In addition to Johnson, who joins Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell in the backfield, the Jets have signed quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Eric Decker this offseason, giving the offense a much different look for 2014.
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Johnson, who turns 29 in September, was unlikely to land a feature-back role this offseason, so the move to New York is close to a best-case scenario. He'll most likely be the lightning to Ivory's thunder and could benefit from fewer carries, particularly in short-yardage situations, and from defenses worrying about Vick's legs.
Keeping Johnson fresh is a good thing. From 2009-13, he amassed 1,720 total touches, second in the league behind Ray Rice, who's way ahead with 1,883 touches thanks to playoff appearances. Meanwhile, Johnson averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry last year and his number of big runs (10-plus yards) has been way down from '10 and prior. His steady decline is likely a result of that heavy workload.
While Johnson clearly isn't the same electric runner he was from '07-10, he's still topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of his six NFL seasons. Playing on the Jets' Field Turf could even help Johnson regain a step or two. That said, his fantasy value depends heavily on the split with Ivory, but we expect Johnson to be more than just a third-down back. Plus, Johnson is by far the most durable of this duo. Keep him in mind as a value RB2 on draft day.
