D'Ernest Johnson

D'Ernest Johnson

30-Year-Old Running BackRB
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2025 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for D'Ernest Johnson in 2025. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Released by the Patriots in January of 2026.
Reverts to practice squad
RBFree Agent
February 10, 2026
Johnson reverted to New England's practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
ANALYSIS
Johnson didn't see any playing time on offense during the Super Bowl but did return four kickoffs for 103 yards. The 29-year-old finished the 2025 campaign with 25 rushing yards on 13 attempts across seven regular-season games with the Patriots.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do D'Ernest Johnson's 2024 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Broken Tackle %
    The number of broken tackles divided by rush attempts.
  • Positive Run %
    The percentage of run plays where he was able to gain positive yardage.
  • % Yds After Contact
    The percentage of his rushing yards that came after contact.
  • Avg Yds After Contact
    The average rushing yards he gains after contact.
  • Rushing TD %
    Rushing touchdowns divided by rushing attempts. In other words, how often is he scoring when running the ball.
  • Touches Per Game
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) he is averaging per game
  • % Snaps w/Touch
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) divided by offensive snaps played.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Broken Tackle %
15.6%
 
Positive Run %
81.3%
 
% Yds After Contact
69.2%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
3.1
 
Rushing TD %
0.0%
 
Touches Per Game
3.1
 
% Snaps w/Touch
24.0%
 
Air Yards Per Game
0.3
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.02
 
% Team Air Yards
0.1%
 
% Team Targets
3.6%
 
Avg Depth of Target
0.2 Yds
 
Catch Rate
63.2%
 
Drop Rate
0.0%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
8.8
 
% Targeted On Route
16.5%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.83
 
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where D'Ernest Johnson lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2024 D'Ernest Johnson Split Stats
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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
Joins active roster
RBNew England Patriots
February 7, 2026
The Patriots elevated Johnson from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
ANALYSIS
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Back to Pats' practice squad
RBFree Agent
January 26, 2026
Johnson reverted to the Patriots' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
ANALYSIS
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Elevated as running back depth
RBNew England Patriots
January 24, 2026
The Patriots elevated Johnson from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
ANALYSIS
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Reverts to practice squad
RBFree Agent
January 19, 2026
Johnson reverted to the Patriots' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Elevated from practice squad
RBNew England Patriots
January 17, 2026
The Patriots elevated Johnson from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's divisional-round matchup versus the Texans, Evan Lazar of the team's official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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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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