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The Carolina Panthers acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson and pick No. 240 overall in this year's NFL draft from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson and pick No. 178 overall in this year's draft, according to sources. The move leaves the Steelers dangerously thin at the receiver position, with George Pickens and Calvin Austin III as the team's top two wideouts with Johnson gone. Johnson, 27, finished last year with a career-low 51 catches for 717 yards and five touchdowns. He'll move to a Panthers offense desperately seeking playmakers and should be one of quarterback Bryce Young's top targets, other than veteran Adam Thielen. Johnson's chances for a fantasy rebound in 2024 don't look great in Carolina, but perhaps he can develop some nice chemistry with Young and feed off volume.
Mar 12, 2024 7:35 PM EST
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Pittsburgh Steelers are open to trade offers for wide receiver Diontae Johnson. "There is interest from teams around the league as GMs are getting set for free agency," said Russini. Johnson signed a two-year, $36 million contract with the Steelers in August of 2022 and is set to be a free agent after this season. With inconsistent quarterback play from the Steelers, the 27-year-old managed to catch 51 passes for 717 yards and five touchdowns across 13 games in 2023. He owned 18.2% of the team's target share and averaged 5.2 yards after the catch. Johnson has a cap hit of $15.8 million. It's unclear if Johnson will return to the Steelers for a sixth season, but the Steelers are listening to offers, and a change of scenery could only boost his fantasy value in 2024. Stay tuned.
Mar 9, 2024 11:05 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson secured four of his seven targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in a 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Although Johnson finished third on the team in targets and receiving yards on Monday, he was arguably Pittsburgh's most impactful player. He was on the receiving end of quarterback Mason Rudolph's first touchdown pass of the contest that gave the Steelers life after quickly surrendering 21 points. The 27-year-old had an up-and-down season for fantasy purposes but was productive with six touchdowns in his 14 total games played. He figures to remain an integral piece of the Steelers' passing attack in the 2024-2025 campaign.
Jan 15, 2024 11:59 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson closed the regular season with a strong performance and will look to find continued success against the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, this contest is projected to be a low-scoring affair due to the harsh winter weather conditions in Buffalo. Elemental challenges aside, this is a difficult matchup for Johnson as the Bills have surrendered the seventh-fewest fantasy points to wideouts throughout the 2023-2024 campaign. Because Johnson frequently runs routes close to the line of scrimmage, he should still provide a relatively safe floor as a go-to guy for Mason Rudolph, but he can't be viewed as anything more than a middling fantasy WR2 on Sunday.
Jan 13, 2024 12:58 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson secured four of his five targets for 89 yards and a touchdown in the team's 17-10 victory over the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Johnson's numbers were modest heading into the fourth quarter, but he came through with the biggest play of the contest after taking a strike from Mason Rudolph into the end zone for a 71-yard score. The play was the longest of Johnson's five-year career and gave Pittsburgh a lead that it did not lose hold of. Should the Steelers make it into the playoffs, Johnson will be carrying positive momentum into the first round with back-to-back solid performances to close the regular season.
Jan 6, 2024 10:34 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson was productive with four opportunities last week and will hope to see more involvement against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. Baltimore has already secured a first-round playoff bye and is thus expected to rest many key starters on Saturday. With the Steelers looking to keep their playoff hopes alive, Johnson should remain on the field for the entirety of the contest and could provide fantasy value with Mason Rudolph under center. In Rudolph's two starts this season, Pittsburgh has averaged over 432 yards of offense and 32 points per game. Fantasy managers should view Johnson as a solid WR3 with some upside this week.
Jan 5, 2024 10:23 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson caught all four of his targets for 76 yards in a 30-23 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Although Johnson was once again outperformed by George Pickens, the 27-year-old managed a solid showing of his own and displayed some chemistry with quarterback Mason Rudolph. He was on the receiving end of Pittsburgh's biggest play of the contest, turning a short pass into a 42-yard gain that led to a Najee Harris rushing touchdown on the next play. With Rudolph under center, the Steelers are flashing some upside offensively, but volume is not necessarily guaranteed for Johnson. He'll continue to offer some appeal as a flex option in PPR formats against the Baltimore Ravens next week.
Dec 31, 2023 7:54 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson finished with just two receptions in Week 16 but will hope to have a more prominent role against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Although Johnson earned five targets from quarterback Mason Rudolph last week, he was quiet for fantasy purposes while teammate George Pickens exploded for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Both Pittsburgh wideouts should be involved against a Seattle defense that ranks in the bottom half of NFL teams in passing yards allowed and fantasy points given up to receivers this season. With Rudolph drawing another start, it's difficult to project exactly how Johnson will be utilized, but fantasy managers can still view the 27-year-old as a viable WR3 or flex option in a favorable matchup.
Dec 29, 2023 7:10 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson hauled in two of his five targets for 15 yards in the team's Week 16 win against the Cincinnati Bengals. With Mason Rudolph at quarterback, Johnson was outshined by teammate George Pickens, who erupted for 195 yards and two scores. Although Johnson was more involved with Mitch Trubisky or Kenny Pickett (ankle) under center, the Steelers' offense was arguably at its best on Saturday. The fifth-year wideout could bounce back in a favorable matchup with the Seattle Seahawks next week, but fantasy managers should wait for confirmation on Pittsburgh's starting quarterback before making any lineup decisions.
Dec 23, 2023 9:13 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson is in the midst of a three-game touchdown streak and will hope to revisit the end zone in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Although Johnson saw his fantasy productivity increase with Mitch Trubisky under center, Pittsburgh is 0-3 since losing Kenny Pickett (ankle) to injury and thus will be giving Mason Rudolph the start on Saturday. In Rudolph's last start, Johnson secured seven of 13 targets for 83 yards. This was in 2021, however, and the Steelers' offensive personnel is not the same as it was two seasons ago. The 27-year-old is still the safest bet out of the team's pass-catching options, but fantasy managers shouldn't view Johnson as anything more than a flex play in PPR formats this week.
Dec 22, 2023 6:56 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson finished with four receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown on six targets in the team's 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Although Johnson was out-targeted by George Pickens, he continued to operate as quarterback Mitch Trubisky's go-to playmaker, especially near the end zone. The 27-year-old has now scored in three straight games with Trubisky at the helm. Johnson should continue to be heavily involved regardless of who is under center, but Trubisky was benched for Mason Rudolph late in Saturday's contest, leaving Pittsburgh's quarterback situation very much in flux going forward. Kenny Pickett (ankle) is reportedly pushing to play in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson's fantasy value may take a hit if Trubisky doesn't draw the start next week, but he'll still project as a fine WR3 or flex option.
Dec 17, 2023 1:39 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (knee) returned to practice on Thursday after missing the previous session nursing a knee injury. The fifth-year veteran practiced on Tuesday with no word of an injury or problem, so it is unclear how or when he picked up the injury that kept him out on Wednesday. With Johnson practicing in full on Thursday, he heads into Week 15's game against the Indianapolis Colts without an injury designation. Despite the Steelers' lackluster passing attack, Johnson has remained the team's top receiving option and has scored a touchdown in consecutive weeks. He will have a difficult matchup on Saturday facing a Colts defense that has allowed just 124 yards per game to opposing receivers in their last three contests.
Dec 14, 2023 3:42 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (knee) was added to the team's Week 15 injury report on Thursday after he missed practice. It appears that Johnson suffered an injury in practice, which usually isn't a good sign for a player, especially on a short week. The 27-year-old should be considered questionable to play now in Week 15 on Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts. It's the last thing the struggling Steelers offense needs right now. Despite how bad Pittsburgh's offense has been, Johnson actually has scored in the last two games while catching seven of 12 targets for 90 yards as the team's top wideout. If he's unable to play this weekend against the Colts, George Pickens, Calvin Austin III and Miles Boykin would likely start in three-receiver sets.
Dec 13, 2023 4:50 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers Diontae Johnson recorded three receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown on seven targets in a 21-18 loss to the New England Patriots. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky looked Johnson's way often and found him downfield for a 25-yard score late in the second quarter. After finishing with zero touchdowns last season, Johnson has scored three times in nine games in 2023. If Kenny Pickett (ankle) is inactive again in Week 15, Johnson will likely operate as Trubisky's favorite target once again in a showdown with the Indianapolis Colts.
Dec 7, 2023 11:53 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson found the end zone for the second time this season in Week 13 and will be hoping for similar success against the New England Patriots on Thursday night. With Kenny Pickett (ankle) ruled out, Johnson will catch passes from Mitch Trubisky, who targeted the fifth-year wideout nearly 11 times per game in his four full starts last year. Although Johnson could produce in PPR fantasy formats with volume alone, it should be noted that this contest between two of the least efficient offenses in the NFL has an incredibly low projected point total. Fantasy managers can roll with the 27-year-old as a WR3 or flex option.
Dec 6, 2023 7:00 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson hauled in four of five targets for 33 yards and a touchdown in a 24-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He found the end zone on a 2-yard pass from quarterback Mitch Trubisky in the fourth quarter after Kenny Pickett (ankle) exited with an injury. Although Johnson tied for the team-lead in targets, he was out-gained by fellow wideout George Pickens. He has been held to fewer than five receptions in four straight contests and will be difficult to trust as anything more than a flex option against the New England Patriots next week.
Dec 3, 2023 7:58 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (illness) practiced in full on Friday and will suit up for a Week 13 home matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Although Arizona's defense has been much more vulnerable to rushing production, it has not been particularly good against the pass and surrenders plenty of fantasy points to opposing receivers. Johnson hasn't done much for fantasy purposes over his past three contests but he remains a top target for Kenny Pickett in what looked like an improved offense last week. The 27-year-old can be viewed as a low-end WR2 or flex option on Sunday.
Dec 1, 2023 6:37 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (illness) sat out of practice on Thursday due to an illness. Johnson's absence from practice on Thursday has nothing to do with his lack of hustle on a loose ball in the Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. With another day of practice on Friday, there's a good chance Johnson will return for that and be removed from the final Week 13 injury report. We'd be surprised if he's not out there this Sunday against the visiting Arizona Cardinals. The 27-year-old has a lot of incentive to play hard this weekend after his poor effort last Sunday, especially with the fact that he has only seven receptions for 83 yards and no touchdowns on 20 targets in the last three games. Johnson has a nice bounce-back opportunity this weekend against the Cardinals' suspect defense.
Nov 30, 2023 3:33 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson apologized to his teammates and the media for his lack of effort on a loose ball on running back Jaylen Warren's fumble in the Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. "That's not me as a player," Johnson said. "One play doesn't define me, never will. I didn't come up playing football like that, so obviously it looks bad on film. From here on out, just going forward, just be smart, keep playing 'til the whistle blows." Johnson expects to start this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals despite the lack of effort last week. The 27-year-old had a nice three-week stretch from Weeks 7-9 where he had 20 catches for 254 yards and a touchdown, but in the last three games he's gone for only seven catches on 20 targets for 83 scoreless yards. He'll have a nice matchup to bounce back in this Sunday against Arizona.
Nov 30, 2023 12:20 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson hauled in four of eight targets for 50 yards in a 16-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson made an impressive 39-yard catch in the second quarter on a beautiful deep ball from quarterback Kenny Pickett. He may have scored a touchdown in the first quarter had Pittsburgh challenged the ruling on the field of an incomplete pass. In its first game without former offensive coordinator Matt Canada, the Steelers' offense totaled 421 yards and looked significantly improved. Fantasy managers should feel encouraged as Johnson heads into a Week 13 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
Nov 26, 2023 9:55 PM EST
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