Ty Johnson

Johnson began to see consistent snaps on offense Week 11 last season after Joe Brady took over as the Bills' interim offensive coordinator. The 2019 sixth-round pick was mostly deployed as a passing-down back with the Lions and Jets, but Brady used him more as a runner, including 15 carries for 66 yards in two playoffs game. Johnson's 4.4 speed made him a solid complementary option behind James Cook in the backfield, and Brady's return as offensive coordinator sets up the possibility for a similar role in 2024. The Bills added competition, however, using a fourth-round pick on Ray Davis and then bringing in undrafted rookie Frank Gore.

Johnson got plenty of chances to show what he can do last year, and while he demonstrated some nice ability with the ball in his hands, he was also plagued by drops and missed assignments. Between those frequent miscues and the Jets' decision to select running back Breece Hall early in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Johnson's unlikely to play more than a depth role in 2022, if he makes the roster at all. Barring multiple injuries ahead of him, Johnson will probably regress from last year's totals of 610 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns.

A speedster taken in the sixth round of the 2019 draft by the Lions, Johnson was scooped up on waivers by the Jets early last season and got a long look in the second half after Le'Veon Bell was cut loose. Johnson had his moments, including a 104-yard performance against the Raiders in Week 13, but the final four weeks he managed a total of only 90 rushing yards on 3.8 yards per carry. Johnson's main issue is that he doesn't bring much to the table other than his plus top-end speed, as he doesn't run with much power or elusiveness and isn't a natural pass catcher. New Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is a Kyle Shanahan protege, so there could be plenty of touches to go around in the backfield, but Johnson profiles as a lesser version of free-agent signing Tevin Coleman, and fourth-round pick Michael Carter could quickly surpass him on the depth chart as well.

Johnson somehow stuck on the 53-man roster even after the Lions added D'Andre Swift and Adrian Peterson, but it's hard to see any path to fantasy relevance for the 2019 sixth-round pick, barring another vicious rash of injuries in the Detroit backfield. Johnson may need to earn his salary on special teams this year.

Johnson was efficient with limited work at the University of Maryland, averaging 7.6 yards on 348 career carries. He got some attention after running a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, inspiring the Lions to scoop him up with a sixth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. With Theo Riddick cut at the start of training camp, Johnson has a solid shot to make the 53-man roster for Week 1, potentially serving as a kick returner. He's still a long shot to have any role on offense at the beginning of the regular season.