Diontae Johnson

28-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR

Free Agent

2024 Receiving Stats

REC

YDS

363

AVG

11.7

TAR

Rest-of-Season Projections

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YDS

AVG

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2024 Fantasy Outlook

Johnson is off to Carolina to help resurrect 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, following a five-year stint in Pittsburgh that was mostly marked by tons of volume and bottom-of-the-barrel efficiency. Neither big (5-10, 183), nor fast (4.53 40), the 2019 third-round pick nonetheless was quick to make an impression in Pittsburgh, using his impressive agility and acceleration to get open on short routes and pick up yards after the catch. Johnson led the team in targets each of his first four seasons, with 92 as a rookie (59-680-5) and then more than 140 each of the next three years (88-923-7 / 107-1,161-8 / 86/882/0). His disastrous efficiency in 2022 (6.0 YPT, zero TDs on 147 targets) was followed by lesser volume and improved efficiency in 2023 (8.2 YPT, five TDs on 87 targets in 13 games), making it a bounce-back season of sorts even if Johnson didn't help fantasy managers. The look of Carolina's roster heading into the 2024 Draft gives Johnson a chance to get back to the type of volume that all but ensures fantasy relevance, albeit in an offense that may be just as bad as what he dealt with in Pittsburgh (or even worse). The Panthers don't have a TE with any significant track record as a pass catcher, and their only WR that's ever made fantasy noise is Adam Thielen, who put up huge numbers over the first eight weeks last year but then averaged just 43.3 yards over the final nine game (and now will turn 34 in August). It seems the team is heavily counting on Johnson, which didn't really work out for the Steelers but did lead to the one big fantasy year in 2021. Read Past Outlooks

RANKS

#81.98

ADP

Overall

Wide Receiver

Height 5'10"

Weight 183

DOB 7/5/1996

College Toledo

Drafted 3rd Rd 2019 #66 Overall

Waived by Ravens

WRFree Agent

December 20, 2024

The Ravens have waived Johnson.

ANALYSIS
Adam Schefter of ESPN relays that as a result of the move, Johnson will go on waivers and can be claimed Monday at 4:00 p.m. ET. It remains to be seen if the veteran wideout will be claimed, but either way Johnson now will have a chance to play elsewhere following his brief and unproductive stint with the Ravens.

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NFL Stats

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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats

See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.

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Advanced NFL Stats

How do Diontae Johnson's 2024 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?

This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.

Air Yards Per Game

51.2

Air Yards Per Snap

1.75

% Team Air Yards

16.8%

% Team Targets

13.2%

Avg Depth of Target

9.9 Yds

Catch Rate

51.7%

Drop Rate

3.4%

Avg Yds After Catch

3.0

% Targeted On Route

23.5%

Avg Yds Per Route Run

1.45

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2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2024 NFL Game Log

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2023 NFL Game Log

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2022 NFL Game Log

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2021 NFL Game Log

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2020 NFL Game Log

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Receiving Alignment Breakdown

See where Diontae Johnson lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.

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2024 Diontae Johnson Split Stats

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Measurables Review View College Player Page

How do Diontae Johnson's measurables compare to other wide receivers?

This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.

Height

5' 10"

Weight

183 lbs

40-Yard Dash

4.53 sec

Shuttle Time

4.45 sec

Cone Drill

7.09 sec

Vertical Jump

33.5 in

Broad Jump

123 in

Bench Press

15 reps

Hand Length

9.00 in

Arm Length

30.75 in

Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Diontae Johnson See More

Week 16 Friday Injury Report: Guerendo Out, Waddle Doubtful, Hill Questionable

Yesterday

Isaac Guerendo provided temporarily relief for fantasy managers in need, but now he's handing things over to Patrick Taylor for at least one week. RW's Jerry Donabedian has the full injury scoop from Friday.

NFL Game Previews: Week 16 Matchups

2 days ago

Week 16 in the NFL features a Sunday night matchup of the Buccaneers and Cowboys. Erik Siegrist previews all the games.

Gameday Injuries: Week 15

6 days ago

A closer look at the latest Week 15 injury news as of Sunday morning as the fantasy playoffs begin for many leagues.

Target Breakdown: WR & TE Usage Report + Week 15 Waivers Preview

11 days ago

Bryce Young's recent competence has allowed for a production surge from Adam Thielen, who headlines a long list of unlikely fantasy heroes at WR recently.

Target Breakdown: WR & TE Usage Report + Week 14 Waivers Preview

18 days ago

Adam Thielen and Bryce Young seem to be rekindling their productive connection from the first half of the 2023 season.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Johnson set a new standard for the high-volume, low-efficiency receiving season last year, finishing with 86 catches for 882 yards and nary a touchdown on 147 targets. Even in an offense with miserable quarterback play, it's the type of performance that leads to serious concern about his future (including the workload). Johnson has always been elusive and tricky to tackle, but drops have been a recurring theme and he's neither big (5-10, 183) nor fast (4.53 40) by NFL standards. On the other hand, he was an extremely productive fantasy player as recently as 2021 (107-1,161-8) and the Steelers only have WR George Pickens and TE Pat Freiermuth as serious target competition. Should second-year QB Kenny Pickett improve, Johnson would presumably be one of the prime beneficiaries even if the target volume takes a necessary step back.

Johnson is on the small side for an NFL wideout, and while he perhaps plays a bit faster than his 4.53 40 time from the 2016 Combine suggests, he won't be mistaken for a burner anytime soon. No matter, the Steelers have peppered him with targets, and it's hard to fault them when you see how easily Johnson gets open on short routes and the way he puts defenders on skates once the ball is in his hands. The big concern in 2020 was drops, with 13 a league high and ultimately costing him a 1,000-yard season. Last year, Johnson cut the drops (five) and surpassed 1,000 yards with relative ease, though it required a boatload of targets (169, t-2nd) in an offense with poor blocking and a washed-up version of Ben Roethlisberger. While it's not hard to imagine even better numbers in the future, Johnson's drawbacks for 2022 sound awfully similar to 2021. Mitch Trubisky or rookie Kenny Pickett might prove better than late-stage Roethlisberger, but probably not by much, and the O-line landed just one clear upgrade in the offseason (RG James Daniels). Then again, those weaknesses might work in Johnson's favor when it comes to volume. As much as the Steelers hope for breakthroughs from Pickett, Chase Claypool and rookie wideout George Pickens, there's also a chance they end up overly reliant on short throws again, in which case Johnson, TE Pat Freiermuth and RB Najee Harris would stay well fed.

Johnson had one of the stranger seasons in recent memory. While he missed only one game, he was benched in others for drops and also got injured early in Week 5. Johnson wound up leading the NFL with a whopping 15 drops, yet still managed 144 targets on a team with two other viable WR options. Johnson’s per-play numbers (10.5 YPC and 6.4 YPT) were among the league’s lowest, partly due to drops, but mostly because the Steelers ran a bizarre, pass-heavy offense based heavily on short throws. While teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster finished 35th in aDOT at 5.6 yards, Johnson was 30th at 8.0. At 5-10, 183, Johnson is small, and his timed speed (4.53 40) is below average for a player his size. But put him in a uniform, and he looks like another small, poor-40-timed former Steelers receiver, Antonio Brown. Like Brown, Johnson’s quickness and burst jumps off the screen, and he even hauled in four catches of 40-plus yards last year despite the low aDOT. Of course, Johnson’s focus needs to improve — 15 drops is off-the-charts high, especially for a player catching passes at close range — and coach Mike Tomlin’s tolerance is not infinite. Moreover, Ben Roethlisberger looked shaky last year, and it’s unclear whether he will regain his former arm strength. That said, Johnson is one of the quickest wideouts in the league, so even with Smith-Schuster re-signing and second-year man Chase Claypool around, he should see plenty of work.

A third-round pick in 2019, Johnson saw regular snaps once JuJu Smith-Schuster got hurt and more than held his own under the circumstances. While his per-play numbers were pedestrian - 11.5 YPC, 7.4 YPT - Johnson was paired with two of the league's worst quarterbacks, yet still managed to score five touchdowns and catch two passes for 40-plus yards on 92 targets, mostly lining up outside. At 5-10, 183, and with a below-average 40 time (4.53), he has about the same physical specs as Antonio Brown, and like Brown, Johnson is quick and explosive. The Steelers have been wizards at developing smaller young receivers - from Santonio Holmes to Mike Wallace to Brown to Emmanuel Sanders - and Johnson could be the next in line, especially with Ben Roethlisberger healthy again. But Smith-Schuster, who already has Roethlisberger's trust, should be the clear No. 1, and Johnson will compete with 2018 second-round pick James Washington, 2020 second-round pick Chase Claypool and tight ends Vance McDonald and Eric Ebron for second fiddle. Johnson had sports hernia surgery after the season but is expected to make a full recovery for the start of training camp.

Despite a poor performance at the Combine, Johnson has the tools to make an impact with the Steelers as a depth receiver/returner. He actually had a faster time in the forty (4.53) than Antonio Brown (4.56) and is now in line to compete with Eli Rogers and Ryan Switzer for slot work. He could also add value on special teams, having led the nation in punt return average (19.9) at the collegiate level the past two years, while scoring four times on kick or punt returns.

More Fantasy News

Unavailable this week

WRBaltimore Ravens

Personal

December 19, 2024

Johnson (personal) is has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Steelers.

ANALYSIS
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Suspension lifted

WRBaltimore Ravens

December 16, 2024

The Ravens lifted Johnson's suspension Monday.

ANALYSIS
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Not rejoining team for Week 16

WRBaltimore Ravens

Suspension

December 16, 2024

The Ravens announced Monday that the team has mutually agreed with Johnson (suspension) to excuse him from team activities Week 16.

ANALYSIS
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Suspended for Week 15

WRBaltimore Ravens

Suspension

December 4, 2024

The Ravens announced Wednesday that Johnson has been suspended for the team's Week 15 game against the Giants for conduct detrimental to the team.

ANALYSIS
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Plays zero snaps in Week 13

WRBaltimore Ravens

December 2, 2024

Johnson played zero offensive snaps in the Ravens' loss to the Eagles on Sunday.

ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors

Ravens tenure ends quickly

WRFree Agent

December 20, 2024

Johnson, who was suspended for the Ravens' Week 15 game against the Giants for conduct detrimental to the team, was waived by Baltimore on Friday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

ANALYSIS
Johnson had been acquired by the Ravens from the Panthers on Oct. 29 with an eye on boosting Baltimore's receiving corps for the stretch run, but he recorded just one reception for six yards during his four games with the team. The veteran wideout then refused to come into the Week 13 game against the Eagles when asked, leading to the suspension and his subsequent excusal from team activities this past week.

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