L.J. isn’t the only workhorse back named “Johnson” you should be concerned with

With fantasy owners and so-called experts scared to death of drafting Larry Johnson number two overall because he had 416 carries last season, consider that over the past three seasons no one in the NFL has had more carries than another Johnson: Rudi.

Over the past three seasons, Johnson (Rudi, that is) has averaged more than 346 carries and epitomized “workhorse back” in its truest sense. He’s accounted for more than 87 percent of the Bengal’s total carries and 85.5 percent of the yards.

And it doesn’t look like there will be a change in philosophy any time soon. Not that he’s bothered by that.

“I’ll take as many [carries] as they want to give me,” said Johnson. “That’s the mentality that you have to have as a big-time runner. You have to be mentally prepared for that, to handle the load, to let them put the game on you … I mean, if it was up to me, heck, I’d take all the carries.”

He just might. The team doesn’t have a suitable number two back who will be able to significantly take some of the load.

Rookie tailback Kenny Irons sustained a season-ending injury in the Aug. 9 preseason opener against the Lions while Chris Perry, who has appeared in only 22 games in three years, will begin 2007 on the PUP list for a second straight year. That leaves Kenny Watson as the team’s number two.

Rudi Johnson is the most worked back in the NFL. He’s also probably the most overlooked because of Cincinnati’s potent passing game. Be sure you make a note of it this year: he’s going to receive 340+ carries and, if history is any indication, he’ll probably score 12 touchdowns on the ground.