Has Pittsburgh Finally Replaced Le’Veon Bell, Or Is Kaleb Johnson Destined for a Timeshare?

Kevin Szafraniec
May 7, 2025

Le’Veon Bell was not an elite prospect coming out of Michigan State but showed enough to be drafted by the Steelers in the middle of the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. His athletic testing was not overly impressive but still solid for a 230-pound back. Once in the NFL, Bell put together a strong rookie season before taking over the league in Year 2. From 2014 until 2017, Bell only fell outside PPR RB3 once, when he was limited to six games during the 2015 season.

In this year’s draft, Pittsburgh placed a bet on a similar player to Bell, Kaleb Johnson, when looking to fill their backfield vacancy. Possessing a versatile skill set and the body to handle the role of an NFL lead back, have the Steelers found themselves their next star RB?

Kaleb Johnson’s NFL Comps

Johnson was productive during his first two seasons at Iowa, but truly broke out as a junior in 2024. After the effects of an early ankle injury lingered throughout the 2023 season, Johnson was able to reclaim his freshman efficiency last year with the Hawkeyes. Not only that, but he also added a receiving element to his profile following two seasons of being an afterthought in the passing game.

Johnson’s increased production was due to more than just volume; he was also efficient. Of his 6.4 yards per carry (YPC) average in 2024, 3.9 of those yards came after contact (YACON), tying Cam Skattebo’s 2024 output while averaging 0.6 YPC more. As can be expected due to his YACON numbers, Johnson put up a strong 24.6% evasion percentage (EVAS%), of which the majority was made up of his 15.0% broken tackle percentage (BT%).

Overall, his 0.190 rushing points earned per play (ruPE/P) came in just above TreVeyon Henderson’s 0.187 ruPE/P from 2024, while also being no stranger to big plays with a 14.6% rushing BOOM percentage that bested the electric Bhayshul Tuten (14.2% ruBOOM%). Johnson also proved extremely reliable, not recording a single fumble on his 262 touches in 2024.

During his first year of legitimate usage as a receiver, Johnson was able to put up some solid peripherals in that area as well. His 122.4 receiver rating (reRTG) only trailed Skattebo and Raheim Sanders among the 2024 RB class. Johnson was able to improve upon his strong ruEVAS% with a reEVAS% of 36.4% (22.7% reBT%, 13.6% receiving forced missed tackle percentage). Johnson also proved to have reliable hands out of the backfield, recording only one drop on his 26 targets (4.2%).

After taking a big step forward in his junior season, Johnson was consistently being projected as a second-round pick, with some murmurs that he could even go on Day 1. When the combine came, Johnson did not blow the doors off the event, but by no means did poorly either.

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Please subscribe For Full Access to all RotoViz content and tools!

What’s included in your subscription??

Exclusive Access to RotoViz Study Hall
- A treasure trove of our most insightful articles that will teach you the metrics that matter, time-tested winning strategies, the approaches that will give you an edge, and teach you how to be an effective fantasy manager.
Revolutionary Tools
- Including the NFL Stat Explorer, Weekly GLSP Projections, NCAA Prospect Box Score Scout, Combine Explorer, Range of Outcomes App, DFS Lineup Optimizer, Best Ball Suite,and many, many, more.
Groundbreaking Articles
- RotoViz is home of the original Zero-RB article and continues to push fantasy gamers forward as the go-to destination for evidence-based analysis and strategic advantages.
Weekly Projections
- Built using RotoViz’s unique GLSP approach.
Expert Rankings
And a whole lot more…

Kevin Szafraniec

Full-time Cat Dad, Sneakerhead, Record Collector, LOTR Fanboy, and Jeopardy Enthusiast. Fantasy football writer and beatmaker in my free time. Follow me on X and Bluesky @thecatdadff

TreVeyon Henderson Adds More to the Patriots’ Backfield Than the Explosiveness They’ve Been Lacking

Kevin Szafraniec May 15, 2025

At the beginning of Day 2 of the NFL Draft, TreVeyon Henderson landed in a New England backfield that was in need of a serious talent upgrade. Not only did the Patriots’ running backs underperform expectations last season, but there were also some serious ball security issues that needed to be addressed. While Henderson’s calling card is his big-play ability, he is not a one-trick…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Can Matthew Golden Earn Enough Volume to Return Value in His Rookie Season?

Kevin Szafraniec May 13, 2025

Matthew Golden was one of 2024’s biggest risers after transferring from Houston and becoming the WR1 for a Texas Longhorns team that made it to the College Football Playoff Semifinals. He then went on to generate even more buzz by setting the track on fire at the combine with a 4.29-second forty time. While his draft rise was impressive, there are still enough questions about…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Will Iowa State WRs Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel Find Continued Success Together in Houston?

Kevin Szafraniec May 12, 2025

Following the acquisition of Stefon Diggs last offseason, the Texans’ wide receiver trio of Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Diggs was primed to be the best in the league, at least on paper. The high hopes for the Texans’ passing game never materialized in 2024, as injuries, poor protection, and passing inefficiency all played a part in the letdown. Fast forward to a year later,…...