Fantasy managers still holding their drafts on or after Labor Day weekend are the real strategic geniuses, not procrastinators. Seriously, why would you draft early when preseason injuries and roster cuts can totally derail your team before Week 1? The NFL regular season is kicking off, and that means updated flex rankings are dropping right when you need them. We’re talking about the deep cuts, the guys nobody else is grabbing, but who have a strong chance to exceed expectations and become surprise difference-makers. In PPR leagues, these are the bench players that can actually carry you to a championship.
The Packers’ Backfield is Chaos and Johnson’s Your Secret Weapon
Forget everything you thought you knew about the Green Bay backfield. Packers starter Josh Jacobs landed on the commissioner’s exempt list for an indeterminate amount of time, and that changes the entire dynamic. Savvy fantasy managers already scooped up MarShawn Lloyd, who’s set to get the bulk of the carries, so he’s no longer a sleeper. But Kaleb Johnson? He absolutely is, and you need to add him to your bench. Look, Lloyd has only played 10 regular season snaps because of injuries, so the risk is real. The Packers snagged Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round pick, a total steal considering Johnson led the Big Ten in rushing yards back in 2024. Yeah, he didn’t translate that college production to the NFL with the Steelers, but his average draft position is RB62. That means in most 12-person leagues, he’s likely sitting there on someone’s bench. Grab him now, because if Lloyd goes down or Green Bay shifts to a committee approach, Johnson is going to blow up.
Atlanta’s Two-Headed Monster Just Got Scarier for Bijan Owners
How you feel about Brian Robinson Jr. in Atlanta really depends on how you viewed Tyler Allgeier’s role the last three seasons. Allgeier was essentially a handcuff for Bijan Robinson, but a seriously productive one. We’re talking 143 rushes for eight touchdowns as the backup in 2025, often in an almost 50/50 split near the goal line because of his physical running style. Allgeier signed with the Cardinals, but the Falcons wasted no time, bringing in Brian Robinson Jr. to fill that exact same role. He plays a similar physical game with high-upside red-zone potential. With Atlanta rolling into the season with only these two running backs on the active roster, it’s a near certainty Robinson Jr. is gonna vulture goal-line touches away from Bijan. Factor in new head coach Kevin Stefanski still trying to sort out the quarterback situation between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa, and leaning on the run game is obvious. Picking up Brian Robinson Jr. as a touchdown vulture feels like a good bet before the season starts.
So, if you’re hitting your draft board this week, don’t sleep on these guys. Kaleb Johnson and Brian Robinson Jr. aren’t going to be your first-rounders, but they’re the kind of high-upside players who become difference-makers when it counts. Grab ’em now before your league mates catch on. The fantasy season is just getting started, and you want that bench depth to carry you when injuries hit.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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