After exploding out of the gate to start the season, Arizona Cardinals running back and Fountain of Youth discoverer Chris Johnson has slowed down in recent weeks. The veteran running back has totaled just 121 rushing yards on 43 carries (2.9 YPC) over his last two games and hasn't seen the endzone since October.
Is this is a result of Andre Ellington playing more or Johnson, 30, starting to show his age? Or, will the savvy ball-carrier turn it around this week against the San Francisco 49ers, arguably the NFL's worst defense? ESPN Senior Fantasy Analyst Matthew Berry believes it's the latter.
"Been a bit of a dry spell for CJ2k but that ends Sunday," Berry wrote in his weekly Love/Hate column. "The volume is there - Johnson has a league-high 73 carries in his past three games - and no doubt, the matchup is right. No defense is allowing more rushing yards per game or more rushing touchdowns this season than the San Francisco 49ers. Second in the NFL in yards after contact average (among running backs with at least 145 carries), Johnson has 150 total yards and two scores the previous time he faced San Fran."
Piling on to Berry's stats, the 49ers rush defense also ranks 23rd in the NFL in yards-per-carry (4.3). The team just allowed a mind-boggling 209 rushing yards and one touchdown to Seattle Seahawks backup Thomas Rawls last week. Opposing RBs have also caught a touchdown pass against San Fran in back-to-back games.
Arizona is in the top half of the league in total rushing attempts (280) and should continue that trend against the 49ers. That bodes well for Johnson owners. Start the man with confidence.
