Is Roschon Johnson A Good Fantasy Football Pickup for Week 5? Waiver Wire Outlook

For the first three weeks of the season, it seemed as though the running back position for the Chicago Bears was one of a committee.

This has largely been due to the emergence of rookie running back Roschon Johnson, who had been efficient with his opportunities. From weeks 1 to 3, Johnson saw his snap share increase each week.

However, in their week 4 loss to the Denver Broncos, Johnson only saw 6 touches, as Khalil Herbert dominated the backfield with 23 touches for over 100 total yards and a score. Is this a sign to hold off on Johnson, or is there still optimism for the running back in week 5?

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What has Roschon Johnson Done So Far?

Through the first 4 weeks of the season, Johnson has been a top-5 rookie running back in terms of snap share. He has seen 36% of the total snaps in Chicago's backfield, establishing himself as the clear RB2.

Rookie RB Snap Share Leaders in 2023:

Bijan Robinson 73%
Tyjae Spears 50% 👀
Jahmyr Gibbs 43%
De'Von Achane 37%
Roschon Johnson 36%
Zach Charbonnet 30%
Kendre Miller 20%https://t.co/iI04B43Bwa

— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) October 3, 2023

The first-year man out of Texas has also averaged 4.9 yards per carry on the season so far and has caught 11 out of 12 balls thrown his way.

It seems evident that Johnson has been able to capitalize on his chances when they are given to him. His efficiency has put many fantasy owners on notice, with many expecting him to challenge for the RB1 role in this offense by the end of the season.

Were There Any Worrying Signs With Roschon Johnson In Week 4?

Despite his flashes, week 4 brought many Roschon Johnson believers back down to Earth.

In a game where the Bears scored 28 points and ran the ball 31 times, Johnson only saw 5 total carries. He was only able to muster 13 yards with those attempts.

This was largely due to the fact that Khalil Herbert had his best game of the season so far. However, it is concerning that in a game where the Bears were effective on offense for a large majority of the game, Johnson was not one of the reasons why.

Should I Pickup Roschon Johnson Off the Waiver Wire in Fantasy Football?

Despite his lack of usage in week 4, Roschon Johnson still should continue to become more involved in this Chicago offense. Chances are the Bears will be playing from behind in the majority of their games the rest of the season, and that is when Johnson has produced the majority of his fantasy points.

He still is not a plug-and-play option and will most likely be a player that fantasy owners look to stash in hopes of increased usage as the season progresses. All in all, he is still a solid option this week on the waiver wire.

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