Yahoo!: Arizona Cardinals’ David Johnson one of NFL’s rookies to watch

The Arizona Cardinals’ David Johnson raised some eyebrows among casual fans when he was selected in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft.

Now, however, Yahoo! Sports reporter Charles Robinson placed Johnson as the Cardinals’ representative as one of the “32 intriguing rookies to watch” entering the 2015 season.

David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals need someone tough and productive to step up at running back. Johnson is a big back who looks the part. But is he the right fit? Some scouts say he’s more of a picker – an upright runner who looks for creases and opportunities rather than just using his size and blowing them open. A Matt Forte comparison is one you will hear. Whether that’s good or bad doesn’t matter, because Johnson is going to get a lot of opportunities. A lot of fantasy football owners will be eyeballing him all preseason, knowing that the Cardinals would love for him to be a heavy load guy. For what it’s worth, I saw him at the Senior Bowl and liked the way he was deliberate and could navigate his way through garbage.

Johnson rushed for 1,553 yards and 17 touchdowns last season for Northern Iowa, marking the third straight season in which he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in his college career.

The 6-foot-1, 229-pound running back is expected to compete for snaps with Andre Ellington and Stepfan Taylor during the 2015 season.