Johnson Shuffles Backfield in Music City - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

Fantasy FanHouse will be chiming in throughout the NFL draft with fantasy analysis of each fantasy relevant pick.

Apparently Jeff Fisher was feeling like his backfield was bare with the departure of the unexciting Chris Brown, because -- for the third year in a row -- the Titans have selected a running back early in their draft. Now Fisher has Chris Johnson at his disposal along with LenDale White and Chris Henry.

Johnson's a poor-man's Reggie Bush. He can bang like an outside the tackles tailback, but catch passes out of the backfield as well. His value initially will be as a third down back, but he has the explosiveness that could help him develop into much more as soon as 2008. He's the home run hitter that White and Henry are not with his reported 4.25 40 speed.

Fantasy Spin:

- White: He's the inside bruiser, so short yardage and those lame first down "let's establish the run now" handoffs right up the middle are about all she wrote for the big man. You can't count on him for any better than your third fantasy back, because his value will stem strictly from short-yardage TDs. I wouldn't even count on him for that, as the lack of confidence in him carrying the load is evident with the past two years' drafts.

- Henry: A good bet to get the bulk of the outside carries on anything other than short yardage or third-and-long for the first half of the season. Be ready to sell him high (a la Lamont Jordan last season) because Johnson should eventually supplant him by displaying he can handle the NFL physicality. He's a fourth fantasy RB for now, but things could easily change for the better or worse during training camp.

- Johnson: The Titans wouldn't take him in the first round with Henry and White in house unless they truly believed that Johnson was going to be the best of the bunch. He's not Brian Westbrook or Reggie Bush just yet, but he can fly and he can catch the ball. He'll get his reps and should begin taking the majority of the touches by week 9. Stash him on your bench after making him your fifth running back and reap the rewards when he's torching defenses during the fantasy playoffs. If the Titans can get him outside, not many in the league can run with him. Of course, you're still gambling that he learns how to shed would-be tacklers every once in a while. I like gambling, do you?

Finally, mind games are good ... when you draft Johnson late, make sure to pontificate about how he's "the unknown Reggie Bush/Devin Hester/Brian Westbrook" (whichever one you like best -- I'm partial to my boy Hester) for the rest of the draft. Bonus points if someone drops an F-bomb in your direction while telling you to shut your yap.