Diontae

Johnson

Johnson had been vocal about his unhappiness in the Steelers offense, and now he reportedly heads to the Panthers to catch passes from Bryce Young. He is due a $3 million roster bonus on Friday that the Panthers will now pay, in addition to taking on his contract, which will expire at the end of the 2024 season. Johnson posted 51 receptions for 717 yards in 2023, operating as one of the best receivers in terms of separation in the league. His production dipped to a career-low 10.3 YPR in 2022 with zero touchdowns after a 100-catch, 1000-yard season in 2021. He continued to face competition from George Pickens while seeing lackluster quarterback play in 2023. Johnson will be the top receiving option in Carolina, though his fantasy viability will still be capped to WR2 status while Young and the new Panthers staff develop the offense. The Steelers also send a seventh-round pick to the Panthers and receive CB Dontae Jackson and a sixth-round pick in return.

Johnson has been somewhat vocal in recent years over his displeasure with the Steelers’ offense and quarterback struggles. Earlier this offseason, he advocated for the team to bring back Mason Rudolph in hopes he would be the team’s starter in 2024. In five seasons with the Steelers, Johnson has totaled 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns. After going for 882 scoreless yards in 2022, he bounced back in 2023 with a line of 51-717-5 in 13 games while averaging a career-high 14.1 YPR. The soon-to-be 28-year-old receiver would likely have a strong trade market, as teams are always looking to add reliable receivers on the outside. Per ESPN receiver analytics, Johnson graded out as the sixth-best receiver when combining one’s ability to get open, catch passes and create after the catch.

Johnson caught a touchdown on a beautiful slant route in the second quarter but had a bit of a disappointing regular season, posting 51 catches on 87 targets for 717 yards and five touchdowns. He is clearly a shifty route runner and still has the potential to be a difference maker in fantasy, but his effort has also been questioned and the Steelers’ quarterback play could continue to limit his upside in 2024. However, given that 2024 is the final year of his contract in Pittsburgh, Johnson could potentially be a trade candidate if the season starts out slowly. If Pittsburgh runs back the same quarterback group, it’s hard to see Johnson as more than a WR3 for fantasy.

Johnson, and the rest of the Pittsburgh pass-catchers, for that matter, had an extremely quiet afternoon until a 71-yard touchdown grab on the first play of the fourth quarter. It would go down as the only receiving touchdown of the game for the Steelers in steady wind and rain, the conditions of which led to a ground-and-pound offensive approach throughout. Johnson and the Steelers now await the results of the games on Sunday, needing a loss by the Bills or Jaguars to clinch a playoff berth out of the AFC.

Johnson was solid with his limited opportunities. His biggest play came in the second half when he caught the ball and raced for a 42-yard gain. It was a George Pickens type of day, but Johnson was still one of only four Steelers targeted in the passing game.

Johnson watched as George Pickens set a career-high with 195 yards through the air, coming via a career-high 86-yard touchdown grab on the first possession and a 66-yard touchdown reception in the second half. The positive game flow left quarterback Mason Rudolph with just 27 pass attempts, leaving little meat on the bone for Johnson alongside Pickens. Johnson will look to redeem himself in Week 17 when the Steelers travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks.

Johnson cashed in from two yards out on a rub-screen, marking the third game in a row with a trip to the paint. Backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has historically targeted the veteran wide receiver heavily when under center, a situation that appears likely to change in Week 16 whether Kenny Pickett makes it back or not after Trubisky was replaced to end the game by Mason Rudolph.

Johnson was listed as a DNP on Wednesday but upgraded to full on Thursday. It appears his absence earlier in the week was due more to injury maintenance than anything significant. Johnson and the Steelers face a Colts defense that’s allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing receivers in their last five games. Catching passes from Mitchell Trubisky also doesn’t help his case. Johnson is best suited as a WR3 this weekend.

Johnson didn’t appear to suffer an injury during Thursday’s loss to New England, but the fact that the Steelers had extra days to rest and he still wasn’t able to practice is mildly concerning. Johnson has drawn criticism for his effort on the field this season, and head coach Mike Tomlin was critical this week of fellow wide receiver George Pickens’ off field behavior, so the Steelers receiving room is in a bit of turmoil. With a matchup on Sunday against a Colts secondary that just got torched by Jake Browning, this could be a prime get-right spot if Johnson is able to get onto the field.

Johnson found the end zone for the second time in as many games with Mitch Trubisky under center, not that anyone is really celebrating 3/57/1. Johnson’s score was a second quarter 25-yarder with the Steelers down 21-3. He got a step on J.C. Jackson and made a nice diving grab in the end zone. 24 more of Johnson’s yards came in the very definition of garbage time. Johnson’s PPR production has proven to be extremely underwhelming after he got off to a hot compiling start this year, though the Colts are not an imposing Week 15 matchup. The problem is, the same is true of Mitch Trubisky for Indy. With all 32 teams active next weekend, Johnson could have trouble cracking the top 36.