CJ Gets His Deal: $53M with $30M Guaranteed
Fantasy football owners and Tennessee Titans fans breathed sighs of relief when Chris Johnson finally came to terms on a new contract. Johnson signed a four-year, $53.5 million extension of his contract. Remember, Johnson had two years remaining on his original rookie deal, so the average compensation per season dips a bit. Regardless, he got the compensation he was seeking, particularly the $30 million in guaranteed money.
The new deal gives him 10 days to get ready for the Titans’ opener against the Jaguars. He’s averaged 124 total yards per game with four touchdowns in six starts against Jacksonville in his career (105 rushing yards per game).
Johnson had been sliding into the second half of the first round of drafts this week. Owners were starting to move their hands toward the red panic button. They can back away now.
He slides up on draft boards in front of Arian Foster, who is recovering from the most talked about hamstring injury in recent memory.
As much as Todd Haley’s comments and Matt Cassel’s struggles unnerve me a bit (not to mention the late-season schedule), I still stick my neck out and tab Jamaal Charles and his big-play potential first.
AP slides into the two-hole. The line is less than stellar, but he’s a beast … and spying Johnson’s contract as he heads toward free agency.
I have Rice third. PPR beast, big-play threat and more goal line touches.
CJ comes in fourth. Tempting to vault him to second, but I’ll sleep on it.
I already had my concerns in Houston that have been well-documented – Ben Tate, the rise of the defense and so on —but the hammy pushes the issue even further. Foster rounds out the top five.
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Either way, between these top running backs and the lingering Peyton Manning issue, we have three examples of why patience in setting up a league is important. Do your mocks on FOXSports.com. Save the real thing for, well, the real thing.
