TyJohnson

News: 2 days agoJohnson (lower leg) didn't practice Tuesday, but head coach Joe Brady said that the running back has resumed sprinting, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.

Spin: Though Johnson hasn't practiced in more than two weeks while nursing a lower-leg injury and looks unlikely to play in Thursday's preseason finale versus the Steelers, Brady noted that the running back is "in a good head space" and could still be available for Week 1 in Houston. If Johnson ends up being sidelined to begin the regular season, however, lead back James Cook could take on a heightened role on passing downs.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Johnson has settled in as a productive change-of-pace and receiving option in the Buffalo backfield behind James Cook. Johnson enters his eighth NFL season having yet to clear 63 carries or 34 catches in a season, but his role allows for him to hit for the occasional big game (15-plus fantasy points four times over the last two seasons). Of course, those games have come at random, making Johnson an unusable fantasy commodity. Even if Cook misses time this season, it's likely that Johnson would remain in his role, with Ray Davis instead stepping into lead back duties. Johnson plays a valuable role for Buffalo, but he's not a fantasy option.