New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson caught all three of his targets for 30 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 35-14 victory over the Browns. The score came from one yard out and was Johnson's first trip to the end zone since Week 1 and was just the second touchdown against the Browns by an opposing tight end this season. Johnson also impressed with an acrobatic catch for a 20-yard gain in the second quarter, turning and jumping for the pass and reeling it in while twisting around mid-air. On the downside, he was responsible for a holding penalty in the first quarter that negated a 29-yard pickup on a 4th-and-1 that would have brought the Saints to Cleveland's four-yard line. Despite the injuries that have wrecked the Saints' wide receiver room, Johnson has not seen a significant uptick in production. Through 11 games, he now has 25 receptions for 277 yards with two touchdowns on 32 targets. The Saints are on bye in Week 12, then return to face the Rams where Johnson will once again be a touchdown-dependent dart throw.
Nov 18, 2024 2:36 AM EST
The New Orleans Saints have been rocked by injuries over the last several weeks. Wide receivers Chris Olave (concussion), Rashid Shaheed (knee), and Bub Means (ankle) are all on injured reserve, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder) has missed two of the team's last three games and has a questionable tag for Sunday. With so many pass catchers ailing, one would expect that it would provide others ample opportunity for a bump in production. Unfortunately, that has not been the case for tight end Juwan Johnson. Over the last three weeks he has seven catches for 111 yards on nine targets. His last trip to the end zone came in Week 1 and his odds to change that against the Browns on Sunday are slim. In 2024, Cleveland has allowed just one touchdown to opposing tight ends and the third-fewest receptions to the position. Johnson can stay on the wire in Week 11.
Nov 16, 2024 3:17 AM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson tied for the second most receiving yards on the team in Week 9 against the Panthers. Sadly, all he needed for that distinction was 41 yards. On the season, Johnson now has 20 receptions for 225 yards with one touchdown. In Week 10, Johnson and the Saints take on the Atlanta Falcons in an NFC South rivalry game. The matchup offers no special advantage to Johnson. Atlanta has seen only two touchdowns go to opposing tight ends this season and lands in the middle of the pack in terms of receptions and receiving yards allowed to the position. With the Saints' offense decimated by injuries, Johnson may be in line for an uptick in work but the same could have been said about his situation in Week 9 and nothing substantial came to fruition. He can be left on the wire in Week 10.
Nov 9, 2024 5:32 AM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson had three catches for 48 yards in Week 8, matching his season highs in both categories set in Week 6. Johnson is in line to better those numbers in Week 9 when the Saints go up against the Carolina Panthers, who have allowed more fantasy points per game and touchdowns to opposing tight ends than any other team. In Week 1 against the Panthers Johnson had two catches for 26 yards and his only touchdown of the season to date. Johnson showed good rapport with quarterback Spencer Rattler while he filled in for Derek Carr (oblique) but he will be better served by the former, who is set to return to action for the first time since Week 5. Johnson might be viable as a streamer in fantasy lineups tested by injuries and bye weeks and is an intriguing option for DFS players.
Nov 2, 2024 4:01 AM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (shoulder) was limited in practice all week but carries no designation going into Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Over the last two weeks with Spencer Rattler under center, Johnson has six receptions for 66 yards on nine targets. The production represents a modest bump up over previous weeks but is somewhat disappointing given the string of injuries dealt to other key pieces on the Saints' offense. The expected returns of Chris Olave (concussion) and Taysom Hill (ribs) in Week 8 would cut into Johnson's limited opportunities and lackluster results. Going up against a Chargers defense that has not allowed a touchdown to his position yet this season, Johnson carries little fantasy value in Week 8 and can be left on the wire.
Oct 26, 2024 5:46 AM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson caught all three of his targets in Week 6 for a season-best 48 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He started off the game with a 27-yard gain on a strike from quarterback Spencer Rattler, who was filling in for an injured Derek Carr (oblique) and will likely start again in Week 7. He also had a 30-yard catch-and-run negated by an illegal shift penalty in the third quarter. With Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) ruled out and Taysom Hill (ribs) doubtful for Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos, New Orleans will be short on experienced skill position players. Johnson's usage may very well then skew more towards route running than blocking as it did in Week 6 but even so he will be a risky play so early in the week. Denver has allowed just five passing touchdowns all year (two to tight ends), limiting Johnson's upside. Tight end streamers in deeper leagues might want to take a chance but managers in the typical 10 or 12-team formats can leave Johnson on the wire in Week 7.
Oct 17, 2024 1:14 AM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson saw season highs in targets, receptions, and yards in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The fifth-year veteran caught all five balls thrown his way for 31 receiving yards, bringing his 2024 totals to nine receptions for 70 yards. Johnson may yet again see more involvement in the passing game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. Taysom Hill (ribs) has been ruled out and while he isn't utilized as a traditional tight end his absence does leave the door open for more opportunities for others. With Derek Carr (oblique) sidelined due to injury, Spencer Rattler might look for the big-bodied tight end as a safety valve as is often the case for rookie quarterbacks. Even with the allowances for optimism, the fact of the matter is that Johnson is not a priority in the Saints' offense. He rates as a low-end TE2 in Week 6 and should be avoided in most leagues.
Oct 12, 2024 3:59 AM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (forearm) was able to put in a full practice on Friday after he had a limited showing in Thursday's session. Johnson is on track to be available to play on Monday Night Football in Week 5 on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs. Fellow TE Taysom Hill (ribs) is dealing with fractured ribs and is looking doubtful to play, which will open up some more pass-catching opportunities for Johnson this week. Foster Moreau will continue to be a road block in terms of playing time and targets for Johnson, though, so fantasy managers should continue to ignore him. Through the first four games in 2024, Johnson has only caught four of six targets for 39 yards and one touchdown. There should be better TE2 sleeper options available in Week 5.
Oct 4, 2024 7:26 PM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (forearm) was listed as limited in the team's first practice of the week on Thursday. Johnson's status carries a little more importance this week with tight end Taysom Hill (rib) dealing with rib fractures. Hill did not practice on Thursday and appears to be questionable to suit up on Monday night for a showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. Johnson could pick up an injury designation himself going into Monday's game, but he also has two more days to put in a full session, which could get him cleared. The 28-year-old would surely have more opportunities to catch passes from quarterback Derek Carr if Hill is ruled out this week, but he'd still be nothing more than a TE2 sleeper for fantasy managers in deeper leagues. Johnson has caught only four passes on six targets for 39 yards and one touchdown through the season's first four games.
Oct 3, 2024 6:23 PM EST
The New Orleans Saints tight end group is missing out on all the fun. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has turned the team's offense into a hyper-efficient machine, though scoring at will seems to be reducing opportunities for the bit players. As such, fantasy managers shouldn't expect much from Juwan Johnson on Sunday, despite Taysom Hill (chest) being listed as questionable for the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Likewise for Foster Moreau, who is seeing a greater snap share than Johnson, albeit to serve mainly as a blocker. Johnson did score a touchdown in Week 1 but didn't see a target at all in the Saints' Week 2 blowout of the Dallas Cowboys. Even though the matchup is expected to be a high-scoring affair, Johnson's utilization is too uncertain to make him startable in Week 3.
Sep 21, 2024 5:58 AM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson made the most of his three targets in Week 1, as he landed in the end zone in the blowout victory. Johnson split snaps and targets with Foster Moreau (concussion), who appears to be healthy going into Week 2 after suffering a concussion last week. Neither is a trustworthy fantasy play as long as both tight ends are available. Keep Johnson on the bench in a tough matchup against a stout Dallas defense.
Sep 13, 2024 1:26 PM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson scored a touchdown in Sunday's 47-10 win over Carolina. Johnson was targeted three times, securing two receptions for 26 yards and a score. He split time at tight end with Foster Moreau (concussion), who also caught a touchdown on a 16% target share. If Moreau misses Week 2, Johnson has much more intrigue than he would if Moreau were to play. Derek Carr showed in the win that he will not hesitate to spread the ball around this year, making most New Orleans pass-catchers inconsistent options at best. Johnson and the Saints will take on Dallas in Week 2.
Sep 9, 2024 8:51 AM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson opened camp up on the PUP list, but is now fully recovered from his June foot surgery. Johnson had a down season a year ago, finishing as the TE26 overall. The veteran is available in many leagues, but could emerge as a consistent target earner behind Chris Olave. He grades as a low-end TE2 for Week 1, making him a very deep option, but the matchup with Carolina is not a great one for tight ends. Leave Johnson on the waiver wire for now, but monitor his Week 1 target share.
Sep 6, 2024 11:50 AM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson started in Sunday's preseason finale, marking his first preseason action of the year after opening training camp on the PUP list. The veteran tight end was one of the lone Saints starters to suit up for the game, and his action was short-lived as he was just targeted once. Nonetheless, it was encouraging to see Johnson on the field after missing a significant portion of training camp. He will be ready to roll in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers.
Aug 25, 2024 8:48 PM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (foot) made his return to team drills at training camp practice on Thursday. It's the first time that Johnson has taken part in team drills since being activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list on Tuesday. The 27-year-old wasn't able to practice with the rest of his teammates for the start of training camp at the end of July after having surgery on his foot back in January. He's unlikely to play in the team's preseason finale on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans but should be ready to go for Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 8, barring a setback in practices of the next two weeks. Johnson will be on the TE2/3 borderline after taking a step back in 2023 with 37 receptions for 368 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games (11 starts) in his fourth year in New Orleans. Do-it-all offensive weapon Taysom Hill will likely continue to be a thorn in Johnson's side.
Aug 22, 2024 10:26 PM EST
The New Orleans Saints have activated tight end Juwan Johnson (foot) from the PUP list, according to Matthew Paras of The Times-Picayune. All signs point to Johnson being active for Week 1. The 27-year-old is coming off an uneventful season in which he caught 37 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns. There had been some speculation that Carr might be able to elevate Johnson's production, but that wasn't the case as the Oregon product ultimately saw his statistics take a step backward from 2022 to 2023. Moving forward, even if you view veteran Taysom Hill as more of a Swiss army knife and less of a tight end, Johnson still isn't in a very favorable role ahead of the 2024 season. Johnson can be left undrafted in typical 12-team redraft leagues, though he could ultimately have some streaming appeal once bye weeks and injuries start to pile up.
Aug 20, 2024 4:22 PM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (foot) worked off to the side in Wednesday's practice and was spotted running, indicating further progress on his injured foot. With a quick return to jogging and running, it's a good sign that Johnson's foot injury is progressing well. While Johnson's Week 1 status is still up in the air, it's something to keep monitoring. The 27-year-old Johnson has been a solid contributor for the Saints, with 37 receptions, 368 yards, and four touchdowns in 13 games. If Johnson is unable to begin Week 1 as the starting tight end for the Saints, those opportunities likely fall into the lap of veteran Foster Moreau and jack-of-all-trades Taysom Hill. A healthy Johnson is more of a TE2 than a starting tight end in fantasy, but Johnson has been known to hit on a spike week or two as a touchdown-dependent streaming option during bye weeks.
Jul 31, 2024 9:42 PM EST
The New Orleans Saints put tight end Juwan Johnson (foot) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Thursday. It means that Johnson won't be ready to join the rest of the team in practices for the start of training camp next week after he had surgery for a foot injury that he suffered in minicamp this offseason. However, the 27-year-old should work off to the side for the start of camp and still has a shot to be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season in Week 1 this fall. If Johnson is limited or out to begin the season, Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill will have more opportunities to catch passes at the tight end position in the Big Easy. Johnson took a step back in 2023 with quarterback Derek Carr at the helm, catching 37 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games (11 starts). When healthy, he checks in as a touchdown-dependent, low-end TE2 in fantasy.
Jul 19, 2024 3:09 PM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (foot) is scheduled to undergo foot surgery next week, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Johnson suffered the injury during Wednesday's minicamp practice and is expected to miss a significant chunk of time. However, the team is hopeful he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. In Johnson's first year with Derek Carr, he caught 37 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. He's been a fantasy football sleeper for the last few years and will remain one in 2024, so long as he can recover and get back to action. In his absence, Foster Moreau will likely handle TE1 duties, though Taysom Hill could see more work at that spot for the remainder of the offseason.
Jun 13, 2024 12:24 PM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (leg) suffered a lower-leg injury and is expected to miss a good amount of time, according to sources. While it's unclear if Johnson is now a candidate to miss the start of the 2024 regular season, at the very least he's going to miss the start of training camp next month and valuable repetitions as the team looks to get ready for next season. The 27-year-old's injury will open up more reps for the likes of Foster Moreau, Taysom Hill, rookie Dallin Holker, Michael Jacobson and Tommy Hudson this summer. Johnson took a step back in 2023 and finished with 37 receptions for 368 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games (11 starts) in his fourth year in the NFL. Even if Johnson is ready for Week 1 of the regular season, Hill will probably cut into his targets enough to keep him as a low-upside, touchdown-dependent TE2 in fantasy.
Jun 12, 2024 10:22 PM EST