Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monkey acknowledged last week that the team has had a tough time finding ways to involve new wide receiver Diontae Johnson into their offense after acquiring him at the trade deadline from the Carolina Panthers. ESPN's Dan Graziano gets the sense that Baltimore considered Johnson too good of a player to pass on at the price that the Panthers were asking. He also gives the Ravens an option to use more three-receiver sets than they typically utilize if they want to go in that direction. Baltimore doesn't roll with many three-receiver sets, though, and aren't expected to have a major midseason scheme shakeup, which means that Johnson could just end up being a veteran insurance policy for top receiver Zay Flowers. He has only one catch on four targets for six yards in his three games with the Ravens and should be left on benches in Week 12 versus the Chargers.
Nov 20, 2024 11:00 PM EST
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson has yet to find the amount of success he enjoyed when catching passes from Andy Dalton earlier this season. Head coach John Harbaugh did say that Johnson's involvement would be ramped up, but the Ravens have a tougher matchup in Week 11. They take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson's former team, who are one of the tougher defenses against opposing passing games. Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and Rashod Bateman have all been big pieces to this offense, so it's still unknown how Johnson fits into the mix. He could be a flex play in very deep leagues, but he's not much of a trustworthy option.
Nov 16, 2024 3:27 PM EST
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he'd expect new wide receiver Diontae Johnson to ramp up his snaps now that he's had enough practices with the team under his belt. Johnson was dealt from the Carolina Panthers to the Ravens before the trade deadline, but he's been a non-factor in his two games with the Ravens, catching just one of two targets for a six-yard gain. He wasn't targeted at all in his debut with Baltimore in the Week 9 win over the Denver Broncos. But now that the former Steeler has had enough practice reps, we should start to see him get more involved in the offense, starting in Week 11 in a big divisional clash against his former team in Pittsburgh. Still, Johnson will be a shaky WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in an offense with plenty of mouths to feed. Johnson's increased involvement is bad news for wideouts Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor.
Nov 11, 2024 12:12 PM EST
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson played in 30% of the team's offensive snaps during their Week 9 win over the Denver Broncos. Head coach John Harbaugh even said that they planned to ease him into the offense for his first game. Now, with a game under his belt, the Ravens take on the Cincinnati Bengals in a short week. Without the full week of practice, it's unlikely that Johnson has that much bigger of a grasp on the offense, but he's also no stranger to AFC North matchups from his time in Pittsburgh. Zay Flowers remains the number-one option, but Johnson could get some opportunities if it turns into another shootout.
Nov 6, 2024 4:54 PM EST
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson will likely play 10 to 15 snaps in his first game with the team on Sunday, according to CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson. Johnson was acquired from the Carolina Panthers earlier this week, and while he isn't fully acclimated to the Ravens' offense yet, it sounds like the Baltimore coaching staff will get him on the field for a percentage of plays in Week 9. Moving forward, he offers Baltimore an experienced weapon that can stretch the field in a supplementary role behind Zay Flowers. Johnson should be benched in fantasy football this week, but he could jump up to the low-end WR3 range by Week 10.
Nov 3, 2024 8:46 AM EST
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson just joined the team earlier in the week and was a full participant at practice each day. All signs are pointing to the new Raven suiting up on Sunday against the Denver Broncos, but his workload is a big question mark. Less than a week of practice isn't enough to learn much of the offense, so he may not be featured on many snaps immediately. Fantasy managers will want to wait a week or two and see how the trend of snaps and targets moves as he's more incorporated into the offensive system. So, he's not on the fantasy radar outside of desperate situations in Week 9, especially against a good defense like the Broncos.
Nov 2, 2024 12:58 PM EST
New Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson practiced on Wednesday after being acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday. His participation suggests that he could be on track to playing in Week 9 when the Ravens host the Denver Broncos. According to recent reports, Johnson will slot in as the Ravens' No. 3 wide receiver behind Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers. After being traded to the Panthers this past offseason, Johnson now finds himself back on a contender. He has recorded 357 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2024 despite playing with subpar quarterback play. However, Johnson has excelled with quarterback Andy Dalton under center. Now that Johnson enters a situation with several quality weapons, his volume is sure to decrease. For fantasy purposes, the days of a relevant Johnson in 2024 may be behind us, at least in the short term. Johnson's talent may demand the Ravens to ensure he gets touches. However, the team seems to view Johnson as a missing chess piece for a potential Super Bowl run rather than a foundational player. Fantasy managers should monitor Johnson's snap share and targets over the next couple of weeks to determine how this trade will impact his outlook for the rest of the season.
Oct 30, 2024 6:54 PM EST
The Baltimore Ravens traded for former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Tuesday, raising questions about the fantasy football outlooks of Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. However, NFL insider Josina Anderson said she was told the acquisition of Johnson "does not reflect a change in the view of Flowers and Bateman as the team's current WR1 and WR2," according to sources. Both Baltimore wideouts are inside the top 20 pass-catchers in total receiving yards this year, and the team remains confident in them. However, it's tough to believe Johnson will not make an impact or take at least some volume away from the young pair of wideouts. In all likelihood, he'll be eased into the offense, but the target pecking order could switch week-to-week later in the year. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is the biggest fantasy football winner in this trade, while Johnson, Flowers, Bateman, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely could all have lower floors in a suddenly crowded pass-catching group.
Oct 30, 2024 2:12 PM EST
The Carolina Panthers are trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The former Pittsburgh Steeler is heading back to the AFC North. Johnson has been rumored to be on the trade block as Carolina is in the middle of the lost season, and he now joins a Ravens' squad that is firmly in Super Bowl contention. The 28-year-old has hauled in 30 of his 58 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns this season, though his best games have come with Andy Dalton at the helm. Johnson's fantasy ceiling likely takes a hit in the Baltimore offense that features a run-heavy attack. His presence could also negatively affect Zay Flowers, and it will surely hurt the fantasy outlook of Rashod Bateman. The biggest fantasy football winner here is quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Oct 29, 2024 2:14 PM EST
Per Joe Person of The Athletic, it's only a matter of time before the Carolina Panthers trade wide receiver Diontae Johnson (rib). The 28-year-old is the most vied wideout on the market right now, and it appears he'll be shipped off to a contender before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. At this point, his most likely destinations are San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Washington, or "an AFC contender such as Los Angeles (Chargers) or Houston." It's an exciting development, as a move would instantly boost Johnson's fantasy value. With the deadline a week away, expect this situation to escalate quickly. We've already seen a few wideouts change hands over the last few weeks, and with the Panthers reeling at 1-7 -- the long-time Pittsburgh Steeler should be the next on the move. Fantasy managers who have held onto him may be handsomely rewarded in short order.
Oct 29, 2024 12:18 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson is expected to be traded before the trade deadline according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Schefter reported this on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday afternoon. The veteran wideout was held out of action this past Sunday due to a rib injury. However, he has performed very well at times this season in Carolina. During Weeks 3 through 6, Johnson averaged an impressive 18.3 PPR points after struggling during the opening two weeks of the campaign. Johnson remains an intriguing buy-low candidate for redraft purposes as he will likely join a much more positive fantasy environment during the stretch run of the season. Fantasy managers who currently roster Johnson should continue to hold him on their roster as better days are likely ahead.
Oct 28, 2024 1:22 PM EST
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Carolina Panthers have received multiple calls about wide receiver Diontae Johnson (ribs) and his availability ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline. Reportedly, the Panthers are looking to receive a mid-round draft pick as compensation for the 28-year-old wideout. Per Schefter, he and Jacksonville Jaguars WR Christian Kirk are the hottest names on the market, and "it wouldn't be a surprise to see at least one of -- and possibly both" traded. We've already seen three top-flight wide receivers shipped off to contending teams thus far, and according to Schefter, "more trades are expected." Johnson has been ruled out for Week 8 due to a rib injury that forced him to miss the week of practice, and it's apparently highly likely he joins a new squad before the deadline. Stay tuned.
Oct 26, 2024 9:45 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (ribs) was ruled out for Week 8 according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The 28-year-old was unable to participate in any practices this week and will now set his sights on returning in Week 9 to face the New Orleans Saints. In addition, starting quarterback Andy Dalton (thumb) is considered doubtful which would leave presumed starter Bryce Young without his top wideout. Fantasy managers should expect rookie Xavier Legette to lead the air attack with Jonathan Mingo and Jalen Coker behind him. Legette is worth a look as a high-end WR3 from a volume perspective but faces a tough challenge against the Denver Broncos who have allowed the third-fewest PPR points to opposing wideouts.
Oct 25, 2024 12:46 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (rib) did not practice on Thursday due to a rib injury. The veteran was also absent from Wednesday's practice, but it's worth noting he logged two straight "DNPs" to begin last week's preparation and still suited up against the Washington Commanders. Johnson could still play in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos, so fantasy managers should monitor his status. However, Bryce Young will start on Sunday in place of the injured Andy Dalton (thumb), which is bad news for Johnson's potential fantasy outlook. With Young under center in Week 1 and Week 2, Johnson scored a combined 5.9 half-PPR points. With Dalton at QB, he scored at least 16.8 fantasy points in three of six games. The Broncos have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to WRs, so Johnson is a clear sit candidate on Sunday.
Oct 24, 2024 2:58 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (rib, rest) was not seen on the practice field on Wednesday. Johnson has missed some practice time recently but hasn't missed any games and should be good to go for Week 8 against the Denver Broncos as long as he returns to the practice field in the next two days. In the 40-7 Week 7 loss to the Washington Commanders, Carolina's entire offense struggled, and Johnson hauled in just one of his three targets for a 17-yard gain. Quarterback Andy Dalton (thumb) was involved in a car accident on Tuesday and won't play this Sunday against Denver, pushing second-year signal-caller back into a starting role against a top-five defense. Johnson had five catches for 34 yards and no TDs in the first two weeks with Young throwing him the ball. Another dud could be coming for Johnson, especially if cornerback Patrick Surtain II (concussion) is back for the Broncos.
Oct 23, 2024 3:20 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (ribs, hamstring, ankle) is officially active for Week 7 against the Washington Commanders. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction ahead of this weekend. Johnson figures to operate as the Panthers' top receiver and could thrive with a favorable matchup and a negative game script. He has played quite well with Andy Dalton under center and will continue to rank as a mid-to-low fantasy WR2 this week.
Oct 20, 2024 2:50 PM EST
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (ankle, rib) is expected to play in Sunday's meeting with the Commanders. The wideout has battled a few injuries of late, keeping him off the practice field on Wednesday and Thursday before logging a limited session on Friday. But his anticipated return is certainly good news for a Carolina team that has struggled all season. With that in mind, Johnson, scoring a touchdown in three of his last four games, is a must-start for the favorable matchup against Washington, assuming he officially gets the green light. However, his presence could result in fewer opportunities for Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo on the receiving end.
Oct 20, 2024 12:16 AM EST
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver Diontae Johnson (ankle, hamstring, ribs) was "limited" on Friday's injury report with hamstring and ribs injuries, in addition to an ankle injury that he's dealt with the last two weeks. Johnson is officially considered questionable to play on Sunday in Week 7 against the hosting Washington Commanders. Canales said that Johnson "looked good" and was "moving around quickly" on Friday before his rib injury popped up. It still seems like the 28-year-old is on the right side of questionable this weekend, but his status is one to monitor going into Saturday, especially with Carolina playing in the later slate on Sunday. Johnson has been a must-start in fantasy with Andy Dalton at QB. If Johnson were to miss the Week 7 contest, rookie Xavier Legette would operate as the WR1, with Jonathan Mingo and rookie Jalen Coker seeing bigger roles.
Oct 18, 2024 7:12 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (ankle/ribs/hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders, according to David Newton of ESPN. Johnson has been dealing with a lingering ankle injury over the past few weeks but has been able to play through it. However, this week, Johnson did not participate in Wednesday and Thursday's practice sessions and only returned on Friday at a limited capacity. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to any updates regarding the 28-year-old during the weekend. If he can play, Johnson should be locked into all lineups as a high-end WR2 facing a weak Washington secondary who have allowed the 28th-most points to opposing wideouts. If he sits out, Xavier Legette should see increased opportunities and be a viable high-end WR3.
Oct 18, 2024 12:59 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (ankle) is not practicing on Thursday due to an ankle injury. The 28-year-old also missed Wednesday's practice, so his status could legitimately be in doubt for the Week 7 game against the Washington Commanders. Johnson has also been in the middle of trade rumors, so his situation is worth monitoring. The former Pittsburgh Steeler got out to a slow start in his Carolina career, but he has been excellent since Andy Dalton took over the starting quarterback duties from Bryce Young. Johnson has scored at least 19.8 PPR fantasy points in three of his four games with Dalton under center, and the Commanders have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wideouts. That said, Johnson is a must-start if active. If he's not, rookie Xavier Legette has at least WR3 upside in the favorable matchup.
Oct 17, 2024 2:19 PM EST