D'Ernest Johnson

D'Ernest Johnson

29-Year-Old Running BackRB
Arizona Cardinals
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Johnson played 14 games for the Jaguars in 2024, seeing double-digit touches in a contest only once but averaging a respectable 4.5 yards per carry on 32 totes. The 29-year-old has generally been a solid early-down option during his career, but he's never been able to carve out consistent volume in an offense, and he remains a free agent heading into the summer. Johnson could latch on as camp depth with someone, but a team would need to be gutted by injuries to give him a significant role. Read Past Outlooks
Released by the Ravens in August of 2025.
Elevated to active roster
RBArizona Cardinals
October 18, 2025
The Cardinals elevated Johnson from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Emari Demercado (ankle) will be sidelined for Sunday's game, so the Cardinals are in need of depth at running back. Johnson has a chance to be active for the first time this season for Sunday's game against the Packers, though he'd likely work behind Michael Carter and Bam Knight.
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2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Arizona CardinalsCardinals 2025 RB Snap Distribution
#% of Team Snaps

12331%
7728%
9324%
207%
7519%
7527%
5614%
5520%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
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GB
vs Packers
Sunday, Oct 19th at 4:25PM
Overall QB Rating Against
81.4
 
Cornerbacks
82.3
 
Safeties
57.5
 
Linebackers
96.7
 
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2025 D'Ernest Johnson Split Stats
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring D'Ernest Johnson See More
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring D'Ernest Johnson See More
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Johnson's 2021 campaign remains the high-water mark of his career so far, and he's had fewer carries in his other four seasons combined. In his first year outside of Cleveland, his efficiency also took a major step backward, creating some doubt whether he can be effective outside of Kevin Stefanski's scheme. Johnson runs with some power and doesn't go down easily, but a lack of speed, vision and elusiveness means that defenders have little trouble getting to him. He'll compete with Tank Bigsby for backup snaps behind Travis Etienne in the Jaguars' backfield.
Johnson joined Jacksonville on a one-year deal in March but may have a difficult time earning a spot on the season-opening roster. The 27-year-old totaled 671 scrimmage yards and three scores for the Browns during the 2021 campaign, but he received just seven offensive touches last season while primarily playing special teams. Travis Etienne is locked in as the starter with third-round rookie Tank Bigsby also guaranteed a roster spot, leaving Johnson to battle it out for slotting with JaMycal Hasty, Snoop Conner and Quadree Ollison.
Arguably the best No. 3 back in the league, Johnson got a chance to show what he could do last year when both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were out midseason. As the starter Week 7 against Denver, Johnson erupted for 168 total yards and a TD, then added 157 more yards a few weeks later against the Patriots. While he doesn't have breakaway speed, he runs with impressive power and finds a way to grind out extra yards, recording 10 broken tackles on only 100 carries last year. That was the fifth-best rate in the league among backs with triple-digit carries, and only a hair behind Chubb's 9.9 carries per broken tackle. Cleveland's passing game will be a bigger point of emphasis with Deshaun Watson under center, however, and while Johnson should be effective again with his touches, he'd probably need a serious injury ahead of him on the depth chart (or a trade) to see significant volume.
By the end of the 2020 season, Johnson carved out a niche role as Cleveland's primary kick and punt returner. He appeared in all 16 games for the second straight season, and there's something to be said for being healthy and reliable. The third-year back had one big game against Dallas in Week 4 when Nick Chubb wasn't available, but his role on offense was limited once Chubb and Kareem Hunt were both healthy. The Browns drafted running back Demetric Felton, who duplicates Johnson's skills, so there may be room on the roster for just one of the two.
Johnson moved from the Alliance of Amercian Football (AAF) to the NFL prior to the 2019 season and stuck around with the Browns for the full season, appearing in all 16 games. The 23-year-old running back had some early contributions while Dontrell Hilliard (concussion) and Kareem Hunt (suspension) were unavailable, but he was mainly a special-teamer. With Hunt and Nick Chubb in place, the all-purpose Johnson, who is under team control for another two seasons, is expected to compete for the third running back job with Hilliard and could be the primary punt returner in 2020.
With Kareem Hunt serving an eight-game suspension and Duke Johnson having been traded to the Texans, Johnson faces the opportunity to carve out a reserve role behind Nick Chubb. Dontrell Hilliard appears to be ahead on the depth chart, but Johnson could see notable snaps in a high-powered Browns offense if Chubb were to miss any time.
More Fantasy News
Arriving in Arizona
RBFree Agent
September 29, 2025
Johnson signed with the Cardinals' practice squad Monday.
ANALYSIS
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Returning to Baltimore
RBFree Agent
August 27, 2025
The Ravens signed Johnson to the practice squad Wednesday, Ryan Mink of the team's official site reports.
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Shown door in Baltimore
RBFree Agent
August 26, 2025
The Ravens released Johnson on Tuesday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
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Bound for Baltimore
RBBaltimore Ravens
August 3, 2025
The Ravens signed Johnson on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
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Small role in Week 18
RBJacksonville Jaguars
January 12, 2025
Johnson carried two times for 26 yards and caught one of two targets for zero yards during the Jaguars' Week 18 loss to the Colts.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
No deal after workout with SF
RBFree Agent
July 31, 2025
Johnson worked out for the 49ers on Wednesday, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, but subsequently wasn't signed.
ANALYSIS
The 49ers had numerous backfield options in the building Wednesday but ultimately went with Ameer Abdullah over Johnson, Jeff Wilson or Deon Jackson. Johnson remains a free agent after rushing for 143 yards as a member of the Jaguars in 2024.
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