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CJ2K Re-Signs With Cardinals; Davis Johnson Fans Shouldn't Worry
As Profootballtalk.com framed it: "Nobody wants to play running back for the Dolphins. ..." This after Chris Johnson decided to re-sign with the Cardinals for another year after visiting Miami.

From a fantasy-football perspective, it's certainly bigger news for Miami than it is in Arizona.

Seeing more work than most expected, Johnson ran for 814 yards at 4.2 yards per carry before landing on injured reserve in December with a fractured tibia. As NFL.com pointed out, he wasn't the same player late in the year -- he speed fell off -- but Johnson, 30, won't be asked to play the workhorse role.

Not with second-year back David Johnson set for a monster campaign in Arizona's prolific offense.

Remember: General manager Steve Keim told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine last month that it's "scary" to ponder how good the younger back can be as he develops in his second and third seasons. Head coach Bruce Arians seems to agree.

Asked if Davis Johnson is already one of the NFL's top running backs, Arians replied: "I can't say after one year's work that he is one of the best. But he's got a chance to be one of the all-time best."

As NFL.com's Chris Wesseling put it at the time, "Arians isn't anointing Johnson a Hall of Famer after 18 NFL games. He's simply pointing out that a well-rounded, three-down back who led the NFL in scrimmage yards from Week 13 through the end of the postseason has a chance to build on that elite production going forward. ..."

No doubt.

According to NextGen Stats, Johnson recorded the fastest speed by a running back as a ball carrier in 2015. He also launched a 41.5-inch vertical leap at the combine last year. He's the rare back who combines freakish physical gifts with natural running and pass-catching ability.

And he'll head into 2016 high on the fantasy radar while Chris Johnson plays a secondary role at best. ...

Worth noting: Johnson's new deal with the Cardinals is for one-year and worth up to $3 million. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Johnson turned down nearly double that from another team. ...

As for Miami. ... The Dolphins watched Lamar Miller walk out the door for Houston, then tried to sign Denver restricted free agent C.J. Anderson before the Broncos matched. If Johnson was Plan C, as PFT put it, we'll now find out what Plan D is.

Whatever the case, incoming Dolphins head coach Adam Gase doesn't seem to have great confidence in those already on board.

Jay Ajayi, last year’s fifth-round pick, Damien Williams, who was used mostly as a third-down specialist last season, and Jahwan Edwards, who spent a couple weeks on the practice squad last year are the only running backs on the Dolphins’ roster.

According to South Florida Sun-Sentinel staffer Omar Kelly, Alfred Morris is a viable option for the Dolphins because it appears he won’t be re-signing with the Redskins. Morris, 27, rushed for 1,000-plus yards in each of his first three seasons with Washington, but last year gained just 751 yards on 202 carries (3.7 yards per attempt).

He’s viewed as a limited pass catcher (47 career receptions), which could limit his asking price.

Miami could also target Ronnie Hillman, who rushed for 863 yards and scored seven touchdowns while sharing Denver’s backfield with Anderson.

Former Dolphins starter Reggie Bush is also available, but the former USC standout is recovering from a serious leg injury that cut his 2015 season with the San Francisco 49ers short. Packers part-timer James Starks is also available.