Tennessee Titans’ running back, Chris Johnson, burst onto the scene in a big way in 2008, finishing his rookie campaign with 1,228 rushing yards and nine touchdowns en route to finishing the season ranked as the 11th best fantasy running back and setting the bar quite high for future expectations. The following year he didn’t disappoint though, rushing for 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns as fantasy’s top running back.
In comparison, Johnson’s numbers over the last three seasons have been considered lackluster and even a letdown by most fantasy owners, as his total yardage and YPC each year have continued to dwindle. On the field, Johnson wasn’t passing fantasy owner’s “eye test.” It was obvious he was dancing too much behind the line and was no longer breaking big plays.
So, can CJ2K bounce back to form and return to fantasy prominence? Let’s find out!
2012 Stats | Att | Yds | TD's | Rec | Yds | TD's | RB Rank | PPG |
| 276 | 1,243 | 6 | 36 | 232 | 0 | 12th | 10.97 |
2013 Outlook
Despite not looking like his old self on the field recently and seeing a decline in numbers since 2009, Johnson has actually finished every season in the top 12 of fantasy running backs, his worst finish of 12th coming just last season; a fact that shocks most fantasy owners. While everyone was busy writing Johnson off as not being a viable RB1 option anymore, someone in your league every year quietly enjoyed Johnson’s output.
This season he will be running behind a heavily-upgraded offensive line, capable of opening massive holes. If the preseason is any indication of things to come, we could see Johnson push for the elusive 2,000 yard mark once again.
Dynasty Outlook
Johnson is just 27 years old and has less than 9,000 total yards of work on his body. The Titans are a young team, with a ton of talent and potential, especially along the offensive line. As long as Tennessee continues to get lackluster performances from Jake Locker, Johnson will be the focal point of the offense and will put up RB1 numbers for years to come. Johnson is a great late-first or early-second round draft choice in any format.
2013 Statistical Projections: 1,550 rushing yards, 45 receptions, 400 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns.