on a new contract or else will hold out of training camp. Johnson threatened such measures last season but ultimately showed up and agreed to a contract restructuring. Now he won't be as nice. According to the report, Johnson is interested in a big deal that guarantees at least $30 million.
Analysis: We know Johnson has been a lights-out performer for Fantasy owners since entering the league, but this contract mess could result in some issues that might make us go in another direction with a first-round pick. Players who hold out of training camp tend to get hurt when they re-enter play (Darrelle Revis is an example from 2010), and players who land huge contracts tend to not play as hard as before (Brandon Marshall is an example from 2010). This isn't to say that Johnson will definitively get hurt or play below expectations -- or both -- in 2011, but a red flag goes up anytime a player is involved in either situation. For now, Johnson is worth a Top-3 pick in drafts, but the longer this contract deal looms, the more concerning it will be.
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| 6/20/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson wants more work, money
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans RB Chris Johnson, despite recent statements from offensive coordinator Chris Palmer and GM Mike Reinfeldt saying he should get less work, wants more carries in 2011 to help rookie QB Jake Locker. “I feel like he can come in and do some good things, but I think at the start I am going to have to take some pressure off of him,” Johnson said Saturday. “In order for him to be more successful, we’re going to have to get the running game going and not have to rely on him so much, and I know that starts with me. I feel like I always put pressure on myself, so I’ll take it.” Whether Johnson shows up for the beginning of training camp with Locker and the rest of his teammates remains to be seen, however. Last year Johnson received a small raise instead of the lucrative deal he was seeking, and insisted he wouldn’t budge this summer without a new contract. His current deal expires in 2012. “My agent will take care of all that,” said Johnson, who’s scheduled to make $800,000 this year. “I am just going to stay in shape and be ready for whatever happens with the contract.”
Analysis: The report stats that Johnson insists he’s the No. 1 back in the NFL. His production the past three seasons — 4,598 yards, 34 TDs — backs up that claim. The closest player to those numbers is Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson (4,441 yards, 40 TDs). We expect Johnson to have another outstanding year in 2011, and we're glad he wants the extra workload. But keep in mind, the Titans did add rookie Jamie Harper in the draft, and Palmer said they might give him work in short-yardage situations. That would cut into Johnson's production. Also, if his contract situation is not worked out, Johnson could end up as a holdout once training camp starts. Still, based on his talent and his expected workload even with losing a couple of carries each week, Johnson should remain an elite Fantasy option. He should be drafted in Round 1 with a Top 3 pick in all formats.
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| 6/17/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to lose touches?
News: The Tennessean reports that new Titans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer plans to monitor RB Chris Johnson's carries in 2011 since he’s carried the ball 674 times over the past two seasons, more than any other back in the NFL during that time. "It’s something we’ll have to look at," Palmer said. "The good thing is Mike Munchak has been with him for a while and knows him pretty good. We’ve talked about different personnel groups, and some of those personnel groups would have Chris out. How much we’re going to use those during the season, only time will tell. But Chris Johnson is one of our playmakers and we’d like to get as much out of him as we could.” Palmer indicated that Johnson could lose touches in short-yardage situations. He mentioned using rookie Jamie Harper, the 5-11, 233-pound power back out of Clemson. “He’s 233 pounds and we should be able to plow it up in there pretty good,” Palmer said. “(But) just watching Chris run, when he’s not on the field, I think we’re hurting ourselves. Anytime he touches the ball, he has the ability to go the distance. He’s an elusive running back. Once I get (Johnson) here and we get a chance to visit with him, we’ll talk about his workload and see how he holds up, I think we’ll have a better feel for that. But we’ll definitely be adding a big back in certain situations.”
Analysis: This is the second time this offseason the Titans have mentioned lowering the workload for Johnson. In May, Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt indicated that Johnson could lose some carries to either Javon Ringer or Harper. "I think in a perfect world, we’d like to have that second back carry six to eight times a game, and that would either be (Ringer) … or (Harper), that we drafted,” Reinfeldt said. Now, we don't expect Johnson to come off the field much, but Palmer's suggestion of losing some short-yardage work could take away some potential touchdowns. Still, with Johnson likely to see around 20-plus touches a game and be a factor in the passing game, he remains an elite Fantasy option. He should still be considered a Top 3 overall pick in all leagues on Draft Day.
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| 6/9/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K works out, not thinking money
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson said he had no problem showing up for a players-only workout in Tennessee this week, and would have shown up had the workout been a team-mandated OTA. That's a change from last season when Johnson didn't show up until he earned a contract revision that paid him more money. Johnson does believe he'll get a new contract soon, but in the meantime, he's all about the team. "I didn’t come out here to prove a point or anything like that," Johnson told The Tennessean. "I'm really not worried about (a new contract) right now to be honest. That's not on my mind. At the time my mind is being in shape and being ready with the lockout is over with. I want to get better, and get the team better as a whole — we haven't been to the playoffs in two years."
Analysis: Johnson added that he expects rookie Jake Locker to be the team's starting QB in 2011 and liked what he saw from the quarterback during workouts. Fantasy owners love what they see from Johnson when he's on the field and as such are counting on him as a No. 1 Fantasy rusher in 2011. We like his schedule, his O-line and the fact that the Titans will lean fairly heavily on him in not only the run game but the pass attack too under new offensive coordinator Chris Palmer. You can count on Johnson being a Top-3 pick in all drafts this summer.
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| 5/9/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to lose carries?
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt indicated that starting RB Chris Johnson could lose some carries in 2011 to either Javon Ringer or rookie Jamie Harper. In a a conference call, Reinfeldt was asked about the status of Ringer heading into 2011, and his answer said more about Johnson than his backups. "I think in a perfect world, we’d like to have that second back carry six to eight times a game, and that would either be (Ringer) … or (Harper), that we drafted,” Reinfeldt said.
Analysis: Now, before Fantasy owners get nervous over Johnson losing carries, he's still going to be a workhorse and possibly see an increase in the passing game, which new coach Mike Munchak indicated recently. In 2010, Johnson had 316 carries for 1,364 yards and 11 touchdowns and 44 catches for 245 yards and one touchdown. That's 20 carries a game for Johnson and three catches. By comparison, Ringer had just three carries a game in 2010. The Titans might want to take the load off Johnson a little to keep him fresh, and they might like what Harper brings to the table as a backup or could want to increase the workload for Ringer. Either way, Johnson losing six to eight carries a game would be significant, but not enough to cause concern over his draft stock. He's still worth taking as a Top 3 selection on Draft Day, and until we actually see him losing touches, we wouldn't hit the panic button.
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| 4/20/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to be more involved
News: According to ESPN.com, new Titans coach Mike Munchak said his offensive game plan would be simple: Get the ball to RB Chris Johnson. “We have to keep looking at ways to get him the ball,” Munchak said. That includes making Johnson a bigger part of the passing game. “Any way we can get [Johnson] the ball, it doesn’t have to be handed to him,” Munchak said. “Hand it to him, pitch it to him, throw it to him -- I think we’ve done a good job of that. He’s made a big impact on the running and passing games. Defenses do a great job of trying to take those passes away. We work screens quite a bit; it’s just a matter of getting them called in games. Last year, we were one of the worst teams in time of possession. We have to find ways to stay out there, which allows us to run more plays. And I think you’ll see more plays to Chris where if you need a screen, all it is is a run. You can run those on first down, it doesn’t have to be third down. You can run those on any down. They are something that just gets him going around the edges.”
Analysis: Johnson will enter 2011 as an elite Fantasy option in all leagues, and it's a good sign the Titans plan to get the ball as often as possible. He's a definite first-round pick in all formats, and Johnson should be drafted no later than No. 3 overall. Look for Johnson to have another big year in 2011, and we like what the Titans are saying about his outlook for this year.
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| 2/18/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson likely to run wild
News: During his introductory press conference Friday, new Tennessee offensive coordinator Chris Palmer made his intentions clear for the upcoming season: the Titans will run the ball. Palmer added his offense will be designed to fit the team's personnel, most notably superstar RB Chris Johnson. "Obviously, the running back (Johnson) is special," he said. “Give the players the best chance to do things (is my philosophy). Giving C.J. the ball -- you can say that’s conservative, but I think that can be explosive also. We like to run the football, we like to play-action, and we like to stretch the field."
Analysis: Palmer said ideally the offense will run a minimum of 65 plays, with 35 runs and 30 passes. That will certainly suit Johnson as he attempts to surpass 1,200 yards for the fourth consecutive year. Given his credentials with previous rushing attacks in Jacksonville and Houston, Palmer won't shy away from giving Johnson the ball often in 2011. The 25-year-old speedster has carried the ball at least 250 times in each of his three NFL seasons and will likely reach that mark again. Palmer calling the shots only adds to Johnson's value and he remains a solid No. 1 Fantasy RB. He will likely be selected in the first five picks of 2011 drafts.
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| 2/15/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K's new OC is Palmer
News: Titans head coach Mike Munchak has filled his second coordinator job by hiring Chris Palmer, a former head coach with the Cleveland Browns who spent last season coaching in the UFL. In a statement, Munchak specifically mentioned that Palmer's expertise with young quarterbacks (like Eli Manning) helped him get the opportunity. Palmer has also had success with running backs, going back to his days in Jacksonville with a young Fred Taylor and in Houston with Domanick Williams. Even his Hartford Colonials of the UFL led the league in rushing in 2010. This bodes well for Titans RB Chris Johnson, who is clearly the most solid part of the team's offense.
Analysis: We suspect that Palmer will put Johnson on "cruise control" and spend his time focused on bringing up a new young quarterback in Tennessee in 2011. That said, we doubt Palmer will spend many weeks not utilizing his stud running back. In fact, we could finally see that uptick in receptions we waited nearly all of 2010 for from Johnson as Palmer should identify him as a quality receiving option (just like Taylor and Williams were in previous stops). Johnson remains a solid first-round Fantasy option as a No. 1 Fantasy RB. He'll likely end up going between second and fifth overall in drafts.
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| 2/8/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
New OC coming for Titans' Johnson
News: Titans coach Mike Munchak has fired offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger as he starts to remake his coaching staff a day after taking over the top job. Heimerdinger, who is continuing cancer treatment after diagnosed in November, confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that he had been fired. This means the Titans will hire a new offensive coordinator, who will likely take one look at Chris Johnson and realize that the offense has to focus around him. Johnson had strong numbers again in 2010 but had several games with limited reps for unexplained reasons and saw his receiving yardage dip from 503 in 2009 to 245 in 2010.
Analysis: We suspect that the Titans will continue to put up a ground-oriented offense in 2011 for obvious reasons: Johnson is explosive, the offensive line has good talent (and very good coaching) and the quarterback, whoever it will be, will be less than ideal. Johnson totaled just over 1,600 yards with 12 total touchdowns in 2010 and should get close to those numbers again in 2011. Only a moronic offensive coordinator would come to Tennessee and not use Johnson, so continue to view him as a Top 5 Fantasy option.
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| 1/26/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson talking 2,500 yards again
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans RB Chris Johnson, who ran for 1,364 yards in 2010 after he set a goal of 2,500 yards, is making bold predictions again. Johnson said Wednesday he has the same goal for 2011 -- 2,500 rushing yards. “I want to win more, but I still have the same goals. I want to go for 2,500. … It is very realistic," Johnson said. "I had a good season last year. I know a lot of people said I didn’t have a good year, but I did. When you put the stats up there, I had a good year. Some people say I had a bad year, but I set my standards so high people expect that.’’ Johnson’s total of 1,364 yards was fourth in the league. Arian Foster of the Texans won the rushing title with 1,616 yards. Johnson led the NFL with 2,006 rushing yards in 2009. He also added 11 rushing touchdowns and had 44 catches for 245 yards and one touchdown with two lost fumbles.
Analysis: It appears like Johnson won't be satisfied until he gets 2,500 rushing yards, and neither will Fantasy owners. Even if he falls short of his goal again, he should post outstanding totals in 2011. We consider Johnson an elite Fantasy option, and he's easily a Top 5 pick in all leagues. Plan on drafting Johnson in the first round and hope for at least another 1,500 total yard season with 12 touchdowns. If that's a down year, most Fantasy owners will take that any time.
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| 1/2/2011 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ starts slow, but finds end zone late
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson had just 12 total yards -- 5 rushing -- in the first half of the Week 17 game against the Colts. He picked up the slack in the second half, and was able to finish the day with 90 total yards, including 39 on the ground on 20 attempts. Johnson was a better receiver on the day, and that was the source of his 15 yard touchdown from QB Kerry Collins on a check down in the third quarter. Despite the sub-par afternoon, CJ surpassed LaDainian Tomlinson (4,564) for fourth among players with the most rushing yards in the first three seasons of their NFL career (Eric Dickerson is first with 5,147).
Analysis: Johnson was never able to find space in the running game on Sunday, but he did all he could by breaking several tackles behind the line of scrimmage. In the second half, the Titans wised-up and tried to utilize him in space, and he found much better success even though the Colts knew the ball was headed his way with Kenny Britt (groin) injured. Johnson's 2010 campaign was not the record-breaking season he thought it would be, but he still finished the season as the NFL's No. 4 rusher. Heading into 2011, he should still be considered near the top of Fantasy drafts.
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| 12/31/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson seeks mark
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson will be chasing a prestigious record in the Titans' Week 17 game against Indianapolis. Johnson needs needs six yards in Sunday's game to surpass LaDainian Tomlinson (4,564) for fourth among players with the most rushing yards in the first three seasons of their NFL career (Eric Dickerson is first with 5,147). Johnson, who has 4,559 total yards, will be aiming for the mark while attempting to reach 100-plus rushing yards in a game for the 25th time in his already sterling career. Johnson has heated up in the final quarter of the season, posting 299 yards and two touchdowns on 60 carries in his last three weeks. "I wouldn't say it was a season like last year, but I still feel like I had a good year," he said Wednesday. "Anybody else who was No. 3 in the league in rushing, they'd be getting a lot of praise right now."
Analysis: Johnson would also like to take out his frustrations from being snubbed of a Pro Bowl selection (though he is an alternate) against the Colts on Sunday. He has totaled 1,325 rushing yards on 296 carries this season but has fallen short of his lofty preseason proclamation about gaining 2,500 yards. “When I rushed for 2,000 yards (last season) I put a target on my back," he said. "No matter whether I said that or not it still would have been the same way.” He has scored 11 touchdowns this season, including two in his last three games, and faces an Indianapolis defense that has surrendered 12 scores to running backs this season, tied for ninth-most in the league. The Colts are allowing an average of 21.3 Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, and yielded 23.9 points to Johnson in the teams' first meeting. Johnson, who carved up Indianapolis for 111 yards in Week 14, should be considered an elite Fantasy option in Week 17.
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| 12/26/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans fall behind, Johnson does little
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson had one of his least productive games of the season in Week 16 at Kansas City. He gained just 48 yards on 14 carries in a game his team lost 34-14. Johnson did not catch a single pass for just thes econd time all season.
Analysis: Johnson was done in by a big first-half deficit. The Titans fell behind big early and had to abandon the run for the most part as a result. Johnson averaged 4.1 yards per carry and did well with the carries he did see, but there just weren't many carries available after his team fell behind. Johnson has seen fewer carries in just two other games all season. Johnson was coming off a pair of big games and remains one of the better all-around backs in the NFL, so if his Week 16 dud didn't do you in and you are still alive in Week 17 you will still want to have him in there in any format. He will play against a Colts team that he rushed for 111 yards against in Week 14, including a touchdown and 68 receiving yards.
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| 12/23/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson returns to form
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson is starting to look like an elite Fantasy option again after his past two games. He has 42 Fantasy points in his past two games against Indianapolis and Houston, and he's making up for lost time after a combined 36 Fantasy points in his previous four games. He's hoping to stay hot in Sunday's game at Kansas City in Week 16. “Every defensive coordinator is trying to stop me,” Johnson said in the Kansas City Star. “Of course it’s going to be hard to do what I did last year. I wouldn’t say I’m having a bad year at all. If you look at me, I’m still up there (near) the top.” Coach Jeff Fisher likes what he's seen from Johnson recently. “He’s still the same back,” Fisher said. “Our difficulties stem from the uncertainty at the quarterback position with the injuries and such. Teams are going to do whatever they can to shut down the running game. We were unable to effectively put the ball down the field for a number of weeks. We’re getting back to that now. His numbers are starting to improve. He’s still been effective."
Analysis: Johnson should do well in this matchup with the Chiefs even though they are No. 13 in run defense with only nine touchdowns allowed. In 2008 at Kansas City, Johnson had 18 carries for 168 yards and a touchdown, and with the way he's playing now, he should remain hot. Consider Johnson a No. 1 Fantasy option in all leagues.
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| 12/19/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson sticks it to Houston
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson, who ran for a career-low 5 yards on seven carries when he last faced the Texans in Week 12, looked like a different player against them in Week 15. He got off to a slow start, rushing for 1 yard on his first five carries, but came to life on the team's second drive of the game, capping it with an 11-yard touchdown run. By the end of the third quarter, he was in top form, sprinting 42 yards on his longest run of the afternoon to set up a 7-yard touchdown run for teammate Javon Ringer. Johnson finished with 130 yards, reaching that number for the fourth time this season, on 24 carries. He also had a 7-yard catch.
Analysis: Johnson topped 100 yards for the eighth time in 14 games. He may not be quite as dominant as he was last season, but he's still as consistent as you could hope for in Fantasy. He now has a touchdown in two straight games, bouncing back from a three-game scoring drought, so he's clearly trending in the right direction as you head into what might be your league's championship game. His matchup at Kansas City in Week 16 isn't anything that should keep you from using as a No. 1 Fantasy RB.
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| 12/16/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson has chance for revenge
News: The matchup Week 15 against the Texans doesn't seem like a particularly tough one for Titans RB Chris Johnson, but when the two teams met in Week 12, the Titans limited Johnson to a career-low 5 yards on seven carries. Of course, that was when the Titans were starting rookie Rusty Smith at quarterback, giving them no threat of a passing game. They've been able to move the ball better in recent weeks with veteran Kerry Collins back under center. Johnson ran for 111 against the Colts last week and will be plenty motivated to stick it to the Texans in the rematch.
Analysis: The Texans actually rank sixth against the run, allowing 98.5 yards per game, but that's partially because they rank dead last against the pass, allowing 279.9 yards per game. The Titans are a run-heavy team, so you have to think they won't stray from Johnson too much. Now that the Titans actually have a viable passing attack, Johnson should be able to find more running room than he did in Week 12. He's the kind of running back you start regardless of matchups, especially now that the Titans offense seems to be back on track.
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| 12/15/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson seeks revenge vs. Texans
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson had only seven carries for 5 yards in the first meeting with the Texans last month, and the two teams again meet in Week 15. No one is expecting a repeat of that sub-par scenario, including the RB himself. “This time around we’re gonna get more into our offense and really run the ball and stay on the field more,” Johnson said. He looked good last week against the Colts, rushing for 111 yards -- including a touchdown -- and racking up 68 yards in receiving.
Analysis: Johnson is not the Fantasy gem he was in 2009, but he's still sixth in the league in rushing and remains a top-10 Fantasy threat. The Texans defense ranks just 21st against the run, although they limited Johnson when the team's met last month. Still, a normal CJ2K is a solid option, a motivated one should be considered a must-start Fantasy option.
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| 12/10/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson back on track
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson was disgruntled with the offensive game plan after receiving 20 carries in the two games preceding the Week 14 matchup against the Colts. The coaching staff responded with a Johnson-heavy scheme Thursday night, that allowed the speedster to finish with 179 total yards, 111 on the ground. Johnson carried the ball 22 times and hauled in a season-best eight passes for 68 yards, also a season-high. He was able to find the end zone on a 1-yard run, scoring for the first time since the Week 10 game against the Dolphins.
Analysis: Johnson got the ball throughout the course of the game, and ended up leading the team in both rushing and receiving showcasing his speed, vision and agility that we expected him to show all year. The 30 touches he finished with were the second most he's had all-season, he got 34 touches against the Giants back in Week 3. Johnson's outing surely provided a collective sigh of relief for the Fantasy owners of this year's consensus No. 1 Fantasy pick. The bonus was in leagues who began the playoffs in Week 14. In Week 15, Johnson will look for for another big night against the Texans, who limited him to just 7 total yards (5 rushing) when the teams met last month. We expect Johnson to play with somewhat of a chip on his shoulder and rebound nicely against the division rival Texans. Consider him to be a No. 1 Fantasy RB heading into that matchup, especially with nine days in between games.
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| 12/8/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K: Give me more reps
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson spoke out against his team's playcalling over the last two weeks and expressed interest in getting more reps. Johnson has 20 carries and four catches over his last two games, both humiliating losses by the Titans, who haven't scored a touchdown in 11 quarters. Johnson himself hasn't scored since Week 10 at Miami. "We are just not running it," Johnson told The Tennessean on Tuesday. "It is easy for a defensive coordinator to stop the run when you are running the ball seven times. We need to stay on the field and execute plays. ... It is tough to deal with. But the frustration that comes is not the team stopping the run game, it is ourselves stopping us."
Analysis: Other Titans players told the paper that there are additional issues, namely not all of the blockers doing their part on running plays. Why Johnson isn't getting lots of reps, especially against bad run defenses, is puzzling. This week he'll take on a Colts defense that has allowed four touchdowns and 475 rush yards to running backs over their last three games. Johnson had 113 yards in his last meeting against the Colts and should thrash them on Thursday night. Sitting Johnson in Fantasy doesn't make sense unless you have another elite option with just as good of a matchup on your roster. Hopefully the Titans' coaches will do the right thing and get their stud rusher involved against Indianapolis.
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| 12/5/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson a mess once more
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson ran 13 times for 53 yards and caught two passes for 14 yards in a Week 13 loss to the Jaguars. He has now been held under 70 yards rushing in four of his last six outings.
Analysis: After putting up seven total yards in Week 12, Fantasy owners had to be expecting a bounce-back outing from Johnson in Week 13 against a very average Jacksonville defense, but it just wasn't to be as QB Kerry Collins struggled with his accuracy, allowing the Jags to keep more of an eye on Johnson. For a No. 1 pick, Johnson hasn't lived up to expectations this season, especially with his inconsistent play over the last month and a half. In Week 14, Tennessee will host the Colts, who, like Jacksonville, aren't great against the run. While owners might find it painful to leave Johnson in their lineup, you just have to suck it up and do it, because you never know when he will go off for 150 and a pair of scores.
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| 12/1/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K seeking redemption
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson will try to redeem himself in Week 13 vs. Jacksonville after putting up the worst stats of his career in a Week 12 loss to Houston. Johnson managed just 5 yards on seven carries and 2 yards on two catches against the Texans. “I’m very disappointed,” Johnson said. “One of my goals is to be the best running back in the league and things like that. When you don’t have the opportunity to showcase the things you want to do, it can be very frustrating, and it makes it more frustrating that we lost. f that happened in a win, you’re not going to be as frustrated. But to have zero points and not be able to run the ball is frustrating.” The Jaguars have allowed Fantasy running back to average 19.6 points a game against them this season, and Johnson averages 115.8 rushing yards a game vs. Jacksonville in his career.
Analysis: Johnson's owners were spitting mad after his awful outing last week at such a critical time in the season. While Johnson ranks in the top five among RBs in standard Fantasy leagues, he hasn't been anything close to the 2,000-yard guy he was in 2009. The Jaguars aren't great defensively, so he could well do some solid work on Sunday at home and remains worth using in all Fantasy formats, especially as he ran for 111 yards and a touchdown earlier this season in Jacksonville.
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| 11/28/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson posts worst stats of career
News: When you start Chris Johnson in Fantasy Football, you expect a good effort weekly. You certainly don't expect this: Five yards on seven carries and 2 yards on two catches. That's what Johnson totaled in an ugly Week 12 Titans loss at Houston. Johnson never even got the chance to get going and at one point in the first half was on the bench, helmet on his head, waiting to play. Javon Ringer led the Titans with 27 rush yards on four carries. Johnson had little explanation as to why the Texans were able to hold him as they did. "I'm not sure," he said. "I just have to watch the film. We weren't able to run the ball (and) couldn't stay on the field."
Analysis: This is Johnson's worst effort since a 22-total-yard game at Chicago as a rookie, but at least he delivered a Fantasy point there! Here, he was worth a cool zero points against the league's 16th-ranked rush defense. The production couldn't come at a worse time as owners are making their playoff runs, though some owners would say it's coming at the best time because they're playing against Johnson. Regardless, he needed more opportunities in this game, and once the Titans got behind they wound up throwing with rookie QB Rusty Smith. Next week the Titans host the Jaguars, a favorable matchup for Johnson. It'll be hard to bench him assuming he's healthy.
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| 11/23/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson owned Houston last year
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson heads into Week 12 at Houston as one of the most consistent running backs in the NFL this season. He remains in the top five in terms of Fantasy points after rushing for 130 yards, his sixth game over the century mark, week 11 against Washington. Johnson has averaged 123.5 rushing yards in his last two games and has nine touchdowns for the year. Johnson did well against the Texans last year. In two games, Johnson averaged 174 rushing yards and a touchdown against Houston on just 22.5 carries per game. He also caught nine passes against them for 87 yards and another score.
Analysis: Johnson pretty much owned every team last season but he beat up the Texans even more than usual with 435 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in two games. He will try to go for three games in a row over the century mark in Week 12 and we believe he'll be able to do it against a defense that gives up a decent amount of Fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 100 yards and two scores against them Week 10. Johnson is very much a No. 1 Fantasy RB for the Week 12 game.
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| 11/21/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson nets 130 rushing yards
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson topped the century mark for the sixth time this season in Week 11 during an overtime loss to the Redskins. Johnson rushed for 130 yards on 21 carries in the game but did not score a touchdown in the 19-16 loss. Johnson added two catches for 6 yards.
Analysis: Johnson has averaged 123.5 rushing yards in his last two games and has nine touchdowns for the season. He remains one of the best Fantasy RBs in football and that will continue Week 12 at Houston. Johnson should be considered a No. 1 Fantasy RB for Week 12.
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| 11/18/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to keep doing his thing
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson heads into Week 11 against Washington having topped 100 yards, the fifth time this year he's done that, and scored a touchdown against the Dolphins the week prior. He's scored in consecutive weeks and has nine touchdowns on the season. Johnson, who has never faced the Redskins, leads the NFL since 2009 with 113.8 rushing yards per game and ranks second with 23 rushing touchdowns.
Analysis: Johnson should have no problem doing his thing in Week 11 against the Redskins. Washington is middle of the pack at limiting opposing running backs. Just last week against the Eagles, Washington allowed Jerome Harrison to rush for over 100 yards on just 11 touches. We wouldn't bet against Johnson in almost any week and Week 11 is certainly not the time to start. He's a must-start.
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| 11/14/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson does his thing in Miami
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson ran 17 times for 117 yards and a touchdown in a Week 10 loss at Miami. He also caught a seven-yard pass but had just five carries in the second half.
Analysis: Johnson had 74 yards at the half, but he slowed down in the final 30 minutes as the Titans were forced to go to the air in order to try and cut into a two-touchdown deficit. Still, Johnson managed to put up solid No. 1 Fantasy RB numbers despite the QB issues and pretty stiff Miami run defense. In Week 11, Tennessee hosts the Redskins, who are average vs. the ground game. Continue to start Johnson in all Fantasy formats.
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| 11/14/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K fine for Week 10
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson, who was listed as probable with a thigh injury for Week 10 at Miami, is good to go and will start as usual. Johnson has had a bye week to rest up his sore thigh, and he also will have new addition Randy Moss on the field.
Analysis: Johnson and the Titans' run game pales when compared to last year. The Titans rank 10th in the NFL, averaging 123 yards. It's a big drop from second a year ago when Johnson ran for 2,006 yards as just the sixth man in NFL history to reach that mark. His preseason boast that he still wanted to top Eric Dickerson's league rushing mark of 2,105 yards and run to 2,500 simply made him an even bigger target. Still, Johnson is the fourth-highest scoring RB in Fantasy, so he is living up to his No. 1 ranking for Fantasy owners. Johnson remains a must-start Fantasy RB heading into Week 10 against a solid Dolphins defense that has allowed just one 100-yard rushing game and three ground touchdowns this season.
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| 11/9/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ excited about Moss' arrival
News: Chris Johnson isn't close to being on pace for his stated goal of 2,500 yards rushing this season nor the 2,000 yards he had last season. The Tennessee running back, hampered by a sore thigh the past month, said he's really not focused on that 2,500-yard goal right now. He's still the NFL's fifth-leading rusher with 721 yards, which hasn't been easy with opponents worried about stopping him at all costs. "We're 5-3 and winning," Johnson said. "We're not having a losing season. I can't really come in here very frustrated. I know we could be way better than we are in the run game. I know we still have time to fix this. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we'll be OK." Now Johnson has had a bye week to rest up his sore thigh, and he also will have new addition Randy Moss on the field when the Titans visit Miami (4-4) in Week 10. Johnson believes Moss will help, seeing the receiver as the playmaker to help him find more room to run. "I know for a fact they can't put all those guys in the box with that guy out there," Johnson said.
Analysis: Johnson and the Titans' run game pales when compared to last year. The Titans rank 10th in the NFL, averaging 123 yards. It's a big drop from second a year ago when Johnson ran for 2,006 yards as just the sixth man in NFL history to reach that mark. His preseason boast that he still wanted to top Eric Dickerson's league rushing mark of 2,105 yards and run to 2,500 simply made him an even bigger target. Still, Johnson is the fourth-highest scoring RB in Fantasy, so he is living up to his No. 1 ranking for Fantasy owners. Johnson remains a must-start Fantasy RB heading into Week 10 against a solid Dolphins defense that has allowed just one 100-yard rushing game and three ground touchdowns this season.
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| 11/3/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson's best yet to come?
News: Chris Johnson's been used to seeing defenses key in on him. That could start to change a little bit now that the Titans have claimed WR Randy Moss off waivers from the Vikings. With Moss joining the team, defenses will have to pay attention to him, too. That means fewer safeties playing in the box, and it could mean more exciting highlight-reel runs for Johnson, who is already averaging 4.1 yards per carry with eight rushing touchdowns. Johnson sat out practice Wednesday with a thigh injury not believed to be serious, but the Titans are off in Week 9, so he should be OK for Week 10 at Miami.
Analysis: The Titans just became a very dangerous offensive team, and Johnson should easily maintain his role as a 20-touch rusher. If there's a negative, it's that Johnson might lose some red-zone touchdowns to Moss. But with matchups remaining that include two games against the Texans, two games against the Colts and a game against the Jaguars left on the schedule. Obviously, Johnson is a must-start so long as he's healthy, but owners who are counting on him should also add Javon Ringer to rosters just in case the Titans end up needing CJ2K's backup during the season. He's a must-add Fantasy insurance policy to go with Johnson.
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| 11/3/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K skips Wed. session again
News: For the second straight week, Titans RB Chris Johnson sat out practice Wednesday. Tennessee. The Titans are off in Week 9.
Analysis: Johnson has been dealing with a thigh injury lately, although he didn't show too many signs of it in a Week 8 loss to the Chargers. The 25-year-old has 721 yards rushing through the first eight games, and should be fine for Week 10 against the Dolphins, who have the 12th ranked run defense in the league. Continue to view Johnson as a No. 1 Fantasy RB in all formats.
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| 10/31/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
TD run salvages C. Johnson's week
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson could not find much room to run in Week 8 against the Chargers, except on one play. In the second quarter Johnson took the ball off tackle but quickly reversed field after not finding an opening and took the ball 29 yards for his only touchdown of the game. Aside from that though, the 2009 rushing champ could not get much going. He finished with 15 carries for 59 yards in the 33-25 loss. Johnson also caught five passes for 24 yards but he dropped a pass on fourth-and-2 with 30 seconds to go. "It was just a dropped ball, that's about it, a play I was supposed to make," Johnson said. "I make it nine out of 10 times but it was just a dropped ball."
Analysis: Johnson, who entered the game with a minor thigh injury, has now gone back-to-back games without going over 100 yards rushing but he also scored his eighth touchdown of the year in Week 8. Tennessee did not run the ball as often as Fantasy owners would have liked to see on Sunday but San Diego's No. 1 ranked run defense did a solid job of slowing down Johnson. The 25-year-old has 721 yards rushing through the first eight games but would have to make a serious push to reach the 2,000 yards he posted a year ago. With the Titans on a bye next week, Johnson will have to wait until Week 10 against the Dolphins to get his stats up. Miami entered Sunday with the 12th ranked run defense in the league. Continue to view Johnson as a No. 1 Fantasy RB in all formats.
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| 10/31/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson active for Titans
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson was listed as active for Week 8 against the Chargers after missing a day of practice with a thigh injury earlier in the week. San Diego ranks fourth in the league against the run, giving up an average of only 85.7 yards per games, but have been able to limit opposing running backs to just 13.14 Fantasy points per outing.
Analysis: Johnson was good to go for Week 8 but will have his work cut out for him as the Chargers have been one of the better defensive units in the NFL this season. He had a slow performance against the Eagles last week but some of that could have been attributed to his thigh injury. Johnson is third in the league in rushing with 662 yards through the first seven games and looks well on his way to third consecutive 1,200-yard campaign. Despite the matchup, continue to view Johnson as a No. 1 Fantasy RB and a must-start for Week 8 against San Diego.
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| 10/28/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson ready to run vs. Chargers
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson will face off against a stout Chargers defense in Week 8 that has not given up much on the ground this season. San Diego ranks fourth in the league against the run, giving up an average of only 85.7 yards per games. Also, the Chargers have been able to limit opposing running backs to just 13.14 Fantasy points per outing. Johnson, who was able to practice in full on Thursday after sitting out the day before with a thigh injury, carried the ball 21 times for 142 yards and a touchdown in one career game against San Diego.
Analysis: Johnson appears to be good to go for Week 8 but will have his work out out for him as the Chargers have been one of the better defensive units in the NFL this season. He had a slow performance against the Eagles last week but some of that could have been attributed to his thigh injury. Johnson is third in the league in rushing with 662 yards through the first seven games and looks well on his way to third consecutive 1,200-yard campaign. Despite the matchup, continue to view Johnson as a No. 1 Fantasy RB and a must-start for Week 8 against San Diego.
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| 10/27/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ sits out practice for Titans
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson, who has been nursing a thigh injury, sat out practice Wednesday. Johnson has been bothered by the injury for the past two weeks, but he has been able to play. In Week 7 against the Eagles, Johnson was held to just 66 yards on 24 carries. He faces the Chargers in Week 8 at San Diego.
Analysis: Johnson is expected to play in Week 8 against the Chargers, who come into this game at No. 3 in run defense at 86 yards per game with four rushing touchdowns allowed. The thigh injury could be a reason for Johnson's struggles against the Eagles, but he's too talented to bench in any format. Keep him active against the Chargers and hope he gets back to posting his usual stellar stat lines.
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| 10/24/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson limited by Eagles D
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson was held to just 66 yards on 24 carries in Week 7 against the Eagles. He was held under three yards per carry for just the third time this season. He added two catches for seven yards and his longest run from scrimmage was just 12 yards on an afternoon where the Eagles focused almost all of their defensive attention on stopping him. Meanwhile, WR Kenny Britt had a career day going for 225 yards and three scores.
Analysis: It was pretty clear the Philadelphia game plan coming in was to keep Johnson from beating them and they continually stacked eight men near the line of scrimmage as a result. It was a smart game plan considering the lack of a vertical threat Tennessee had displayed in their passing game all year prior to this game, but it wound up coming back to haunt them as Philadelphia was burned deep on several occasions by a one-man receiving corps in Britt. Johnson has three stinkers like this now on the season with the previous two coming against the Steelers in Week 2 and the Broncos in Week 4. Interestingly enough all three of his sub-100 yard performances have come at home while he has rushed for no less than 111 yards on the road. Despite the weak output in Week 7, there is absolutely no doubt Johnson should remain active in all formats for Week 8 at San Diego.
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| 10/24/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson active, as expected
News: It comes as no surprise, but Titans RB Chris Johnson (thigh) was activated for Week 7 against the Eagles. He had been listed as probable on the injury report and was always expected to play.
Analysis: Johnson could be looking at another huge game at home against an Eagles defense that has struggled against the run this season. The Eagles rank 22nd in the NFL against the run, giving up 115.7 yards per game. They have allowed four rushing touchdowns in six games. Johnson has scored seven touchdowns in as many games, rushing for 110-plus yards four times this season. He is not a running back who is subject to matchup-based starting, but this particular matchup seems appetizing.
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| 10/21/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson facing weak Run D
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson (thigh) practiced in full on Thursday after being placed on the injury report Wednesday as probable. He had been limited on the first day of practice, but is expected to play in Week 7. He could be looking at another huge game at home against an Eagles defense that has struggled against the run this season. The Eagles rank 22nd in the NFL against the run, giving up 115.7 yards per game. They have allowed four rushing touchdowns in six games. Johnson has scored seven touchdowns in as many games, rushing for 110-plus yards four times this season.
Analysis: Johnson is not a running back who is subject to matchup-based starting, but this particular matchup seems appetizing. The league leader in carries should see plenty of work against a defense that has been poor against the run this season, which should make for yet another big afternoon. Continue to start him in all formats. The thigh injury is not expected to limit him any in Week 7 and is not a major concern.
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| 10/20/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson back on injury report
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson is back on the injury report with a thigh injury for Week 7 against the Eagles. Johnson was limited in practice Wednesday. He had the same problem leading up to Week 6 against the Jaguars, but he played and rushed for 111 yards. “He kind of does it all and I would have loved to have him in our system, and I’m sure Coach (Mike) Heimerdinger (the offensive coordinator) is loving having him in his system," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He’s a phenomenal player.”
Analysis: Johnson has had only two bad games in 2010. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in four games and has seven rushing touchdowns. He is pretty much living up to the billing for Fantasy owners. The only time you don't start Johnson is when he is officially ruled out. Keep him active for Week 7 unless you hear word he suffers a setback.
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| 10/19/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Late score saves Johnson's week
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson could not get much going early on in Week 6 against the Jaguars but made up for it with a late score. Jacksonville stacked the box and held Johnson relatively quiet for the first three quarters but finally gave up some big plays towards the end of the game. With the game all ready in hand, the 25-year-old broke off a 35-yard touchdown run with four minutes. Johnson carried the ball 26 times for 111 yards and the lone touchdown in the 30-3 win. "I want them yards. It don't matter when you look at the stats," he said. "When you look at 2,000 yards, you don't say, 'He got all those yards late in the game.'" Johnson also caught two passes for 20 yards in the victory.
Analysis: Johnson has always had great success against the Jaguars in his career and continued that trend in Week 6. It did not look good in the beginning but he was able to pick up some serious yards in garbage time as Jacksonville was completely dominated in the game. Johnson, who entered Monday night with a minor thigh injury, took a couple series off during the game but it was not anything Fantasy owners should be worried about. He has run for 596 yards and seven touchdowns through the first six games this season and remains a must-start in all formats for Week 7 against the Eagles.
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| 10/18/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson officially ruled active
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson has officially been ruled active for Week 6 at Jacksonville. Johnson landed on the injury report this week with a sore thigh, but was able to practice on Friday.
Analysis: Johnson will speed toward a Jaguars defense that ranks 14th in the league against the run, giving up an average of 102.8 yards per game through the first five weeks. In four career games against the Jaguars, Johnson has carried the ball 72 times for 468 yards with two touchdowns. Johnson should be 100 percent for the game and should be starting as a No. 1 Fantasy RB.
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| 10/16/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson ready for Monday night
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson (thigh) continues to be on track to start Week 6 at Jacksonville on Monday night. Johnson was officially listed as probable for the game on Saturday.
Analysis: Johnson will speed toward a Jaguars defense that ranks 14th in the league against the run, giving up an average of 102.8 yards per game through the first five weeks. In four career games against the Jaguars, Johnson has carried the ball 72 times for 468 yards with two touchdowns. Johnson should be 100 percent for the game and should be starting as a No. 1 Fantasy RB.
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| 10/15/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ2K is A-OK on Friday
News: Rest easy, Fantasy fans: Titans RB Chris Johnson practiced on Friday and is expected to play against the Jaguars on Monday night. He took Thursday to rest a sore thigh. Johnson will speed toward a Jaguars defense that ranks 14th in the league against the run, giving up an average of 102.8 yards per game through the first five weeks. In four career games against the Jaguars, Johnson has carried the ball 72 times for 468 yards with two touchdowns.
Analysis: While we'll keep tabs on Johnson's status on Saturday, we fully expect him to play against the Jaguars on Monday. Feel good about starting him as a No. 1 Fantasy RB in Week 6.
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| 10/14/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson skips practice Thurs.
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson skipped practice Thursday with what is being reported as a thigh injury, although this was more likely just a case of him resting up. Tennessee plays at Jacksonville on Monday night in Week 6. The Jaguars rank 14th in the league against the run, giving up an average of 102.8 yards per game through the first five weeks. They have also allowed an average of 16.20 Fantasy points to opposing running backs. In four career games against the Jaguars, Johnson has carried the ball 72 times for 468 yards with two touchdowns.
Analysis: Johnson rushed for 131 yards on 19 carries and scored twice in a 34-27 win over the Cowboys last week. He has alternated 100-yard rushing games through the first five weeks but has always had success against Jacksonville. This reported thigh problem shouldn't be of any concern to his Fantasy owners for now, but make sure he at least practices in some capacity on Friday and Saturday. While the Jaguars have an OK run defense, Johnson ran for 228 yards against them in their last meeting and he remains an elite No. 1 Fantasy option in all formats.
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| 10/10/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson gets back on track
News: After rushing for just 53 yards in Week 4 against the Broncos, Titans RB Chris Johnson got back on track in week 5 against the Cowboys. Johnson rushed for 131 yards on 19 carries and scored twice in the 34-27 win. He scored on a pair of 1-yard rushes, both coming in the fourth quarter and averaged a whopping 6.9 yards per carry. Johnson also ripped off the longest rush the Cowboys have allowed this season when he scampered 42 yards down the sideline in the fourth quarter.
Analysis: Johnson ran right through the Cowboys' defense on Sunday, breaking tackles and using his speed to get around the edges. He has now rushed for at least 100 yards in eight straight road games and continues to be one of the best backs in the league. Johnson has been a little inconsistent this season, but is way too talented not start every week. He faces a Jaguars team that allows over 100 yards rushing a game, including 110 to the Bills on Sunday. Consider Johnson a No. 1 Fantasy RB heading into Week 6.
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| 10/8/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson fine, says teammate
News: Titans DL Michael Roos on RB Chris Johnson ’s slow start: “There are no problems that we know of. He didn’t start off that great last year either. Everybody is keying on him. Everybody has to be patient, relax. It’ll come.” Johnson will try to break his skid against a 3-4 defenses in Week 5 when Tennessee visits Dallas.
Analysis: It's probably just a bit unfortunate that Johnson hasn't done well in games against 3-4 defenses. CJ is going for his seventh straight 100-yard rushing game on the road in Week 5, averaging 131 yards per game during his current six-game streak. In his career, Johnson is averaging 105.3 rushing yards per game in nine career contests against the NFC. He also has 15 total touchdowns (14 rushing) in that span. CJ is one of those backs you keep active in Fantasy through thick and thin.
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| 10/6/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ takes road rushing streak to Dallas
News: The Cowboys will be the third 3-4 base defensive team the Titans have faced when the two teams hook up in Week 5. That's not good news for Tennessee RB Chris Johnson. The other two teams that ran a 3-4 defense, the Steelers and Broncos, each held Johnson to less than 60 rushing yards. "I don't know that he has struggled, and I don't think it is particularly the 3-4," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "He is liable to go all the way on any defense. It doesn't matter what you're lined up in." In the two games Johnson hasn't faced a 3-4 defense, he has rushed more than 100 yards and scored twice on the ground in each contest.
Analysis: It's probably just a bit unfortunate that Johnson hasn't done well in games against 3-4 defenses. As Phillips said, you can't take that for granted with a back like Johnson. CJ is going for his seventh straight 100-yard rushing game on the road in Week 5. He is averaging 131 yards per game during his current six-game streak. In his career, Johnson is averaging 105.3 rushing yards per game in nine career contests against the NFC. He also has 15 total touchdowns (14 rushing) in that span. CJ is one of those backs you keep active in Fantasy through thick and thin.
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| 10/3/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
A down day for Johnson
News: For the second time in three games, Titans RB Chris Johnson failed to top 100 yards rushing, as both he and the Titans fell flat in a 26-20 loss to Denver in Week 4. Johnson carried the ball just 19 times, as the Titans ran more pass plays this week, but he didn't make the most of the reduced opportunities, gaining only 2.8 yards per carry for a total of 53 yards. Johnson also fumbled the ball on the Broncos' 28-yard line in the first quarter. He was particularly quiet in the second half, getting eight touches and 20 yards, though he did have his longest run of eight yards in the fourth quarter. After the game, Johnson told reporters, "We are not a good running team right now. We've got work to do."
Analysis: The Broncos entered the game having limited opposing teams to only 283 yards rushing over the first three weeks, but we still expected a much better Week 4 performance from Johnson. His previous sub-100 yard game was against Pittsburgh, another top rushing defense. Next time out he will go up against the Cowboys -- another team that has been tough against the run. The two recent subpar performances are concerning, but unless we see more of the same in the weeks to come, Johnson still has to be considered one of the top Fantasy RBs. Keep him active in all formats for Week 5.
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| 9/29/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to get fewer carries?
News: Titans coach Jeff Fisher is considering lightening the load for RB Chris Johnson, who had 32 carries on Sunday: “I have given some thought to getting (backup RB) Javon (Ringer) some more carries early in the ballgame because he’s been very effective for us, but that would be the only consideration.” Johnson currently leads the league in rush attempts with 75.
Analysis: Whatever decrease in workload Johnson might experience in his Week 4 matchup against the Broncos, it will likely be minimal. More concerning to owners should be the fact that Denver's defense against the rush has been very stingy so far, as only the Jets have allowed fewer running back Fantasy points this year. While Johnson may not have one of his most productive weeks, he is still a must-start option in all formats.
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| 9/26/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson right back on track
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson began a new streak of 100-yard rushing performances in Week 3 at the N.Y. Giants. He also contributed a pair of touchdowns in a runaway 29-10 victory. Johnson carried 32 times for 125 yards after being held to 34 yards on 16 carries against the Steelers in Week 2 to snap a string of 12 straight 100-yard games. Johnson
Analysis: Johnson was held to a lot of short-yardage gains and was even tackled behind the line on several occasions, but he'd break out for a double-digit run every now and again and enough to rack up yet another big game for the Fantasy stud. Johnson scored on a 1-yard run and an 8-yard run and continued to monopolize touches in all areas of the field. There isn't much to think about for Johnson owners, who remains one of the few plug-and-play backs in the NFL. Start him in all formats in Week 4 when he'll face Denver at home.
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| 9/23/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson looking for new streak
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson will be looking to begin a new streak in Week 3 at the Giants, after his string of 12 consecutive 100-yard games was stopped at 12 in Week 2 against Pittsburgh. His chances may be good, facing a team that allowed 160 rushing yards in Week 2 at Indianapolis. Johnson has never faced the Giants.
Analysis: Fantasy owners who may have been burned by Johnson's 34-yard performance in Week 2 should keep in mind that he had an 85-yard touchdown wiped off the board due to a holding call. He also toted the ball just 16 times all game and only six times in the second half with his team playing from behind. That's not to mention the fact he was playing against one of the strongest run defenses in the NFL in the Pittsburgh Steelers. The No. 1 or 2 selection in most Fantasy drafts, Johnson should remain active in all formats for Week 3.
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| 9/19/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson's streak comes to end
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson's streak of 100-yard games was stopped at 12 in Week 2 against Pittsburgh. He had only 34 yards on 16 carries, the second-worst game of his career, and coincidentally the same total he had in the game before the streak began. Johnson had guaranteed he'd extend the streak this week in practice. Johnson added five receptions for 19 yards. He had an 85-yard touchdown wiped off the scoreboard due to a holding call. "I don’t think he's used to too many people getting clean hits on him, and through the course of the game it started to wear on him," Steelers LB James Harrison said after game.
Analysis: Because the Titans trailed 13-3 at the half, Johnson got only six second-half carries. His day could have been saved if the long touchdown had stood up, but a holding call on the center cost him -- and Fantasy owners. We had anticipated this would be a tough matchup against a stout Steelers defense, but also indicated that Johnson has emerged beyond being a matchup-based starter in most formats. The Steelers defense, however, was absolutely stifling in Week 2 in a game in which they forced six turnovers and allowed just 238 total yards. He will face another tough defense in Week 3 on the road in New York, but is still too valuable to Fantasy owners to consider sitting based upon matchups.
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| 9/16/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson not lacking confidence
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson said this week that his string of consecutive 100-yard games will be extended against the Steelers in Week 2. "It'll be 13," Johnson said on Wednesday. Johnson was held to 57 rushing yards on 15 carries against the Steelers in a 13-10 overtime win at Pittsburgh last season. Johnson was sharing carries with LenDale White in Week 1 last season. He has come a long way since then to become the consensus No. 1 overall RB in Fantasy.
Analysis: In Week 1 against the Raiders, Johnson rushed for 142 yards. The scary thing, for opponents anyway, is that he said he thinks he can do a lot better. Under coach Jeff Fisher, this is a franchise that is tied with the New York Jets for first in the NFL with 12 1,000-yard rushers since 1996. Johnson will face a stiffer test in Week 2 because Pittsburgh (1-0) comes to town Sunday with a typically stingy Steelers' defense that gave up a mere 58 yards rushing in its 15-9 overtime win over Atlanta. Johnson -- the No. 1 overall selection in most Fantasy leagues -- is not a player you sit based upon matchups, however.
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| 9/13/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson thinks he'll improve
News: Here is a scary thought: Titans RB Chris Johnson thinks the team's run game can do better, and will do better over the course of this season. Johnson, the NFL's 2009 offensive player of the year, opened the season running for 142 yards in Week 1 against Oakland. "When you first start out the season, you're not going to be as good as you're going to be at the end of the year," Johnson said. "So we're just still working right now." Johnson didn't even mind still being in the game late and getting extra work. He wound up with 27 carries. Take away his 76-yard touchdown run, he only had 56 yards on the other 26 rushes. "Even though I busted that run, I still wanted to go out there and just get better. That was just one run. All the runs before that run weren't really that successful. So I just feel that as a whole team, we still need some work in winning the game. As the year goes on, we'll get better and better," Johnson said.
Analysis: By halftime of Week 1, Tennessee had matched its rushing average from last season when Johnson became the sixth man in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards. The Titans finished with 205 rushing yards against the Raiders. Under coach Jeff Fisher, this is a franchise that is tied with the New York Jets for first in the NFL with 12 1,000-yard rushers since 1996. Johnson will face a stiffer test in Week 2 because Pittsburgh (1-0) comes to town Sunday with a typically stingy Steelers' defense that gave up a mere 58 yards rushing in its 15-9 overtime win over Atlanta. Johnson -- the No. 1 overall selection in most Fantasy leagues -- is not a player you sit based upon matchups, however.
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| 9/12/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson finishes Week 1 with bang
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson picked up in Week 1 against the Raiders where he left off after gaining over 2,000 yards last season. Johnson now has converted 12 straight games with at least 100 yards rushing as he totaled 142 yards on the ground against the Raiders' porous defense in a 38-13 win. Johnson rushed 27 times and found the end zone twice in the game. He actually had just three yards after his first six carries but broke a 76-yard TD run just before halftime to make it 24-3 Titans. Johnson added a 4-yard TD run in the third quarter. Johnson also caught four passes for 8 yards.
Analysis: After one game, it seems clear that last year was no fluke for Johnson. With 12 consecutive games with at least 100 rushing yards, Fantasy owners don't have much thinking to do each and every week at running back with Johnson on their roster. Javon Ringer did some nice things but this team is Johnson's. He is a must-start Fantasy option at all times and that goes for Week 2 against Pittsburgh, despite the tougher defense they must face.
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| 9/8/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson salivating over Oakland
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson, hungry for 2,500 yards this season, will have a nice opportunity to begin towards that goal in Week 1 at home against Oakland. Although Johnson has never faced the Raiders, chances are he's a good bet to top 100 yards with at least one score against them considering the Raiders allowed almost 156 rushing yards per game last season and tied for an NFL-worst 24 rushing touchdowns allowed.
Analysis: Johnson is going to be a No. 1 Fantasy RB for pretty much every game in 2010 but Week 1 against Oakland should have Fantasy owners licking their lips. After going for an NFL-best 2,006 yards on the ground last season, Johnson is actually greedy and wants more. As Gordon Gecko of Wall Street fame says, "Greed is good," and Johnson will take that motto to the bank. Start him in all Fantasy leagues in Week 1.
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| 9/1/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ hungry for 2,500 yards
News: The ink starts at Chris Johnson's neck, with wings tattooed just above his collarbone, reminding the world that he is the NFL's most recent member of the very rare club of 2,000-yard rushers. The Tennessee running back also has "Cause IM A Star" perched just above a red star in the middle of his chest. Dream big, then run faster than anyone else in the NFL. Johnson used that combination to rush his way to NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2009, becoming only the sixth man in league history to run for at least 2,000 yards. He's back for his third season with goals set even higher than a year ago: Run right past Eric Dickerson's NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards all the way to 2,500. That would make him the first ever to run for 2,000 yards twice in a career with the added twist of doing it back-to-back. Dickerson didn't do it. Neither did Barry Sanders, Jamal Lewis, O.J. Simpson or Terrell Davis. Johnson calls it his chip on his shoulder. "It gives me something to look forward to. People might be like, 'Oh you run for 2,000 yards so he's content or whatever like that.' I haven't broken the record, so I still have something on my shoulder and something to work hard for," Johnson said.
Analysis: Being voted the Offensive Player of the Year? Nice, but MVP is his target again. If he runs for 2,000 yards again, he reasons voters can't deny rewarding such a historic performance. "I feel like I'm never satisfied," Johnson said. "I'm coming back in with the same mindset that I haven't done anything yet." Johnson finished 2009 with 11 straight games of 100-yards rushing and needs only three more to match the NFL record for consecutive 100-yard games set by Barry Sanders in 1997. He set the NFL record for yards from scrimmage with 2,509 yards and became the league's first player to rush for at least 2,000 yards (2,006) and have 500 yards receiving. He also was the only unanimous pick to the All Pro team. Only Dickerson and Edgerrin James had more yards from scrimmage through their first two seasons than Johnson (3,997). CJ hasn't had a very good preseason, but the Titans are just saving his energy for the regular season. We consider Johnson the top overall pick in Fantasy, but if he shall fall past the top spot, then consider yourself lucky.
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| 8/29/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Fisher not concerned about CJ
News: Ttians RB Jeff Fisher said he's not worried about the lack of preseason production from RB Chris Johnson. "He was at 3.1 (yards per carry) last preseason, and it's 2.1 right now," Fisher said. "The only difference is a receiver blocking a safety. But he's fine. He's having a good camp. I'm not concerned."
Analysis: Johnson might only have 39 rushing yards in the preseason, but he has scored twice in three games. Teams are surely going to try and stack the box against CJ this season, meaning QB Vince Young will need to keep the opposition honest and develop as a legit passing threat. We also have little concerns with CJ despite the slow preseason. His speed is what allows him to breakaway from the defense and put him in the elite class of Fantasy options. He has been going No. 1 in most Fantasy drafts.
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| 8/28/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson held in check Sat.
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson ran eight times for just 10 yards in Saturday's preseason game against the Panthers. He also caught one pass for three yards.
Analysis: Johnson has been pretty awful in two of his three preseason games, but Fantasy owners shouldn't get concerned by any means. In 2009, Johnson did a whole lot of nothing in exhibition games before racking up 2,006 once the season began. Continue to draft the elite Fantasy option in the first three picks of all drafts.
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| 8/23/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson scores on Monday night
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson certainly looked good in the second preseason contest on Monday night against Arizona. Johnson rushed a total of six times for 22 yards and scored the game's first touchdown. Johnson's 8-yard touchdown run was his longest carry of the preseason. He averaged 3.7 yards per carry in the contest.
Analysis: Johnson, who became the sixth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards last season, ran for just seven yards in the preseason opener in Seattle. He did score in that one and has now scored a touchdown in each preseason contest. That is great news for Fantasy owners as Johnson looks to build upon the 14 touchdowns he scored last season. Johnson looks primed for another big year and should be considered a No. 1 Fantasy RB in all formats.
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| 8/15/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson scores in 2010 preseason debut
News: In the Titans' preseason loss at the Seahawks on Saturday, RB Chris Johnson didn't display his blazing speed but instead his strong will. Johnson had just 7 yards on five carries but bullied into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run on the Titans' first drive. Johnson took a seat after that for the rest of the game.
Analysis: We know you're going to take Johnson with an early first-round pick in drafts this summer, and rightfully so. Lest we forget that Johnson is coming off a season where he ran for over 2,000 yards and totaled an NFL all-time best 2,509 yards, plus he's riding an 11-game streak of 100-plus rush yards. Your only concern as a Fantasy owner is if he breaks down and misses playing time because of the rigors of being a primary, near-every-down running back, but that's a risk worth taking for a back with as much potential as Johnson has.
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| 8/2/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson takes aim at NFL history
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson became the sixth man to run for at least 2,000 yards in a season last year, but that isn't enough. He fell short of Eric Dickerson's all-time NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards and being named league's MVP. Johnson is taking aim at both of those feats, plus becoming the first man to rush for more than 2,000 yards more than once. "I'm shooting for 2,500, but I'll be happy with anything over the record," Johnson said.
Analysis: Not only has a running back never run for 2,000 twice in a career, the other five -- O.J. Simpson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, Jamal Lewis and Dickerson -- to top that mark never even came close the next season. Johnson feels if he can have a repeat performance he'd be a shoe in for MVP. History may be against Johnson, but he is confident despite having some new pieces in the offense this year. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 14 rushing touchdowns to go along with his 2,006 yards on the ground. He's ranked No. 1 overall for a reason coming into this season and should not fall past the No. 2 overall draft choice in any Fantasy leagues.
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| 7/30/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson has to pass conditioning test
News: Titans coach Jeff Fisher said RB Chris Johnson would go through the 300-yard shuttle run conditioning test on Saturday. Because of a contract dispute that since has been resolved, Johnson didn't participate in any of the Titans' organized team activities in May and June. But Fisher said the run is just a formality. "We expect him to come in in great shape and pick up where he left off," Fisher said. "I have no reservations about his conditioning level."
Analysis: We expect Johnson to pass the test and be ready for training camp in 100 percent. There is a lot to like about Johnson this year, which is why he's ranked No. 1 overall coming into the season. You know his stats from last year: 2,006 rush yards, 503 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns with just three fumbles lost. It will be difficult for him to match those stats in 2010, but he shouldn't have a significant drop-off. We like Johnson as the No. 1 RB in all leagues, and he shouldn't fall past the No. 2 overall selection if someone in your league drafts Adrian Peterson with the top spot.
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| 7/27/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Heimerdinger confident in Johnson
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger is confident that RB Chris Johnson can still post solid stats this year even after the incredible numbers he accrued in 2009. Last year, Johnson became the first player in NFL history with at least 2,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the same season, rushed for over 100 yards in 11 straight games and led the NFL with a franchise-best 2,006 rushing yards. "It would be very hard to do the same type of things, since no one has done it in the history of the game," Heimerdinger said. "But I know the type of goals C.J. sets for himself. He's the type of guy who likes to prove people wrong, so we'll see. But someone with his talent and ability, you have to at least expect him to have another great year." Heimerdinger said Johnson will continue to see plenty of carries in 2010. "When you hand it to a guy and he's averaging 6 yards a carry, it's easier to give it to him again," Heimerdinger said.
Analysis: There is a lot to like about Johnson this year, which is why he's ranked No. 1 overall coming into the season. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 14 rushing touchdowns last season, and he finally ended his contract situation by restructuring his deal for this year. But Johnson also has a new offensive line in front of him. Center Kevin Mawae and tight end Alge Crumpler are gone, with Leroy Harris shifting to left guard and Eugene Amano stepping in for Mawae at center. "I don't think it will have a big effect on him," Heimerdinger said. "The thing you lose with those guys is the leadership, so someone will have to step up. But I don't think it will affect our running game." That should give you some reassurance, and we think Johnson will be a star. He's worth taking with the first or second overall pick on Draft Day.
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| 7/19/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson, Titans agree to deal
News: Chris Johnson's agent says the running back and the Titans have agreed on a revised deal that will ensure he reports with the rest of the team for training camp. Agent Joel Segal confirmed the deal Monday. Segal would not say how much of a raise Johnson is getting, but did say the running back will get a pay increase. Johnson will reportedly earn $2.5 million this season under the revised deal. It's not the minimum $30 million in guaranteed money the AP 2009 Offensive Player of the Year had been saying he wanted after becoming just the sixth back to run for at least 2,000 yards. However, he no longer will be the lowest-paid running back on the Titans roster with a base salary of $550,000. The raise will also prevent him from missing training camp when the Titans report July 30 after sitting out the entire offseason in protest. The Titans declined to confirm the deal Monday, and Johnson did not respond to messages left on his cell phone.
Analysis: This is a good sign that Johnson and the Titans have agreed to terms, and Johnson should be in training camp on time. Johnson has the chance for another outstanding season in 2010. You know his stats from last year: 2,006 rush yards, 503 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns with just three fumbles lost. It will be difficult for him to match those stats in 2010, but he shouldn't have a significant drop-off. We like Johnson as the No. 1 RB in all leagues, and he shouldn't fall past the No. 2 overall selection if someone in your league drafts Adrian Peterson with the top spot.
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| 7/14/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson, Titans at 'standstill'?
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson says contract talks with the team are at a standstill. On Wednesday he said he wasn't sure about reports the Titans were talking with his agent about converting incentives into a $2.5 million bonus to get him more money this year. "I'm letting my agent and the team handle that. Right now we're at a standstill, and hopefully when camp starts we'll have an outcome," Johnson said. He ran for 2,006 yards in 2009 and wants a long-term deal with at least $30 million guaranteed, but has indicated he would be happy with a short-term pay hike.
Analysis: Johnson is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in most Fantasy leagues in 2010 -- and for good reason. He might not run for 2,000 yards again, but he is a candidate for 1,500 total yards and a healthy amount of touchdowns. The key to making Fantasy owners at ease with taking Johnson with the No. 1 overall pick is Johnson being in training camp on time, which appears to be likely if he's willing to play in 2010 with a pay raise in lieu of a new long-term contract.
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| 7/6/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson, Titans might have deal
News: According to a report on NFL.com, Titans RB Chris Johnson could be on the verge of signing a long-term contract. The report says the deal "will be done by the time training camp starts later this month." Johnson, who is currently under contract for $550,000 in 2010, wants to be the highest-paid offensive player after rushing for more than 2,000 yards last year.
Analysis: This would be a great sign if Johnson and the Titans can come to terms prior to training camp, and hopefully Johnson will be happy with the offer. Johnson is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in most Fantasy leagues in 2010 -- and for good reason. He might not run for 2,000 yards again, but he is a candidate for 1,500 total yards and a healthy amount of touchdowns. The key to making Fantasy owners at ease with taking Johnson with the No. 1 overall pick is Johnson being in training camp on time, so hopefully this report is accurate.
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| 7/2/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson says he's been 'grinding'
News: The Tennessean reports Titans RB Chris Johnson, who didn't take part in any of the team's 14 organized workouts this offseason because he wants a new contract, showed up at the Titans facility this week to workout while no one was there. Johnson said there's nothing new with his contract as far as he knows. "I've just been chilling, working out and grinding," he said. "I am not sure about an agreement of a contract right now. I am just working out to be ready."
Analysis: We hope Johnson has been working out hard on his own because he has a lot to live up to for Fantasy owners this year. Johnson, who rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009, wants to be the league's highest paid offensive player, and we'll find out how far he's willing to go to make a stand in the hopes of a contract extension. We expect Johnson to be ready for Week 1, but this is definitely a situation to monitor. We like Johnson as the No. 1 overall pick in Fantasy drafts since even though it will be hard to duplicate 2,000 rushing yards again, 2,000 total yards could be within reach with a healthy amount of touchdowns. But if he holds out in training camp, Johnson's value could take a slight hit.
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| 6/21/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Thirty-day rule to impact Johnson
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson told ESPN that he's mindful of the league's rule that a player under contract must report to his team 30 days before the start of the season or lose a year toward free agency. This is different than a player holding out until the team's 11th game to earn an accredited year of work -- that pertains to his contract while the 30-day rule applies to his free-agency status. So if Johnson were to hold out past Aug. 10, he'd remain a restricted free agent after the 2010 season. According to ESPN, Johnson doesn't want to be in the same spot following the year, so he might just stage a holdout until he absolutely has to be in camp.
Analysis: This should actually make Fantasy owners feel better about drafting Johnson this summer since it would be fairly unwise for him to give back a year of his free agency status just to hold out. The Titans typically have not been kind negotiators with their players (remember Albert Haynesworth?), so Johnson might have to grin and bear it for 2010, then consider his options. Johnson's upside is huge as he's got tremendous skill and clearly the biggest offensive threat for the Titans. Expecting him to get 2,000 total yards is not crazy, and his touchdown production should also be strong. He might even pick up more catches this season. That's why we like Johnson as the No. 1 overall choice in Fantasy drafts -- so long as he doesn't hold out very long (an extensive holdout should make owners think twice).
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| 6/16/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson mum on contract issues
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson was back in Tennessee for his second annual camp for children Wednesday, and he still wants a pay raise and isn't happy with his contract status -- though he wouldn't say as much. Johnson stuck to "no comment" when asked about a contract paying him $550,000 for 2010. He has expressed his frustrations on Twitter, posting Tuesday that he had talked to his agent and it was "not good news."
Analysis: This one's real simple: So long as Johnson starts training camp with the Titans, there's nothing to worry about. Might he hold out and not show up to training camp in late July? It's certainly possible, though typically players make their way to camp one way or the other. So long as Johnson doesn't miss training camp and is involved with the Titans from late July all the way through your Draft Day, he's worth taking with the No. 1 overall pick. But if he misses camp, there's a chance he could fall behind in his preparation for the season and be a disappointment, particularly after racking up over 350 carries last year. We will keep you posted.
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| 6/15/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson, Titans remain at odds
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson doesn't appear close to getting a new contract. On Tuesday, Johnson said via Twitter: "Just got off the phone with my agent, and it's not good news." Johnson, absent from OTA workouts because he's not pleased with his contract, will hold a youth camp in the Nashville area on Wednesday. "There's always a chance," coach Jeff Fisher said when asked if he might drop by. "He invited me like my invitation is still open to our camp."
Analysis: Johnson, who rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009, has already missed several offseason workouts. He wants to be the league's highest paid offensive player, and we'll find out how far he's willing to go to make a stand in the hopes of a contract extension. We expect Johnson to show up for training camp to avoid being fined, but this is definitely a situation to monitor. We like Johnson as the No. 1 overall pick in Fantasy drafts since even though it will be hard to duplicate 2,000 rushing yards again, 2,000 total yards could be within reach with a healthy amount of touchdowns. But if he holds out in training camp, Johnson's value could take a slight hit.
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| 6/14/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans still missing RB Johnson
News: The Tennessean reported that Titans RB Chris Johnson has continued his holdout from the Titans' offseason activities and was not at their Monday practice. He is expected to be in the area when he holds a football camp bearing his name on Wednesday, so he could address his situation then or even show up at Titans camp. Johnson has yet to participate in a practice with his teammates as he shows his displeasure with his current contract.
Analysis: Speculation continues to grow that Johnson could be a training camp holdout as he looks for a contract extension. Johnson, who rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009, wants to be the league's highest paid offensive player, or at least get a considerable raise from what's on his rookie contract. Seeing as how several declining running backs will make more than Johnson is scheduled to this year, we see his point. We do expect Johnson to show up for training camp later this summer to avoid being fined, but this is definitely a situation to monitor. Assuming he's healthy, in shape and satisfied with where he stands with the team, we like Johnson as the No. 1 overall pick in Fantasy drafts. Even though it will be hard to duplicate 2,000 rushing yards again, 2,000 total yards could be within reach with a healthy amount of touchdowns. But be warned: if he holds out in training camp, Johnson's value could take a hit.
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| 5/25/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson still not with Titans
News: Titans coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday he has not spoken with RB Chris Johnson, who was absent from Tuesday's OTA workouts and has missed all the voluntary work this offseason amid a contract dispute. "I would assume there probably will be a sit-down meeting between both sides between now and (the resumption of OTA workouts in June), but we'll see what happens," Fisher said. "He invited me to participate in his football camp (for children ages 7-14 on June 16 in Franklin, Tenn.), but I told him I'd like for him to participate in mine."
Analysis: There is speculation that Johnson could be a training camp holdout as he looks for a contract extension. Johnson, who rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009, wants to be the league's highest paid offensive player, and we'll find out how far he's willing to go to make a stand. We expect Johnson to show up for training camp to avoid being fined, but this is definitely a situation to monitor. We like Johnson as the No. 1 overall pick in Fantasy drafts since even though it will be hard to duplicate 2,000 rushing yards again, 2,000 total yards could be within reach with a healthy amount of touchdowns. But if he holds out in training camp, Johnson's value could take a slight hit.
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| 5/14/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson could be training camp holdout
News: The NFL Network reports that Titans RB Chris Johnson might decide to not only skip all the offseason workouts and minicamps in hopes of a new contract, but he might hold out into training camp. NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp said he recently spoke to Johnson in Orlando, Fla, and made the statement Thursday that Johnson's holdout could linger. "He's prepared to take this through training camp," Sapp said.
Analysis: Johnson, who rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009, has already missed several offseason workouts. He wants to be the league's highest paid offensive player, and we'll find out how far he's willing to go to make a stand in the hopes of a contract extension. We expect Johnson to show up for training camp to avoid being fined, but this is definitely a situation to monitor. We like Johnson as the No. 1 overall pick in Fantasy drafts since even though it will be hard to duplicate 2,000 rushing yards again, 2,000 total yards could be within reach with a healthy amount of touchdowns. But if he holds out in training camp, Johnson's value could take a slight hit.
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| 5/12/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson again skips minicamp
News: The Tennessean reports the Titans began another week of minicamp practices Tuesday, and once again the team did so without RB Chris Johnson. He also missed the first minicamp of the offseason back in April and continues to work out on his own with a trainer in Florida. Johnson wants a new contract — he wants to be the league's highest paid offensive player after rushing for 2,006 yards in 2009. The Titans have another minicamp practice Thursday. The team also has another round of minicamp practices the weeks of May 17 and May 24 before two weeks of minicamps in June. Johnson skipped the offseason program last year to work out on his own, but he attended the OTA sessions. He signed a five-year, $12 million contract after the Titans selected him with the 24th pick of the NFL Draft. Last year, when he led the league in rushing, he made $385,000 in base salary. He's scheduled to make $550,000 in 2010.
Analysis: We expect Johnson to be ready for the start of training camp, which is all that matters heading into the year. While it seems lofty to expect him to get to 2,000 rushing yards in 2010, the idea of 2,000 total yards is not just foreign -- it's well within his reach so long as he stays healthy. Throw in the glut of touchdowns he should rack up and you've got a very solid No. 1 overall pick in Fantasy drafts, PPR or otherwise, this summer.
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| 4/30/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans RB Johnson no-shows OTA
News: The Titans wrapped up their second on-field OTA session -- without Chris Johnson. The two-time Pro Bowl running back who is staying away from the voluntary team practices as part of his campaign for a very big pay hike since becoming only the sixth player in NFL history to run for at least 2,000 yards. There's also talk he'll sit out of the start of training camp. Johnson has three years left on the $12 million contract he signed in 2008 that featured $7 million guaranteed. But his base salary for 2010 doesn't even put him close to being one of the best paid players on the Titans, let alone the NFL. Johnson ran 358 times for 2,006 yards as the NFL's leading rusher last season and set the single-season record for yards from scrimmage with 2,509, topping Marshall Faulk's mark. Coach Jeff Fisher said Johnson is under contract and refused to get into talk about negotiations. "He eventually will come back," Fisher said. "We are concerned about those that are here right now. He knows what it takes to get into shape and to do those things, but it is hard to get it done elsewhere because the group that is working now is in terrific shape."
Analysis: Johnson also Tweeted a photo of workout with noted athletic trainer Tom Shaw, so he's seemingly getting in shape while staying away from the Titans. We doubt that Johnson will hold out of training camp or do anything to jeopardize his 2010 campaign, though if he did it could impact his season as we've seen countless running backs miss part of camp and then underperform. While it seems lofty to expect him to get to 2,000 rushing yards in 2010, the idea of 2,000 total yards is not just foreign -- it's well within his reach so long as he stays healthy. Throw in the glut of touchdowns he should rack up and you've got a very solid No. 1 overall pick in Fantasy drafts, PPR or otherwise, this summer.
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| 3/23/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Fisher says Johnson 'can do that again'
News: Titans coach Jeff Fisher said in an interview with CBSSports.com at the NFL owner's meeting in Orlando, FL that RB Chris Johnson should have the chance to duplicate his performance from 2009 this season. Last year, Johnson became the sixth running back to rush for 2,000 yards and set an NFL record with 2,509 yards from scrimmage (2,006 rushing), which broke Marshall Faulk's record of 2,429 yards set in 1999. But the five previous running backs to rush for 2,000 yards did not duplicate the feat the next season. The best season following a 2,000-yard campaign came from Barry Sanders, who rushed for 1,491 yards in 1998 after gaining 2,053 yards the year before. Fisher said Johnson should be in line for another big year. "Unless we choose not to give him the touches I don't see any reason why he doesn't have the potential to do that again," Fisher said. "He's got the endurance, he's got the ability to take a hit and recover. As long as we're doing our job he has a legitimate chance to do something like he did last year."
Analysis: It will be hard for Johnson to repeat his 2009 stats (he also had 16 touchdowns), but he should still have another outstanding year in 2010. We like Johnson as a Top 3 overall selection, and he should be considered with the No. 1 overall pick. Fisher plans to give Johnson plenty of carries, and he proved he's an elite Fantasy option in all scoring formats.
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| 2/1/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Could Johnson struggle in 2010?
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson had what he called a "dream season" in 2009 when he became the sixth running back to rush for 2,000 yards while making his second Pro Bowl and set an NFL record with 2,509 yards from scrimmage (2,006 rushing), which broke Marshall Faulk's record of 2,429 yards set in 1999. But Johnson might have trouble getting back to that level again in 2010 since the five previous running backs to rush for 2,000 yards did not duplicate the feat the next season. The best season following a 2,000-yard campaign came from Barry Sanders, who rushed for 1,491 yards in 1998 after gaining 2,053 yards the year before. But Johnson said in an interview with CBSSports.com that his goal is 2,106 rushing yards, which would break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. "I can't get content," Johnson said. "I have to keep working hard. You can't be satisfied."
Analysis: Johnson scored 16 touchdowns in 2009, but he said scoring is not his main concern. "I don't care about the touchdowns," Johnson. "I just care about the yards. If you get the yards you're going to score touchdowns." To his benefit, Johnson could play better with Vince Young under center. Johnson said having Young as the starting quarterback all season in 2010 will help his production. Young took over for Kerry Collins in Week 8, and Johnson was unstoppable from that point on. In 10 games with Young under center, Johnson ran for 1,410 yards. If you project that for a full season then Johnson would have run for 2,256 yards. "If he was there for the first six games, there's no telling how many yards I would have rushed for," Johnson said. "I make him better, and he made me better." We like Johnson as the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick. Even if he falls off from 2,000 yards, he should still produce at a high level.
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| 1/13/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson named top offensive player
News: That blur speeding away from opposing defenses and running off with The Associated Press 2009 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award is Chris Johnson. Considered the fastest man in pro football, Johnson was uncatchable in setting a league mark for yards from scrimmage (2,509) and becoming the sixth player with a 2,000-yard rushing season. He is the first NFL player to finish with at least 2,000 yards rushing and 500 receiving (503). Johnson, who has run a 4.2 40 and believes he'll remain the NFL's fastest player unless a team signs Usain Bolt, has bigger dreams, too: breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, and winning the league MVP award. "I didn't even get one vote at all (for MVP)," Johnson said. "Like the season I had, it seemed like, 'What more do they want me to do?' That just felt like rookie of the year; it's a quarterback thing I guess."
Analysis: Johnson might have been lost on MVP voters (imagine the Titans without him), but Fantasy owners by and large already consider Johnson a Top 3 choice, if not the top choice, in drafts in 2010. It's unlikely he'll repeat as a 2,000-yard rusher, but he should still be close to 2,000 total yards and double-digit touchdowns -- exactly the kind of running back we covet in Fantasy.
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| 1/4/2010 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson breaks 2,000-yard mark
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson became the sixth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, then scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard run with 4:33 remaining Week 17 at Seattle. He finished with 36 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns and added three catches for 20 yards. The second-year dynamo ran right, cut back inside and jumped over center Kevin Mawae for a 4-yard gain early in the fourth quarter to join Eric Dickerson, Jamal Lewis, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis and O.J. Simpson in the 2,000-yard club. Dickerson is the only one to have done it as early into his career as the 24-year-old from East Carolina. "There are a lot of great backs that have played this game that have never reached that milestone," said veteran tight end Alge Crumpler, who was hugging Johnson before and during the game. "For C.J. to do it at such a young age is a phenomenal performance."
Analysis: Johnson also set the NFL record for yards from scrimmage in a season on a 9-yard pass from Vince Young in the second quarter, breaking Marshall Faulk's mark of 2,429. He had a chance to break Dickerson's mark of 2,105 yards rushing set in 1984, but Johnson's Fantasy owners won't complain about him coming up short. He broke out as one of the top two or three players in Fantasy this season, if not the No. 1 overall, and broke free of a platoon with LenDale White, rendering him nothing more than a backup. Johnson will have a hard time repeating this performance in 2010, but he should have dominant year nonetheless. Whether or not you should take him first overall next year will be a hot topic of debate over the next few months.
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| 12/30/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson, Titans aiming for Dickerson
News: Even though he was only a grade schooler, Jim Mora remembers O.J. Simpson becoming the first NFL player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Specifically, the now-48-year-old Seahawks coach recalls against whom Simpson romped through for that milestone in 1973. "The Jets," Mora said, before his team hosts rampaging NFL rushing leader Chris Johnson and the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in the season finale. "We don't want to be on highlight reels for the rest of eternity. (Imagine) you're sitting there watching ESPN with your grandkids in 40 years saying, 'Hey, look at granddad there missing that tackle on Chris Johnson when he went over the 2,000-yard mark!"' The Titans aren't exactly being coy about want they want Sunday in their first trip to Seattle since 1998, when they were the Houston Oilers. Johnson needs 128 yards rushing to join Eric Dickerson, Jamal Lewis, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis and O.J. Simpson as the only runners to reach 2,000 yards in a season. And he needs 234 yards to break Dickerson's NFL record of 2,105 yards rushing in 1984. Sounds like Johnson could get 40 or more carries in Seattle.
Analysis: There are few sure things in Fantasy football but it seems that Johnson might be one of them in Week 17 against the Seahawks. The Titans will do everything in their power to get Johnson the 234 points he needs to break Dickerson's mark and they have the luxury of doing it against a struggling Seattle team. Johnson is clearly a No. 1 Fantasy RB for Week 17.
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| 12/25/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson shines in loss to Chargers
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson was the lone bright spot for Tennessee in Friday's loss to the Chargers. Johnson's quest to become only the sixth NFL player to run for 2,000 yards in a season remains alive as the only goal left for Tennessee. He ran for a TD and 142 yards to put him at 1,872 with the season finale at Seattle left. He also notched his 10th consecutive 100-yard rushing game, putting him behind only Barry Sanders (14) and Marcus Allen (11). And Johnson surpassed Browns legend Jim Brown (1,863 yards in 1963) for the 10th-best single-season rushing total in NFL history.
Analysis: Johnson also added three catches for 37 yards. He continues to be the best RB in all Fantasy formats and should be considered a must-start option in Week 17 against Seattle. The Titans plan to give Johnson enough attempts so he gets to 2,000 yards. "It's something we pay close attention to as well as he does, I'm sure," coach Jeff Fisher said after the game. "So it should be a fun game to watch."
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| 12/20/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans' Johnson extends 100-yard streak
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson didn't score in a Week 15 win over the Dolphins, but he did manage 107 yards on the ground to extend his 100-yard game streak to nine games. He also caught two passes for 55 yards.
Analysis: Johnson continues to cement himself as one of the league's elite talents and remains am must-start option in all Fantasy formats. Tennessee hosts San Diego in Week 16.
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| 12/13/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson scores three touchdowns
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson, who scored only one touchdown over his last three games, had his second three-touchdown game of the season Week 14 against the Rams. He had 28 carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three catches for 69 yards and a touchdown, scoring on a 66-yard catch-and-run in the first quarter.
Analysis: Johnson ate the Rams run defense alive, rushing for more than 100 yards for the eighth straight game. He's still a long shot to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record, but the fact it's even a possibility shows what kind of season he's having. He's clearly a must-start in Fantasy for Week 15 against the Dolphins.
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| 12/13/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson active despite hurt ankle
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson, who missed some practice time this week with an ankle injury, is active for Week 14 against the Rams. The league's leading rusher was listed as probable coming into the game.
Analysis: The Rams rank 28th in run defense, so your only concern is if the Titans build up a big enough lead to sit Johnson in the second half. Even then, he'd likely get 100 yards. Start him in all leagues.
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| 12/10/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson ready to take on the Rams
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson, the NFL's leading rusher, was able to practice in full on Friday with an injured ankle. He did not practice Wednesday and was limited on Thursday. Johnson is expected to be active for the team's Week 14 game against the Rams.
Analysis: It appears like Johnson will be able to play Sunday against the Rams, who are No. 28 in run defense. Keep an eye on his status and make sure he is 100 percent for this game, but look for Johnson to be active and keep him in your starting lineup. He is the No. 1 RB in all leagues heading into Week 14.
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| 12/9/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson misses practice Wednesday
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson did not participate in practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury. Johnson is likely resting and is expected to play Sunday against St. Louis. He needs just one yard to break his tie with Eddie George for the third-highest single-season rushing total (1,509 yards) in franchise history. And if Johnson can gain the yards from scrimmage at the same clip (152.6 per game) that he has through 12 contests, he will break former St. Louis RB Marshall Faulk's single-season NFL record of 2,429 scrimmage yards from 1999. Johnson is on pace for 2,441. Coach Jeff Fisher, however, said getting Johnson to the record is not his main priority. "I'm going to do what's best for this team," Fisher said. "We're going to try to win ballgames. If that means getting LenDale (White) more touches, which in I think we probably should have done (against the Colts) in retrospect, that's what it means. All those personal things are all well and good, but at this point we need to win the next game."
Analysis: Johnson should be fine against the Rams, but keep an eye on his status Thursday and Friday. As long as he's able to go for one of those days he should be fine to play. Johnson is the No. 1 RB in all Fantasy leagues, and he has a great matchup against the Rams, who are No. 28 in run defense.
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| 12/6/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Another big day for C. Johnson
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson put together another solid performance on Sunday in a Week 13 loss at Indianapolis. Johnson carried the ball 27 times in the game, gaining 113 yards. He also made six receptions in the contest for 28 yards. He has now run for more than 100 yards in seven straight games.
Analysis: Johnson has emerged as one of the top Fantasy players at any position this season and he has only gotten better with Vince Young taking over as the team’s starting quarterback. Johnson has completely taken over the load in Tennessee as LenDale White is used infrequently. He was far better against the Colts in Week 13 than he was back in Week 5 when he was held to only nine carries for 34 yards and two receptions for 9 yards. Johnson has an excellent matchup Week 14 as well as the Titans host St. Louis. He is an obvious must-start for that game.
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| 12/3/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson ready for Colts rematch
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson appreciates being named the AFC's offensive player of the month for November. He just has his goals set a bit higher. He has his sights set on Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. Dickerson ran for 2,105 yards in 1984 for the then-Los Angeles Rams. Right now, Johnson is leading the NFL with 1,396 yards with five games remaining. He just finished November with 800 yards rushing for the best month in the league since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. Johnson says he's pleased with the monthly honor. He wants to keep being consistent with good games so he can hopefully get closer to the record. He currently is on pace for 2,030 yards having averaged 126.9 yards per game this season. Johnson said Friday he's especially looking to running on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium. "Every time I'm on a surface like that I'm a little bit faster," he said.
Analysis: Johnson will look to continue his hot streak in Week 13 against the Colts, who held Johnson to just 34 yards rushing on nine carries in a Week 5 loss. Don't expect that to happen again and consider Johnson a No. 1 Fantasy RB in this matchup.
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| 11/29/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson continues to run wild
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson had 18 carries for 154 yards against the Cardinals in Week 12, giving him at least 120 yards rushing in six straight games. He scored a touchdown -- his seventh during that stretch -- on an 85-yard run in the third quarter. He also had three catches for 32 yards.
Analysis: Johnson continues to run wild, and considering the Titans didn't even bother to activate LenDale White for this week's game, Johnson no longer has any competition out of the backfield. He has a good chance for a 2,000-yard and possibly even a record-setting season. He's arguably the top player in Fantasy, making him a must-start Week 13 at Indianapolis.
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| 11/24/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson goes for 151 yards on MNF
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson went off again in Week 11. Playing on Monday night in Houston, Johnson helped the Titans pull the road victory by gaining a ridiculous 151 yards on the ground on 29 carries. He did not score a touchdown in the game, however. His long carry was 36 yards.
Analysis: Another game, another top-notch effort for the NFL’s rushing leader. Johnson has now put together five straight 100-yard games and needs to average around 120 yards per game going forward to surpass 2,000 yards on the season. Johnson has also been scoring touchdowns at will lately and is very much a No. 1 Fantasy RB for Week 12 against the Cardinals. Arizona is a solid run defense but they won’t be able to stop Johnson. Nobody else has.
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| 11/20/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Don't sit Chris Johnson now!
News: We know you're starting Titans RB Chris Johnson in Week 11 at the Texans, but we also thought you'd like to be reminded that he had 284 total yards and three TDs vs. Houston in their Week 2 meeting.
Analysis: Johnson's been hotter than a three-alarm fire and is a sure-fire No. 1 Fantasy RB in all leagues. Stop reading this and go make sure he's in your lineup.
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| 11/15/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson great through ground, air
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson rushed 26 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns in Week 10 against Buffalo. He also caught 9 passes for 100 yards, his first 100-yard receiving effort of the season and second game with nine catches this season.
Analysis: Johnson had a good game for a running back and a good game for a receiver all rolled into one. He has rushed for 130-plus yards and two touchdowns in each of his last three games and has been the hottest running back in Fantasy Football. It is probable a good idea to keep him active in all leagues for Week 11 at Houston.
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| 11/12/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson on pace for several records
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson not only leads the NFL in yards rushing and yards from scrimmage but has an edge of more than 100 yards in each category. His 6.7 yards per carry average is the highest through nine weeks of the season since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970, and is better than Barry Sanders, O.J. Simpson and Jim Brown the years they led the league in rushing. And he is 41 yards short of a second straight 1,000-yard rushing season. Johnson has 491 of his 959 yards rushing in the past three games, putting him on a pace not only to challenge Hall of Famer Earl Campbell's franchise record of 1,934 yards in 1980, but possibly reaching the magic 2,000. That hasn't been done since Jamal Lewis had 2,066 in 2003, and Sanders, Simpson, Eric Dickerson and Terrell Davis are the only other backs to do manage it in the NFL. Buffalo coach Dick Jauron gets to plot defensive strategy against Johnson on Sunday. He can't compare Johnson to any other running back. "He's just so fast and explosive. When he gets that step, there doesn't seem to be another person on the field that can catch him," Jauron said.
Analysis: Johnson is going for his fourth straight 100-yard rushing game Sunday, which would be the first by this team since Eddie George had five consecutive such games in 1998. Look for Johnson to thrive against the Bills, who are last in run defense. Consider Johnson a No. 1 Fantasy RB in all leagues this week.
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| 11/8/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Another huge game for C. Johnson
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson had a monster day on Sunday in a Week 9 win over the 49ers on the road. He carried the ball for a total of 125 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. He added three receptions for 25 yards as well. Six plays after his 81-yard touchdown run was overturned, Chris Johnson took a pitch from Vince Young and scurried 2 yards for a go-ahead score and led the Titans to their second straight win with a 34-27 victory over the stumbling 49ers on Sunday. He added a 1-yard run in the third quarter for his second score.
Analysis: Johnson is incredibly fast and has been torching opposing defenses all season. He has 959 yards rushing through eight games and could approach 2,000 yards rushing this season. He is again a must-start Fantasy RB this season and should be in for a huge game Week 10 against Buffalo which owns the league's worst run defense coming into Week 9. He is an obvious must-start in all formats for that game and should be a lock for his fourth straight game with more than 100 yards rushing.
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| 11/4/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ utilizing 'Ferrari' speed
News: Tennessee cornerback Cortland Finnegan is fast, very fast. And he refuses to even think about racing teammate Chris Johnson. Not even for fun. "There's some things you just don't do," Finnegan said with a smile. "A Ferrari and a Toyota Corolla will not race. I feel like I'll be a Toyota Corolla. I'm not going to race a Ferrari." Johnson is the speedy second-year running back from East Carolina who is leaving defenders in his wake. He's leading the NFL in yards rushing (824) and yards per carry with a whopping 6.9 average, and was the AFC offensive player of the week Wednesday for his franchise-record 228 yards rushing in last week's 30-13 win over Jacksonville. Call it arrogant, but Johnson said he hasn't seen anyone match his speed -- measured at 4.24 seconds in a 40-yard dash -- yet in the NFL. "I'm not all about my speed. I can make people miss. I can break tackles," he said.
Analysis: It's part of Johnson's march to being one of the NFL's best, and this season's goal is 2,000 yards, which has been done only five times and not since Jamal Lewis in 2003. If he reaches that, Johnson plans to reward his linemen by buying them cars. He has topped 100 yards three times this season, and his 228 yards was the NFL's best since Adrian Peterson rushed for 296 on Nov. 4, 2007, against San Diego. It was also the 16th best rushing total since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970. Some running backs may have more touchdowns than Johnson's four, but each of his scoring runs has been longer than 52 yards, and he is busy rewriting the Tennessee record book, passing by names like Billy Cannon, Earl Campbell and Eddie George. Johnson has two of the franchise's three longest TD runs with an 89-yarder and a 91-yarder -- both this season. "It feels real good to look at some of the guys who have played before me, then come in and break a record. But records are made to be broken," Johnson said. San Francisco (3-4) is next to defend Johnson this Sunday, and coach Mike Singletary's 49ers rank second in the NFL against the run. They've allowed only one team to top 100 yards this season. But he said preparing for Johnson is very difficult and deceptive. Continue to start CJ despite the tough matchup.
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| 11/1/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ sets Titans single game record
News: Chris Johnson set a franchise record by rushing for 228 yards, and the Tennessee Titans won their first game of the season by routing the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-13 Sunday. Johnson did his most damage on touchdown runs of 52 yards and 89 yards in the second half. His 89-yard scamper gave Johnson the Titans' single-game record. Johnson averaged 9.5 yards per carry and also had 11 receiving yards.
Analysis: Johnson has racked up 356 rushing yards in his last two games and is averaging 8.7 yards per carry in that span. For the season, Johnson is 6.9 yards per carry. That's just insane. He is clearly the Titans' best running back, leaving teammate LenDale White in the dust. A lack of touchdowns has been the only thing holding CJ back in 2009. Continue to start him in Fantasy heading into Week 9 against the 49ers. San Francisco has a pretty good run defense, but with the way CJ has been playing, you can't really afford to sit him.
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| 10/30/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to jet vs. Jags?
News: The Titans, seeking their first win of the season, will host the Jaguars in Week 8. Tennessee RB Chris Johnson, who totaled 94 yards against Jacksonville earlier this season, will be facing a run defense that ranks 13th.
Analysis: Johnson is second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage, which is a pretty stunning stat considering the Titans have been coming from behind in the second half of pretty much every game. Even with the QB change in Tennessee, Johnson should get plenty of touches in Week 8 and can be considered a solid No. 1 Fantasy RB in all formats.
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| 10/18/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
CJ lone bright spot in Titans loss
News: A rare bright spot for Tennessee during a 59-0 loss to the Patriots in Week 6 was RB Chris Johnson, who entered as the NFL's third leading rusher. He ran for 128 of the Titans' total of 186 overall. It was his second 100-yard game of the season. Johnson had a long gain of 48 yards and averaged 7.5 yards per carry.
Analysis: Johnson carried the load for Tennessee after LenDale White went down with an undisclosed injury in the second quarter. Even if White was healthy, CJ was likely to see the bulk of carries. Johnson hasn't scored much in 2009, but he continues to be one of the few reliable Titans in Fantasy. Continue to view him as no worse than a No. 2 Fantasy RB. The Titans are on a bye Week 7 and don't play again until Week 8 against the Jaguars. Johnson had 32 carries for 157 yards in two games against Jacksonville last season.
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| 10/15/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans' Johnson to bounce back Sunday?
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson, who had just 34 yards rushing on nine carries in a Week 5 loss to the Colts, will try to bounce back in Week 6 at New England. The Patriots rank 11th against the run this season and have given up just one touchdown on the ground.
Analysis: The Titans have been one of the biggest disappointments this season, and things won't get any easier in Week 6 against a New England team that fell to Denver in Week 5. Knowshon Moreno did have a decent game in that contest though, so hopefully Johnson can get back on track. Consider him a high-end No. 2 Fantasy RB for the matchup.
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| 10/12/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson has rough game Sunday
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson had nine carries for 34 yards and two catches for 9 yards Sunday against the Colts. Johnson left the game with an injured ankle but returned after getting it re-taped.
Analysis: It appears like Johnson is OK, but he was ineffective in what should have been a good matchup for him. Johnson will look to rebound in Week 6 at the Patriots. Consider him a good start against New England and hope he bounces back with a good outing.
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| 10/8/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson played well vs. Colts in '08
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson takes on the Colts in Week 5, and Fantasy owners will be hoping he can repeat his performance against Indy from last season, when he managed 96 yards and a touchdown.
Analysis: Johnson got off to a slow start this season, but he's picked things up since, averaging 126.6 yards on the ground over his last three games. The Colts rank a respectable 16th against the run, but held Julius Jones to just 25 yards rushing last week. Hopefully Johnson does a lot better than that, and you should consider him a solid No. 1 Fantasy RB option in Week 5.
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| 10/4/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans' Johnson totals 94 yards in loss
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson ran 16 times for 83 yards and caught three passes for 11 yards in a Week 4 loss to the Jaguars. He also lost a fumble.
Analysis: The Titans were pretty much out of their game by halftime on Sunday, which limited Johnson's chances to have a big game. That led to only 20 of his rushing yards coming in the second half. In Week 5, Tennessee hosts the Colts, and Johnson should continue to be thought of as a No. 1 Fantasy RB.
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| 10/1/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson dominated Jaguars in 2008
News: The Titans visit the Jaguars in Week 4, and Tennessee RB Chris Johnson will be looking forward to that matchup. Last season, Johnson racked up 215 total yards and a touchdown in two meetings with Jacksonville.
Analysis: After a tough matchup in Week 1, Johnson has been living up to expectations the past couple of games and could really be ready to explode against the Jaguars on Sunday. Consider him a high-end No. 1 option for that matchup.
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| 9/27/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson just misses 100-yard game
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson had another solid game on the ground Week 3 against the Jets in a 24-17 loss to the Jets. He ran for a total of 97 yards in the game, averaging 4.4 per carry. He also made one reception in the game for eight yards a week after making nine catches for 87 total yards in Week 2 against Houston.
Analysis: Johnson, as expected, struggled to find the end zone against the Jets, who did a solid job of keeping him from ripping off any explosive runs. Lendale White remains the team's short yardage and goal line back, taking away from Johnson's TD production and overall touches. The Titans head to Jacksonville in Week 4, a good matchup for Johnson. For those Fantasy owners who stayed away from Johnson against the Jets' defense Week 3, feel free to use him Week 4 at Jacksonville.
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| 9/24/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Jets ready to contain Johnson
News: The New York Jets plan to pay very close attention to Tennessee RB Chris Johnson on Sunday. Good move, considering the huge game Johnson just turned in. He became the first player in NFL history to rush for a touchdown of longer than 90 yards, another for more than 50 yards, and a TD catch longer than 60 yards. Johnson set a career-high with 197 yards rushing and 87 yards receiving on 25 touches for 284 yards total, second in franchise history only to Billy Cannon's 330 yards on Dec. 10, 1961, against the then-New York Titans. Johnson's 91-yard TD run tied the longest rush in franchise history, a mark set by Sid Blanks on Dec. 13, 1964, against the renamed Jets. Now, Johnson gets to face the Jets again, and this is a bad matchup for him. Johnson is the CBSSports.com Sit of the Week.
Analysis: Here's what Johnson is facing this week: The Jets are No. 6 in run defense at 61 yards per game allowed with no rushing touchdowns in two games against Houston and New England. The Jets held Johnson to 10 carries for 46 yards and three catches for 15 yards and a fumble in their meeting last year. This season, Johnson had the great game against Houston, but he struggled against Pittsburgh with 15 carries for 57 yards and one catch for 11 yards in Week 1. He could face a similar outcome in this matchup. At best, consider Johnson a No. 3 Fantasy RB heading into Week 3.
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| 9/23/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson faces tough Jets defense Week 3
News: The Titans visit the Jets in Week 3, and Tennessee RB Chris Johnson, who ran wild vs. the Texans in Week 2, might have his work cut out for him. The Jets lead the NFL in fewest yards allowed, and have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season.
Analysis: Johnson might be a case of 'what have you done for me lately?", leading people to just roll with him regardless of his opponent, but Fantasy owners should be very, very afraid of this Jets defense. Johnson did manage 68 total yards against the Steelers in Week 1 though, so there is a chance he could be worth using in deeper leagues, but you might want to look to your bench if you have an OK reserve player with a sexier matchup.
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| 9/20/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans' Johnson racks up points
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson ran wild against the Texas in a Week 2 loss, as he racked up 197 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries and caught nine passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Analysis: After getting bottled up by the Steelers in Week 1, Johnson found himself with all sorts of space on Sunday. He did get a little lucky on his touchdown catch though, as the Texans failed to cover him and Kerry Collins simply tossed him the ball before watching Johnson scamper 69 yards for the score. Yards might be a little harder to come by in Week 3, as the Titans will face the stellar Jets defense. Still, Johnson is worth using as a low-end No. 1 or high-end No. 2 Fantasy RB.
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| 9/11/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson bottled up for 57 yards
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson led his team with 15 carries for 57 yards during a Week 1 loss to the Steelers. Johnson's longest carry went for 32 yards, however, 12 of his carries went for five yards or less. He even had five carries for negative yards. Johnson also came up with one catch for 11 yards, but did not find the end zone.
Analysis: Johnson didn't break 100 yards against the Steelers as a rookie in 2008, and he came up short in that regard again in his second attempt against Pittsburgh. But then again, not many running backs have great success against the Steelers' run defense. Johnson will look to get on track in a Week 2 showdown against the Texans. He had 29 carries for 139 yards and four catches for seven yards in two games against Houston last season. Johnson is no worse than a No. 2 Fantasy RB for Week 2.
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| 9/8/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson OK vs. Steelers in '08
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson, who will face the stout Steelers defense in Week 1, managed to rush for 69 yards and a touchdown against Pittsburgh in 2008. He also caught two passes for one yards.
Analysis: Johnson split carries almost exactly 50/50 with LenDale White in the Week 16 matchup with the Steelers last season, and you shouldn't expect anything different than that in Thursday night's contest. If you have a very late draft, Johnson remains worth drafting toward the end of Round 1 or beginning of Round 2 in all formats as a low-end No. 1 Fantasy RB.
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| 8/30/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson, White still struggling
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson rushed seven times for 27 yards on Saturday in a preseason loss to the Browns. Johnson also caught one pass for 15 yards. Titans RB LenDale White rushed four times for 20 yards and did not catch a pass.
Analysis: Johnson had his best rushing day of the preseason by far on Saturday night and it was still mediocre with just 3.9 yards per carry. Johnson has 16 carries this preseason for 37 yards and two catches for 15. He has yet to find the end zone. White has nine carries this preseason for a total of 30 yards and no scores or catches. While coach Jeff Fisher has said he's not worried about his team's running game, Fantasy owners have to be a little skeptical at this point. Tennessee has ranked fifth, fifth and seventh in rushing in each of the past three seasons. Johnson and White have set the goal of becoming only the fifth duo in NFL history to run for 1,000 yards apiece in 2009 after coming up just short in 2008. Johnson ran for 1,228 yards, while White gained 773. Johnson has plenty of potential to build off last year's breakout season, but he will still lose carries to White, including touchdowns. Still, Johnson is worth drafting toward the end of Round 1 or beginning of Round 2 in all formats and White should be taken a little later than that for all the goal-line touchdowns he'll get. Still, you have to be worried with the way they are currently playing.
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| 8/24/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans not worried about running game
News: Three preseason games in, the Tennessee Titans' running game has been nearly invisible. Pro Bowl running back Chris Johnson is averaging an anemic 1.8 yards per carry, and LenDale White isn't much better. Not that anyone here is worried. After all, it's just preseason, and Jeff Fisher's Titans know how to run the football. "Somebody on the outside looking in, me and CJ, we have more than enough confidence in our offensive line and we know when we crank this thing up and we're running the ball and we're getting the opportunities to run the ball that everything's going to be OK," White said. If history and recent success are any hint, the Titans do know what they're doing when it comes to running the ball. The Titans rank seventh in the NFL since the start of Fisher's first full season in 1995 in yards rushing per game, averaging 121.3 and 4 yards per carry. Among the league's top 10 in rushing in that period, only Pittsburgh (7,248) and Denver (6,852) have run more successfully than Tennessee (6,764).
Analysis: Tennessee has ranked fifth, fifth and seventh in rushing in each of the past three seasons. Johnson and White have set the goal of becoming only the fifth duo in NFL history to run for 1,000 yards apiece in 2009 after coming up just short in 2008. Johnson ran for 1,228 yards, while White gained 773. Johnson has plenty of potential to build off last year's breakout season, but he will still lose carries to White, including touchdowns. Still, Johnson is worth drafting toward the end of Round 1 or beginning of Round 2 in all formats, especially if they are going to use him in different ways.
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| 7/21/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson could play in slot
News: The Tennessean reports the Titans are finding new ways to get the ball to RB Chris Johnson this year. Johnson, who last season rushed for 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns, could line up in the slot at times, as well as other places.
Analysis: Johnson has plenty of potential to build off last year's breakout season, but he will still lose carries to LenDale White, including touchdowns. Still, Johnson is worth drafting toward the end of Round 1 or beginning of Round 2 in all formats, especially if they are going to use him in different ways.
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| 5/13/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson wants to be MVP
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans RB Chris Johnson has high expectations this year heading into his sophomore season. "I want to be NFL MVP, and lead the league in rushing," Johnson said. "I want to be named to another Pro Bowl. I like to set my goals high, and everything is possible." On the heels of his highly successful rookie season, the Titans want to put Johnson to work even more this fall. That could mean more carries and more catches, but also more creative ways to get them. The paper reports Johnson could be moved all over the field. "There's places we can move him, routes we can run with him, looks we can do with him that we held back last year because I thought I was stretching him too much," offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger said. "But C.J. needs to show he can do those things and he'll work at it. And the more he shows the more we can give him. If C.J. wants to learn it and work at it then we have a chance to move him all around the place."
Analysis: A first-round pick last year, Johnson rushed for 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns. He also caught 43 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown. His 1,488 yards from scrimmage ranked fifth in the AFC. He had 21 plays of 15 yards or more. Johnson has the potential for better stats this year. He will still lose touchdowns to LenDale White, but Johnson put up enough positive stats to be considered a No. 1 Fantasy RB this year. He is worth drafting in the first round with a pick beginning with No. 7 overall. Yes, he's that good.
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| 1/12/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson to have MRI on ankle
News: Tennessee rookie running back Chris Johnson wore a walking boot on his injured right foot Monday and was scheduled for an MRI exam after a high ankle sprain knocked him out of the Titans' playoff loss to Baltimore. Johnson was hurt midway through the second quarter of the Titans' 13-10 AFC divisional playoff loss to Baltimore on Saturday. He had his ankle retaped and tried to return, but couldn't. He wore the walking boot Monday as the Titans cleared out their lockers. "He has components of a high ankle sprain," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "He'll remain in the boot. I can't say whether or not he'll be back for the Pro Bowl or not. Had we won the ballgame, he probably would've been listed as doubtful for this week."
Analysis: Johnson was the only rookie selected for the Pro Bowl in December, and he ranked eighth in the NFL with 1,228 yards. Against the Ravens, he had 72 yards on 11 carries with one catch for 28 yards before he was hurt. The high-ankle sprain came at the perfect time as he'll have many weeks to rest up before the start of the 2009 season. We've all seen how explosive he is and what he can bring to the table, and that's why he's a low-end No. 1/top-end No. 2 Fantasy RB in 2009 (assuming he's still giving up goal-line carries to LenDale White) worth a Top 15 draft pick.
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| 1/10/2009 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson scores and hurts ankle
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson rushed 11 times for 72 yards against the Ravens in Saturday's Division Playoff loss. The Titans lost 13-10 and Johnson scored the lone touchdown on the day for the Titans. Johnson scored on an 8-yard run in the 1st quarter to put Tennessee up 7-0. Later, Johnson hurt himself in the 2nd quarter as he injured his ankle. He also had one catch for 28 yards.
Analysis: Johnson finished his rookie season with 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns. That is an amazing year for a rookie who also lost some carries to LenDale White all year. The ankle injury is not serious and he'll enter 2009 as a very high-end Fantasy option worth taking in the first few rounds.
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| 12/28/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans rest Chris Johnson
News: With the No. 1 seed locked up, the Titans have opted to rest RB Chris Johnson for Week 17 at Indianapolis. He is inactive and will not play against the Colts.
Analysis: Johnson should be reserved in Fantasy play immediately! If you need an emergency option to replace him, consider Titans backup RBs Quinton Ganther and Chris Henry as possibilities since Tennessee should run both of them plenty in Week 17.
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| 12/25/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson expected to be limited
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson is not expected to play much in Sunday's season-finale at Indianapolis with Tennessee having clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Analysis: Look for Johnson to start but not see much time throughout the game. Because of that, consider Johnson a low-end No. 2 Fantasy RB against the Colts. If you're looking for a good sleeper this week, look at second-year RB Chris Henry for the Titans, who could see more time than Johnson and LenDale White.
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| 12/21/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson finds pay dirt in clincher
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson rushed 16 times for 69 yards in Week 16 against Pittsburgh, including a 21-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He also caught two passes for one yard.
Analysis: Johnson split carries with LenDale White as usual and helped his team clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC. That means it is highly possible he will be limited or may not play at all in Week 17 at Indianapolis with the team looking to stay healthy for the playoffs. Fantasy owners should be prepared to go without Brown in Week 17. Monitor the team's plans over the course of the week.
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| 12/18/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson has tough matchup
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson deserves to be in the Pro Bowl and should be considered one of the best Fantasy options this season. He has been a steal for owners who took him in Round 9 or later, according to his average draft position on CBSSports.com. But this is not a good week to count on Johnson, even if it's the Fantasy playoffs, and he's the CBSSports.com Sit of the Week. Johnson has a terrible matchup against Pittsburgh this week. The Steelers are No. 2 in run defense with only five touchdowns allowed.
Analysis: Johnson has struggled against 3-4 defenses this season, which is what Pittsburgh uses. Johnson was held to 18 carries for 44 yards and no touchdowns at Baltimore in Week 5 and 10 carries for 46 yards and no touchdowns against the Jets in Week 11. Last week, Johnson had 13 carries for 65 yards at Houston and will likely be held below that total in this matchup. And, as we know, if the Titans get close to the end zone, LenDale White will come on and steal touchdowns. Instead, some other running backs to consider along with Thomas and the players listed below include Darren McFadden (vs. HOU), Derrick Ward (vs. CAR), Cadillac Williams (vs. SD), Leon Washington (at SEA), Jamal Lewis (vs. CIN) and Dominic Rhodes (at JAC). And if Frank Gore (ankle) is out at St. Louis, DeShaun Foster has a great matchup as well.
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| 12/14/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Texans stymie C. Johnson again
News: In the Titans' 13-12 loss at the Texans in Week 15, RB Chris Johnson led the team with 65 rush yards on 13 carries but failed to score. He added 2 rush yards on two catches. Johnson has dominated nearly every opponent he's faced this season but totaled 139 rush yards in two games against the Texans.
Analysis: It gets worse: Johnson and the Titans will host the Steelers in Week 16, a brutal matchup for the rookie rusher. Johnson struggled against the Ravens' 3-4 defense, totaling 44 yards on 18 carries, and that defensive front is much like Pittsburgh's. Consider Johnson at best a middle-end No. 2 Fantasy RB for this matchup.
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| 12/7/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson goes over 1,000 yards
News: Titans rookie RB Chris Johnson ran 19 times for 136 yards and a touchdown in a Week 14 win over the Browns as he went over 1,000 yards rushing on the season. He also caught four passes for 30 yards to lead the Titans in receiving.
Analysis: Johnson now has back-to-back 100-yard rushing games and four total on the season, as he continues to stay in contention for the rookie-of-the-year award along with Matt Ryan and Matt Forte. The Titans play at Houston in Week 15 and Johnson remains a must-start No. 1 Fantasy RB in all formats. He had 74 rushing yards against the Texans earlier this year.
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| 12/4/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson can reach milestone
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson is just 42 yards from a mileston, as he can become only the third rookie in franchise history to gain 1,000 yards. The other two are Eddie George and Earl Campbell, which is impressive company for Johnson. And the fact that Johnson would do it on roughly the same number of carries as Campbell did in 1978 makes for another wow. Campbell entered his rookie year with 944 yards on 201 carries just before he went over 1,000 yards with his spectacular 199-yard, four touchdown Monday night performance against Miami. Johnson currently has 958 yards on 203 rushing attempts. "If you look at all the rookies who come in and run for over 1,000 yards, they all turned to have pretty good careers in the NFL," Johnson said in the City Paper. "That was one of my goals coming in here, and to be so close to it, it feels good."
Analysis: In their rookie years, Campbell finished with a flourish with 1,450 yards on 302 carries, while George ended up with 1,368 on 335 attempts. "It's still attainable. We have four more games left, but it depends on how it goes," Johnson said. "If we clinch the playoffs and all that, I'm not sure how much I'll play in the last couple of games. But it's still within reach." Consider Johnson a No. 1 Fantasy RB in Week 14 against Cleveland.
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| 11/27/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson has best Fantasy week yet
News: In the Titans' 47-10 win over the Lions on Thanksgiving as part of Week 13 action, rookie RB Chris Johnson tormented the Lions with two touchdowns in the first seven minutes of the game and ending up with 125 rush yards on 16 carries. In standard-scoring leagues, this was his best week of the season. His first score was a 7-yard run on a left-side sweep and his second was on a draw play from 58 yards out where he outran the Lions' coverage. He also had two catches for 9 yards.
Analysis: We had seen Johnson slump in recent weeks and began talking about him hitting a 'rookie wall.' We can put those fears to rest now. In fact, we thought we were being bold back in the preseason when we considered Johnson a candidate for 1,000 total yards. He has already topped that mark and is 42 yard shy of 1,000 rushing yards on the season. With a matchup coming vs. Cleveland in Week 14 -- with a couple of extra days of rest in-between -- figure Johnson to roll again and come close to 100 total yards and a score.
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| 11/27/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
RB Johnson scores twice in 7 mins
News: In his Week 13 game at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, Titans RB Chris Johnson scored twice in the first seven minutes of the game. His first score was a 7-yard run on a left-side sweep and his second was on a draw play from 58 yards out where he outran the Lions' coverage.
Analysis: Johnson is already on his way to a blockbuster day on Thanksgiving. No doubt about it, Johnson is not only a stud Fantasy running back when the matchup is right, but he'll also be a popular top-25 pick in drafts next season.
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| 11/26/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson again the focus for Titans
News: The Titans have proven they can throw the ball when necessary. Now coach Jeff Fisher wants them to go back to what he likes to do best: Run, run, run. "It's not that we didn't remain committed to it or didn't intend to do it, but we were put in a position to pick it up and throw it," Fisher said Tuesday. Defenses had been stacking the line with eight and nine defenders, daring Kerry Collins to beat them by throwing. He did until last weekend when the New York Jets handed the Titans their first loss.
Analysis: This news bodes well for Chris Johnson, who ranks second in the AFC with 833 rushing yards as a rookie and faces a Lions defense in Week 13 that owns the absolute worst rushing defense in football. Johnson's numbers have declined recently because the Titans had to change their approach, but Johnson looks a must-start option on Thursday.
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| 11/25/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson a good bet on Turkey day
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson has averaged under 40 yards rushing per game over his last three contests heading into a Thanksgiving Day battle at lowly Detroit. He hasn't scored a touchdown over that span. Still, he ranks second in the AFC with 833 rushing yards as a rookie and the Lions own the absolute worst rushing defense in football.
Analysis: Since the Lions are giving up almost 167 rushing yards per game this season, we expect the rookie runner to bounce back nicely in Week 13 on Thursday in Detroit. Consider him a must-start across the board.
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| 11/23/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson totals 61 yards Week 12
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson rushed 10 times for 46 yards in Week 12's loss to the New York Jets Sunday. Johnson also caught three passes for 15 yards.
Analysis: Johnson has had three poor rushing games in a row now for the Titans. He hasn't scored a touchdown in three weeks, though he'll have a great matchup Thursday at Detroit against one of the worst defenses in the league. He's a must-start against Detroit on Thanksgiving.
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| 11/20/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson has tough matchup
News: RB Chris Johnson, the star rookie for the Titans, has been fantastic this season. He has 787 rushing yards and five touchdowns and 30 catches for 203 yards and a touchdown. But maybe Johnson is starting to slow down a little bit, and he's the CBSSports.com Sit of the Week. He has 31 carries for 72 yards and no touchdowns the past two games against Chicago and Jacksonville and only six catches for 39 yards. This week, Johnson is going to run into Jets DT Kris Jenkins. He's back as a top defensive tackle, and he's a leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. Jenkins has turned around the Jets run defense from No. 29 last year to No. 4 this year. The Jets are only allowing 81.3 rushing yards per game with seven touchdowns, and Jenkins is the main reason why.
Analysis: Even if Johnson does have some success, we know he won't be the one with the chance to score. If Tennessee gets near the goal line, Johnson is out and LenDale White is in. This is a bad matchup for Johnson. Jenkins and the Jets are going to make sure he doesn't help your Fantasy team this week, so consider Johnson a No. 3 Fantasy option against New York.
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| 11/17/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson again limited Week 11
News: Titans rookie RB Chris Johnson, coming off a season-worst eight yards rushing on 14 carries in Week 10, looked only moderately better Week 11 at Jacksonville. He finished with 64 yards on 17 carries and 24 on two receptions.
Analysis: Johnson has now gone two games without a touchdown, but he remains the most explosive player on the undefeated Titans' offense. Expect him to rebound nicely Week 12 against the Jets and start him as a No. 2 Fantasy RB.
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| 11/9/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
RB Johnson gets limited production
News: Tennessee RB Chris Johnson got the majority of carries on Sunday in a win over the Bears to help the Titans stay undefeated. Johnson rushed 14 times for eight yards. He also caught two passes for 15 yards.
Analysis: The entire Titans team mustered just 20 rushing yards in Week 10 despite the victory and they are simply not built for a big-time running game. They aren't built for a big-time offense, period, though they continue to win. Johnson came into Week 10 with touchdowns in three straight games and had that snapped against the Bears. We expect him to bounce back in Week 11 against the Jaguars in Jacksonville. He can be considered a low-end No. 2 Fantasy RB in Week 11.
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| 11/6/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson, White lead Titans
News: All the critics who bashed Tennessee's decision to draft RB Chris Johnson with their first-round pick in April sure look foolish now. The rookie leads the AFC with 715 yards rushing and 819 yards from scrimmage, and he trails only Washington's Clinton Portis (944), Adrian Peterson of Minnesota (823) and Michael Turner of Atlanta (794) for the NFL rushing lead. Each of the backs ahead of him have at least 30 carries more than Johnson. Johnson was the 24th pick out of East Carolina, and an easy one for the Titans, who loved his speed. Halfway through the season, Johnson already ranks fifth in franchise history for yards rushing by a rookie - chasing the standard set by Earl Campbell (1,450) in 1978 and nearly matched by Eddie George (1,368) in 1996. The Titans also have LenDale White, who has bolstered the NFL's fourth-best rushing offense this season. White leads the NFL with 10 touchdowns rushing and ripped off a 54-yard run in last week's 19-16 overtime win against Green Bay.
Analysis: The Titans gave Johnson the ball a season-high 30 times against Green Bay. He ran 24 times for 89 yards and a TD and had six catches for 72 yards. Johnson said he feels he's handling the demands of splitting work with White, and Fisher said the Titans are trying to do more with the rookie each week. Look for Johnson and White to play well against Chicago, but the matchup is tough. Consider Johnson a No. 2 Fantasy option in Week 10, with White a solid flex RB.
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| 11/2/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson totals over 150 yards, TD
News: In a 19-16 win at home over Green Bay, Tennessee rookie RB Chris Johnson kept up his torrid numbers with 89 rush yards on 24 carries and a touchdown with six catches for 72 yards. In total, he has 161 yards. Johnson now has 715 rush yards and 164 receiving yards on the season with six total touchdowns.
Analysis: The only fear Fantasy owners should have with Johnson at this point is him hitting the proverbial 'rookie wall' in the coming weeks. Most rookie players, notably running backs, are used to 12-game seasons from their college days, and the NFL is obviously a 16-game season. Additionally, Johnson and the Titans will have a tough matchup in Week 10 at Chicago. The Bears have allowed eight ground touchdowns this year and only one 100-yard rusher. Johnson will have his hands full but has played well in good and bad matchups. Figure him to be a Top 20 Fantasy RB for Week 10.
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| 10/28/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson salvages game with late TD
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson didn't have a particularly impressive performance for the first 56 minutes of Week 8 against the Colts, but then he broke 16-yard touchdown run with less than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. He finished with 19 carries for 77 yards and four catches for 19.
Analysis: Johnson didn't look quite as impressive as he did when he gained 168 yards in Week 7, but running backs typically play their best against the Chiefs. As the primary option in a run-heavy offensive attack, Johnson remains a must-start Fantasy RB even though LenDale White robs him of carries at the goal line. Keep him active Week 9 against the Packers.
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| 10/23/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson fined for TD celebration
News: Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson has been fined $10,000 for his celebration after a 66-yard touchdown run against the Kansas City Chiefs. The NFL said Thursday Johnson was fined for unsportsmanlike conduct for banging on some drums in the Chiefs' pep band during Sunday's 34-10 victory. He was penalized 15 yards at the time. "I am not happy about it," Johnson told reporters Thursday. "I knew I was going to get a fine, but I am totally upset about how much. I am going to appeal. There's no fun in this league. I was trying to have fun and they want to penalize us for having fun."
Analysis: Johnson had a career game against one of the NFL's worst rushing defenses running all over Kansas City for 168 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. The Chiefs proved that starting running backs against them is a solid Fantasy strategy as backup LenDale White also ran for 149 yards and three touchdowns in the game. Johnson remains the starter, however, and he should continue to be thought of as a high-end Fantasy RB. The Titans meet Indianapolis in Week 8 and the Colts are only slightly better against the rush than the Chiefs. He's a must-start next week.
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| 10/19/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson totals 168 yards, TD
News: Tennessee rookie RB Chris Johnson had a career game against one of the NFL's worst rushing defenses in Week 7. Johnson ran all over the Chiefs with 168 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. He took a 4th quarter carry 66 yards to the house.
Analysis: The Chiefs proved that starting running backs against them is a solid Fantasy strategy as backup LenDale White also ran for 149 yards and three touchdowns in the game. Johnson remains the starter, however, and he should continue to be thought of as a high-end Fantasy RB. The Titans meet Indianapolis in Week 8 and the Colts are only slightly better against the rush than the Chiefs. He's a must-start next week.
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| 10/17/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson in line for good week
News: Kansas City is last in the NFL in run defense at 182.2 yards allowed per game. They've given up eight rushing touchdowns and 11 carries of 20 yards or more. With those stats, Titans RB Chris Johnson is the CBSSports.com Start of the Week. Johnson has rushed for 381 yards and two touchdowns and has 12 catches for 69 yards. He's sharing carries with LenDale White, who has become the goal-line back, but Johnson remains the starter and No. 1 option. The Chiefs haven't been able to stop anyone this year, but Darren McFadden (164 rushing yards and a touchdown), Michael Turner (104 rushing yards and three touchdowns) and DeAngelo Williams (123 rushing yards and two touchdowns) have done the most damage.
Analysis: Consider Johnson a No. 1 Fantasy RB against the Chiefs. He should be in line for a great outing against a poor Kansas City run defense.
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| 10/14/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson ready for huge week
News: Tennessee rookie RB Chris Johnson is coming off a bye week after rushing for just 44 yards on 18 carries against the Ravens in Week 5. Baltimore's superior rush defense slowed him down, but as Week 7 approaches against Kansas City, Johnson remains the team's No. 1 rushing option with LenDale White behind him.
Analysis: The Ravens are known for their vicious run defense, and Johnson learned about it first hand. Johnson has throttled many teams already this year, but this was the first time he saw a 3-4 defense (including in the preseason) that was as fast to the outside edges as he was. The good news: Johnson is done with the Ravens for the rest of the regular season. Johnson is at Kansas City in Week 7 and considering the Chiefs' woes against the run, Johnson will be rested and ready for a huge week. He's a must-start as a No. 1 Fantasy RB in Week 7.
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| 10/5/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Ravens stop speedy rookie Johnson
News: Fantasy owners knew going in to the Titans' Week 5 matchup at Baltimore that Chris Johnson would be facing a stiff run defense. No one knew it would get this rough: Johnson had his worst game as a pro so far, rushing 18 times for 44 yards and catching two passes for 4 yards. He started off strong with 13-yard run on his first rush and averaging nearly 9.0 yards per carry through his first five touches, but cooled off as the Ravens' run defense zeroed in on him.
Analysis: The Ravens are known for their vicious run defense, and Johnson learned about it first hand. Johnson has throttled many teams already this year, but this was the first time he saw a 3-4 defense (including in the preseason) that was as fast to the outside edges as he was. The good news: Johnson is done with the Ravens for the rest of the regular season. Tennessee is on bye in Week 6 and return to action Week 7 at Kansas City, and considering the Chiefs' woes against the run, Johnson will be rested and ready for a huge week. We'll be calling him a must-start for that game.
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| 9/28/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans' Johnson speeds past Vikes
News: If the Vikings were considered one of the toughest run defenses in the NFL, Titans rookie RB Chris Johnson didn't get the memo. Johnson continued to show off his trademark quickness in a 17-carry, 61-yard effort vs. the Vikings in Week 4, scoring twice on touchdowns inside the 10 on sweep plays. He added 14 yards on three catches.
Analysis: More than half of Johnson's owners in CBSSports.com leagues benched him in Week 4 against the Vikings' powerful run defense, but the Titans used him wisely, running him toward the outside edges for much of the game. Is there a defense we wouldn't recommend Johnson against? Well, how about the Ravens, who have been punishing against opposing running backs. And wouldn't you know it? Johnson plays at Baltimore in Week 5. The bottom line is that Johnson has been a great Fantasy option for three of four weeks, so it's going to be a tough call on whether or not to start him against the Ravens. Ultimately, expect Johnson to find his yards one way or another, making him likely to produce like a No. 3 Fantasy RB in Week 5.
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| 9/21/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson rushes for 74 yards
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson tied for a team-high 16 carries with LenDale White Week 3 against the Texans, but led Tennessee with 74 rushing yards. His longest gain went for 14 yards, but he had no touchdowns while White had two. Johnson also had two catches for five yards.
Analysis: Johnson has yet to have a 20-carry game, but he continues to be the Titans top rusher. The only downside is that White is getting most of the goal-line carries. The Titans play a tough Vikings defense in Week 4, so consider Johnson a No. 3 Fantasy RB.
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| 9/18/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans rookie continues to impress
News: LenDale White stood in front of his locker Thursday and insisted that winning matters more than carries or starts. Rookie Chris Johnson says he and White want to become the NFL's top 1-2 combination at running back. Welcome to the challenge of keeping running backs happy. Jeff Fisher said his Tennessee Titans would find a way to split the carries between White and Johnson. Through two games, they couldn't divide the work more evenly, but the rookie is the sensation that has given this offense a much-needed boost. "He's a special guy with special talents, and we just have to find ways to give him the ball," Fisher said.
Analysis: Johnson, the 24th pick overall out of East Carolina, was the fastest guy at the NFL Combine. That 4.24-second speed in the 40-yard dash has made him a breakaway threat whenever he touches the ball. He broke loose for a 51-yard run in last week's 24-7 win at Cincinnati and finished with 109 yards for his first 100-yard rushing performance. "The young running back has added a punch to them for big-play ability that's obvious when you watch him," said Houston coach Gary Kubiak, who gets to try and slow Johnson down Sunday. Johnson has been a breakout player so far this season and should be started as a No. 2 Fantasy option in Week 2 against Houston.
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| 9/16/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Casserly fond of Johnson
News: CBS NFL Today analyst Charley Casserly is impressed with Tennessee rookie RB Chris Johnson, who has 202 rushing yards through two games. "His best attributes are speed and acceleration," Casserly said. "He may be the fastest running back I have ever seen from zero to 10 yards on a football field."
Analysis: Johnson has been a breakout player so far this season and should be started as a No. 2 Fantasy option in Week 2 against Houston.
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| 9/14/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson gets over 100 yards rushing
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson got plenty of action in a Week 2 win over the Bengals and made the most of his opportunity, rushing for 109 yards on 19 carries and making two catches for 12 yards.
Analysis: Johnson had only one more carry than LenDale White in Sunday's win, but lost out on the goal-line carries as expected. Johnson's value was soaring before this game and now it will go through the roof after this performance. He has a tasty matchup in Week 3 against the Texans and we wouldn't blame you if you started him as a No. 2 RB or flex option.
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| 9/7/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson impressive in Week 1
News: Chris Johnson ran 15 times for 93 yards and had three catches for 34 in Week 1 against Jacksonville, including a 7-yard touchdown pass from Vince Young. He left the game momentarily in the fourth quarter with a cramp in his leg, but was able to return.
Analysis: Johnson looked very good in Week 1 even with a less-than-stellar passing game to take some pressure off the running game. He split carries with LenDale White, but looks to be the more explosive back out of the two. Look to Johnson as a promising 'flex' option for Week 2 at Cincinnati as the Titans will almost certainly look to gameplan offensively around him.
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| 9/2/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson makes an impact
News: Titans coach Jeff Fisher said rookie RB Chris Johnson can do it all. "We've seen it," Fisher said in the Tennessean. "We saw it in college and we saw it in the preseason. He's an inside runner and an outside runner." That's why the Titans made Johnson the 24th player chosen in April's draft even though they'd selected running backs in the second round the previous two years. Johnson signed a five-year, $12 million contract. In college, Johnson had no problem running between the tackles. Most of his big runs were to the outside, but that's after he started between the tackles. He also mastered the art of shaking off leg tacklers. He ended last season as the NCAA leader in all-purpose yards (227.7 per game). By the time he left East Carolina, he had tied or set 18 game, season or career records.
Analysis: Johnson, who racked up 6,993 all-purpose yards at East Carolina, is expected to split carries with third-year pro LenDale White. However, he could earn significant playing time and perhaps even emerge as the starter, if he's effective early in the season. For now, continue to draft Johnson as a No. 3 Fantasy RB with plenty of upside. He is worth a pick starting in Round 7 in all leagues. In Week 1, plan on using Johnson as a No. 3 option against Jacksonville.
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| 8/28/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson sees endzone Thursday
News: While LenDale White led the Titans in rushing on Thursday against the Packers, backup RB Chris Johnson recorded a touchdown. Johnson finished with 24 yards on eight carries. In a press conference on Tuesday, Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher spoke about how he plans on using his RBs LenDale White and Chris Johnson: "We’re going to use them both depending on the game plans and it makes sense to take advantage of both of their abilities," Fisher said. "I think we’ll have a better gauge once we get to the middle part of the season how the carries and the touches are going to work. Provided they’re healthy week in and week out I would assume it would be close to 50-50, maybe 60-40."
Analysis: White opened camp as the Titans' first-string running back, but rookie Chris Johnson has come on quickly in just a few weeks. Now, it seems, Fisher is content with having the two share the carries. Johnson doesn't figure to see goal-line carries because those will be White's and White also figures to get the bulk of the carries if anyone does. But Johnson is the man who will catch passes out of the backfield and that could make him dangerous to opposing defenses. If Johnson does split with White 50-50 that raises his Fantasy value and makes him a No. 3 RB worth drafting late in Round 6 or early in Round 7 in drafts.
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| 8/27/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson could split 50-50 with White
News: In a press conference on Tuesday, Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher spoke about how he plans on using his RBs LenDale White and Chris Johnson: "We’re going to use them both depending on the game plans and it makes sense to take advantage of both of their abilities," Fisher said. "I think we’ll have a better gauge once we get to the middle part of the season how the carries and the touches are going to work. Provided they’re healthy week in and week out I would assume it would be close to 50-50, maybe 60-40."
Analysis: White opened camp as the Titans' first-string running back, but rookie Chris Johnson has come on quickly in just a few weeks. Now, it seems, Fisher is content with having the two share the carries. Johnson doesn't figure to see goal-line carries because those will be White's and White also figures to get the bulk of the carries if anyone does. But Johnson is the man who will catch passes out of the backfield and that could make him dangerous to opposing defenses. If Johnson does split with White 50-50 that raises his Fantasy value and makes him a No. 3 RB worth drafting late in Round 6 or early in Round 7 in drafts.
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| 8/22/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson starts for injured RB
News: Titans rookie RB Chris Johnson started Friday's preseason game against the Falcons in place of LenDale White, who was sidelined by sore ribs. Johnson, a first-round pick, had 11 carries for 35 yards and two catches for 23 yards, all in the first half.
Analysis: White's injury is not considered serious, but the longer he is out, the more chances Johnson gets to impress in his absence. Johnson, who racked up 6,993 all-purpose yards at East Carolina, is expected to split carries with White. However, he could earn significant playing time and perhaps even emerge as the starter, if he's effective early in the season. For now, continue to draft Johnson as a No. 3 Fantasy RB with plenty of upside. He is worth a pick starting in Round 7 in all leagues.
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| 8/21/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson has made impression
News: The Tennessean reports Titans rookie RB Chris Johnson is more than just fast, and he's more than just a toy for offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. Johnson is going to play a huge role this fall, both running the ball and catching it. Through two preseason games Johnson is averaging 8.8 yards per carry. He gets through the hole in a split-second and is tough to tackle in the open field. While there's no doubt Johnson will be on the field a bunch, what remains unclear is how the 5-foot-11, 197-pounder will hold up physically through 16 games.
Analysis: Johnson, who racked up 6,993 all-purpose yards at East Carolina, is expected to split carries with third-year pro LenDale White. However, he could earn significant playing time and perhaps even emerge as the starter, if he's effective early in the season. For now, continue to draft Johnson as a No. 3 Fantasy RB with plenty of upside. He is worth a pick starting in Round 7 in all leagues.
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| 8/16/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson picks up 46 yards
News: Titans RB Chris Johnson, the fifth running back drafted in 2008 at No. 24 overall, picked up 46 yards on eight carries and returned a kickoff 30 yards during Friday's preseason game against the Raiders. Johnson stunned fans a week ago with a 66-yard TD run against the Rams, and he picked up 15 yards on each of his first two carries against the Raiders. But he also looked like a rookie as he dropped two passes that hit him in the hands.
Analysis: Johnson, who racked up 6,993 all-purpose yards at East Carolina, is expected to split carries with third-year pro LenDale White. However, he could earn significant playing time and perhaps even emerge as the starter, if he's effective early in the season. For now, continue to draft Johnson as a low-end No. 3 Fantasy RB with plenty of upside. He is worth a pick starting in Round 7 in all leagues.
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| 8/14/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson wants rookie honor
News: The Tennessean reports Titans RB Chris Johnson has set the bar high for his first NFL season. "My main goal is to win rookie of the year," Johnson said Wednesday. "I want to come in and do the same thing Adrian Peterson came in and did last year. I think that is possible." It's a tough act to follow, but Johnson thinks he's up for it. The 24th overall pick of this year's draft made a big splash in the preseason opener last Saturday with an electrifying, 66-yard touchdown run against the Rams. He's expected to see even more action, and return kicks for the first time as a pro, against the Raiders on Friday night.
Analysis: Johnson, who racked up 6,993 all-purpose yards at East Carolina, was the fifth running back drafted. He's expected to split carries with third-year pro LenDale White, but could earn significant playing time, and perhaps even emerge as the starter, if he's effective early in the season. If he continues to perform like he did against the Rams, he would be worth using as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy option. For now, continue to draft Johnson as a low-end No. 3 Fantasy RB with plenty of upside. He is worth a pick starting in Round 7 in all leagues.
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| 8/11/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson could start vs. Raiders
News: The Tennessean reports the Titans would like to see rookie RB Chris Johnson play earlier in preseason games, and coach Jeff Fisher left open the possibility of Johnson starting Friday's game against the Raiders. Most of Johnson's playing time against the Rams in the first preseason game -- when he had six carries for 77 yards and a touchdown -- came in the second quarter. The paper reports Johnson will see plenty of time in the backfield with LenDale White. "There will be times when he is on the field and LenDale is not. There will be times when LenDale is on the field and he is not. And there will be times when they both are on the field," Fisher said.
Analysis: Johnson is quickly becoming a hot sleeper in Fantasy leagues. If he continues to perform like he did against the Raiders, he would be worth using as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy option. For now, continue to draft Johnson as a low-end No. 3 Fantasy RB with plenty of upside. He is worth a pick starting in Round 7 in all leagues.
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| 8/9/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson shines against Rams
News: Titans rookie Chris Johnson gave a glimpse of why Tennessee drafted him in the first round Saturday against the Rams. Keith Bulluck intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown, and Johnson zipped up the middle 66 yards for a TD as the Titans beat the St. Louis Rams 34-13 on Saturday night in the exhibition opener for both teams. "He can really run," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said of Johnson, the 24th overall pick out of East Carolina, a draft selection heavily criticized at the time. "They'll probably see the highlights, and I think they'll understand he's a great kid. And he's had a great camp so far. He can make plays. He's got speed. He's a great football player." Johnson finished with six carries for 77 yards and a touchdown.
Analysis: Johnson is competing with starter LenDale White and backup Chris Henry for playing time and may have earned that PT on Saturday. Look for Johnson to make plenty of plays this year, and consider Johnson a low-end No. 3 Fantasy RB for now. He is a definite sleeper, and in rookie-only drafts he's worth a first-round pick.
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| 8/4/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson making an impression
News: The Tennessean reports that through 10 days of training camp, rookie RB Chris Johnson looks like the real deal. The paper says he's lightning fast, and doesn't waste any time once he gets his hands on the football. Another plus: he catches passes with ease.
Analysis: Johnson is competing with starter LenDale White and backup Chris Henry for playing time. Look for Johnson to make plenty of plays this year, and consider Johnson a low-end No. 3 Fantasy RB for now. He is a definite sleeper, and in rookie-only drafts he's worth a first-round pick.
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| 7/30/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson more runner than receiver
News: The Tennessean reports Titans rookie RB Chris Johnson compared himself to Eagles RB Brian Westbrook. The paper also reports Johnson has been one of the biggest stars of training camp. And that Johnson will see more time at running back than at receiver. "I am just looking at him as a tailback," offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger said. "What we do outside of turning and handing him the ball is a bonus. He can do a lot of things, but I want to find out if we can turn and hand him the ball and how many times we can do that. I look at it different than all the 'experts.' I expect to see him out there on first and second down."
Analysis: Johnson is competing with starter LenDale White and backup Chris Henry for playing time. The paper said that how many carries, or touches, Johnson gets early in the season will depend on how quickly he picks up the offense. "You're going to have to watch," coach Jeff Fisher said. "I am not going to go into details and tell you exactly what we are going to do with him. But the more touches he has, the more opportunities you have for big plays." Look for Johnson to make plenty of plays this year, and consider Johnson a low-end No. 3 Fantasy RB for now. He is a definite sleeper, and in rookie-only drafts he's worth a first-round pick.
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| 7/28/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Johnson competing with Henry
News: Titans RB LenDale White, who proclaimed himself healthy following a rough offseason and last year playing on a torn meniscus in his knee, opened training camp as the No. 1 RB for the Titans, reports the Tennessean. Chris Johnson, whom the Titans drafted in the first round this year, and second-year pro Chris Henry are competing to split the remaining carries. Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger expects a good year out of White because of Johnson's presence. "Draft a running back in the first round," Heimerdinger said about White's motivation. "The yards will come if he does the right things."
Analysis: Even with White as the starter, we expect Johnson to see the field a lot, even lining up at receiver. Consider drafting Johnson with a middle-round pick in seasonal leagues and with a first-round pick in rookie-only drafts. Remember, White is still trying to prove he's 100 percent, and the Titans are obviously looking to use Johnson as much as possible since they drafted him so high.
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| 7/26/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans sign rookie running back Johnson
News: The Tennessee Titans have wrapped up their last draft pick, agreeing to terms with first-round selection Chris Johnson on a five-year, $12 million deal. Johnson missed the first practice of training camp on Friday, but the team announced Saturday morning that they had reached agreement on a deal with the running back out of East Carolina who was the 24th pick overall in the draft. He is expected to be on the field Saturday afternoon for the Titans' next training camp session.
Analysis: Considered the fastest player available in the draft, Johnson was timed at 4.24 seconds in the 40-yard dash. We're expecting big things from Johnson by the end of his first NFL season. He's an exciting runner with good hands and the ability to make yards after the catch. Think a poor man's Reggie Bush, but for how long he will be a poor man is the key. He won't be Tennessee's main option at any one position, but can play them all on the offense. Think of Johnson as a middle-round pick in seasonal drafts, and a late first-round pick in rookie-only formats. If he can handle the pounding he'll take at the pro level, he's got a chance to be a really special Fantasy player.
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| 7/10/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans RB Johnson ahead of curve
News: The Tennessean reports that Titans rookie RB Chris Johnson claims he's got the club's offense down pat and has continued to daze onlookers with his speed. Johnson has been a darling during offseason workouts, displaying great hands and incredible quickness. He expects the Titans to find more ways to use his "useful speed," as head coach Jeff Fisher calls it. Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger is blown away by the rook. "I haven't had a back quite like him to work with," Heimerdinger said. "He can do a lot of things from a lot of spots. It gives you some options, some matchups."
Analysis: Johnson should be an exciting player in this league, and his catch-and-run ability will enhance Vince Young's stats (not to mention jazz up his own). This might end up being an indictment of the Titans' RB corps, or it might be the team trying to find their version of Reggie Bush. Johnson does have excellent hands and could be a total-yardage beast. Think of Johnson as a middle-round pick in seasonal drafts, and a late first-round pick in rookie-only formats. If he can handle the pounding he'll take at the pro level, he's got a chance to be a really special Fantasy player.
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| 5/27/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
'Speedy' sees time at RB, WR
News: The Tennessean reports Titans RB Chris Johnson is as fast as advertised. At minicamp, the first-round pick suited up with the veterans and blew by them. Turns out that 4.24 speed is fast no matter what. "From the look of it, his jog is fast," QB Vince Young said. "When he gets more comfortable, he'll really take off." Johnson made his presence known in his first practice with the veterans. He lined up wide and caught a pass behind one of the linebackers. Johnson said the veterans have already given him a nickname: Speedy. In the two practices open to media last week, he lined up as a running back and receiver in a variety of spots. On several plays near the goal line he caught screen passes and scooted into the end zone. He also fielded punts.
Analysis: Johnson has a chance to be a versatile player for the Titans like Reggie Bush in New Orleans. Look for Johnson to be on the field even when starter LenDale White is lined up in the backfield. Consider Johnson a decent sleeper in seasonal drafts and take him with an early pick in rookie formats.
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| 5/5/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
Titans love RB Johnson's speed
News: Tennessee has been heavily criticized since taking RB Chris Johnson, a running back, with its top pick overall instead of a wide receiver. The thought had been an offense that had only nine touchdowns passing in 2007 had to help Vince Young by giving him a receiver as a new target. But Johnson is instead impressing teammates and coaches with his "ridiculous" speed, as fellow rookie Lavelle Hawkins said. Head coach Jeff Fisher said Johnson isn't just fast running straight. "It's useful speed. It's combined with lateral quickness. When you say you've got a guy with track speed playing football, some guys are track guys trying to play. They don't have lateral quickness and change of direction. That's what he has: excellent acceleration," the coach said.
Analysis: Johnson should be an exciting player in this league, and his catch-and-run ability will enhance Vince Young's stats (not to mention jazz up his own). This might end up being an indictment of the Titans' RB corps, or it might be the team trying to find their version of Reggie Bush. Johnson does have excellent hands, though he dropped a few passes during the club's recent minicamp, and could be a total-yardage beast. Think of Johnson as a middle-round pick in seasonal drafts, and a late first-round pick to early second-round choice in rookie-only formats.
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| 4/26/2008 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
C. Johnson shakes up Titans' RBs
News: With their first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans took East Carolina running back Chris Johnson, who ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Johnson is a very versatile speedster with excellent hands and special-teams skills. He's expected to steal Chris Henry's role as the RB to be paired with power rusher LenDale White.
Analysis: Johnson should be an exciting player in this league, and his catch-and-run ability will enhance Vince Young's stats. This might end up being an indictment of White instead of Henry, but no matter how you slice it, Tennessee's RB corps has gotten deeper, but more confusing to figure out from a Fantasy perspective. Think of Johnson as a middle- to late-round pick in seasonal drafts, and a late first-round pick to early second-round choice in rookie-only formats. LenDale White, meanwhile, slips a little bit because of an expected loss of yardage (but not touchdowns).
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| 12/31/1969 |
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![Chris Johnson]() |
News:
Analysis:
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