- Kyle Monangai | Dynasty Fantasy Profile | 2025 Rookie Class
- Dylan Sampson | Dynasty Fantasy Profile | 2025 Rookie Class
- Kaleb Johnson | Dynasty Fantasy Profile | 2025 Rookie Class
- Trevor Etienne | Dynasty Fantasy Profile | 2025 Rookie Class
- Omarion Hampton | Dynasty Fantasy Profile | 2025 Rookie Class
Welcome to the Dynasty Nerds 2025 Rookie Profile series! We’re pleased to bring you the Kaleb Johnson rookie profile from our NFL prospects writing staff. Below you will find the intro, overview, and independent breakdowns by 4 of our top analysts. While there will be a lot of similarities, there will be some differences.
Each writer does their own film study using our Nerds All-22 Film Room, and creates a Top 50 Rookie Prospects Big Board. We’re also pleased to feature the Positional Rankings of our Director of College Content, Tristan Cook. Tristan also provided Kaleb Johnson’s introduction and conclusion. We hope this Rookie Profile will aid you in your quest for dynasty glory this season.
Kaleb Johnson | RB | HT 6010 | WT 224 | HAND 958 | ARM 3300
Kaleb Johnson | Player Introduction
Prior to college, Kaleb Johnson was a 3-star recruit (#435 overall) out of Hamilton, OH. For being a moderately ranked recruit, Johnson had interest from several notable programs including Michigan State and Kentucky. During his freshman season, Johnson played in all of his team’s games and even started six games. He rushed the ball for 779 yards and 6 TDs on 151 carries, earning honorable mention All Big-Ten recognition. He had a forgettable 117/463/3 sophomore season before exploding in 2024.
Kaleb Johnson’s 1,537 yards and 21 TDs in 2024 earned him him a plethora of honors. He was named Second Team All-American; First Team Big-Ten; was named a Doak Walker Award finalist; was a semifinalist for the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards; and won the Big Ten Running Back of the Year.
Keith Ensminger’s Top 50 Rookie Big Board
No. 8 Overall Prospect | Ranked RB3
After two mostly quiet seasons in Iowa’s backfield, Kaleb Johnson burst onto dynasty draft radars this season, finishing the year with 1,537 yards rushing and an absurd 21 touchdowns in 12 games. Although he faltered down the stretch, with poor games against both UCLA (49 yards) and Nebraska (45 yards), he preceded those games with a 135-yard, 3 touchdown day in a victory over Wisconsin as well as a 164-yard showcase in a win against Maryland.
Yes, Kaleb Johnson’s rise was something to behold. Even in a 35-7 blowout loss to Ohio State, Johnson rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts. If Kaleb Johnson can add anything in the receiving department, it will only help his cause. In that aforementioned win against Nebraska, Johnson took a pass 72 yards that led to a game-tying field goal in the fourth quarter. His draft prospects may be living in the shadow of Ashton Jeanty and other running back peers at bigger schools in more potent offenses at the moment, but Kaleb Johnson’s time to shine will come soon enough.
Doc Matthew Mitchell’s Top 50 Rookie Big Board
No. 9 Overall Prospect | Ranked RB4
Kaleb Johnson is a player that exploded in the scene in 2024. The junior out of Iowa more than doubled his career rushing yards and TDs this past year. He managed to turn 240 carries into 1,537 yards and 21 TDs. He proved to be a true workhorse on his way to winning Big 10 RB of the year, 1st team all-Big 10, and consensus All-American honors. Johnson is also a capable pass catcher to boot. He brings an upright running style similar to Darren McFadden and DeMarco Murray.
This year, RB will be king, and depending on the way the draft plays out, Johnson could rise all the way to the RB2 in the class. In most seasons, you would need a pick in the top 5 to land a RB of this caliber. I am really happy to slot him in here in the 1st round. Keep an eye on this one in the pre-draft process.
Mike Johrendt’s Top 50 Rookie Big Board
No. 11 Overall Prospect | Ranked RB5
In a normal year, a running back like Kaleb Johnson would be in contention for the RB1 spot. Instead, he is relegated to fighting for the RB4/5 spot in a really talented class. Johnson is a 1st round pick in all major formats, but he is near the end due to its depth.
Physicality, not speed, and workload helps elevate Johnson into the round 1 conversation in rookie drafts. His speed isn’t a big-time detractor necessarily, but it certainly isn’t in the positives column in his draft profile. Johnson isn’t being talked about enough in the pre-draft cycle and likely will deliver more value than where he is drafted, both in your rookie drafts and in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Tristan Cook’s Pre-NFL Combine RB Rankings
No. 5 Overall Running Back
One of the biggest risers in my RB rankings is Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson. He has prototypical workhorse running back size and the game to match. He has great vision and patience as he operated Iowa’s one-cut scheme to near perfection this year. The biggest knock on him is a lack of long speed. But, as we know, that’s not always problematic for running backs. If he runs faster than expected, Johnson could find his way into Tier 2.
Kaleb Johnson | Draft Outlook
During his 2024 season, Kaleb Johnson went from a player not really on the NFL radar to one of the top RBs in one of the best RB classes in recent memory. His comparatively slow 40-yard dash time slightly slowed his draft hype train but Kaleb Johnson should be taken before the end of the 3rd Round of the NFL Draft. For fantasy, Johnson could go as early as the back half of the 1st round of rookie drafts.
We Are Releasing a Rookie Draft App!
On top of all the rookie player profiles on our website, we are releasing the first Rookie Draft App dedicated solely to rookie content, featuring mock drafts, a rookie pick trade calculator, analysis by Garret Price and Jared Wackerly, plus video footage from your favorite podcast. This is a ground-breaking endeavor that we’re very excited to bring to all of you. Stay tuned to the podcast show and our web articles for more info!
