Washington Huskies running back Dillon Johnson made his way to the Pacific Northwest after three seasons at Mississippi State. He was used sparingly for the Bulldogs, rushing fewer than 90 times in each season, but Johnson carved out a role as a pass-catching back each of those years.
He found immediate success with the Huskies, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2023. Washington fell short of winning a national title, but Johnson joins quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wideout Rome Odunze as NFL-bound prospects from this powerhouse offense.
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 217 pounds
40 time: 4.68 seconds
Physical limitations should render Johnson no higher than an early Day 3 pick in the upcoming draft. He safely grades as a Round 5 selection. He’s not likely to steal the show in any backfield, but Johnson is a useful complementary piece who does a few things well enough to keep him in the NFL for several years.
Table: RB Dillon Johnson, Washington (2020-23)
*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)
Pros
- Powerful as a north-south runner
- Can shoulder a hearty workload
- Three-down utility — a sound pass-catching outlet to serve as a safety blanket
- Capable blocker with sturdy frame to develop through pro-level coaching
- Limited wear on the tires after only one full season as a primary back
- Played at a high level vs. quality competition throughout Washington’s 2023 championship-appearance season prior to suffering an injury vs. Texas
- Efficient production in ’23, scoring a touchdown every 14.6 attempts
- Can wear down defenses as the game goes along
- Underrated burst for the first 5-10 yards on outside runs — just quick enough to get to the edge
- Gritty, team-first player who guts it out when less than 100%
Cons
- Takes on heavy contact, which could impact career longevity and opens him up to greater risk of injury
- Lacks open-field elusiveness and finesse moves to create extra yardage
- Can’t run away from defenders in the open field and will be an inefficient grinder in the NFL
- It’s tough to tell if his vision is subpar or his lack of lateral ability causes him to abandon cutback and open-lane opportunities
- More of an effort blocker than a technical marvel — already ahead of the curve but needs fine-tuning
- One-year wonder in a great design and loaded offense?
Fantasy football outlook
Backs with Johnson’s profile tend to have shorter careers and only a limited runaway to contribute in fantasy lineups. He reminds of a blend between former NFL back David Johnson and current Arizona Cardinal James Conner. Both backs have enjoyed success during their pro careers but saw physical limitations factoring into lowering their fantasy ceilings.
From strictly a profile perspective, Johnson will have a role in fantasy lineups, though we may not like the inconsistency. He isn’t likely to develop into a lineup fixture, but the scoring potential and pass-catching utility gives him situation as well as system versatility.
