LA Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has high praise for maligned WR Quentin Johnston.
NFL training camps are underway and the “coach speak” is flying! LA Chargers new Head Coach is practiced in the art. He gave high praise to wide receiver Quentin Johnston who is entering year two after a disappointing rookie season. “(He’s) one of our top guys right now…he’s gonna be a problem.”
Johnston played in all 17 games in his rookie season and playing in a high volume Kellen Moore offense with strong-armed quarterback Justin Herbert was supposed to result in a big year. The expectations for the first-round pick fell short posting just 431 yards and 2 touchdowns on 38 catches. Looking deeper, the numbers are more frightening as QJ ranked 85th in separation and 91st in cushion, resulting in a route win rate ranking of 129. 5.5 PPR points per game does not create fantasy championships, and going into the 2024 season, Johnston has a current Underdog ADP of 155 and is ranked as WR74 by Player Profiler.
Johnston will have to work to separate himself (a thing he couldn’t do against defenses, apparently) in a WR room that lost Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, but now boasts Joshua Palmer and highly regarded route-running machine Ladd McConkey. Rookie Brenden Rice and veterans Derius Davis and DJ Chark will compete for targets as well. There doesn’t seem to be a path to success for Johnston in a run-heavy Harbaugh/Roman offense and he will land on most “Do Not Draft” lists in fantasy this season.
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (ankle)...
Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers Quentin Johnston ...
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston put up ...
Former 1st round pick Quentin Johnston looks to be the 4th wide receiver on the Los Angeles Chargers depth chart.
Quentin Johnston was taken 21st overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and struggled out the gates. He had 38 receptions for 431 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games, with 10 starts. Johnston saw a lot of time on the field after fellow receiver Mike Williams was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Even then he was only targeted on 13.3% of his routes run. The Athletic’s Daniel Popper reports thats Johnston is behind Josh Palmer, DJ Chark and rookie Ladd McConkey in 11 personnel. With the overhaul from last year’s front office, this staff did not invest in Johnston, so the outlook for this season is very bleak.
Quentin Johnston looks to be another 1st round bust at wide receiver. He may need injuries or a change of scenery to make an impact, the chances of the latter happening are slim. With Jim Harbaugh running the team, this offense will be very reliant on the run and a focus on passing efficiency. Johnston may be a late flier pick in best ball. Otherwise he should only be a wavier wire pickup in all other formats if injuries pile up at receiver for the Chargers.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Quentin Johnston has seen his target share increase, and there is more to come.
The pre-season consensus of Chargers rookie wide receiver Quentin Johnston primarily focused on his role in the offense and anticipated he would await injuries to the receivers ahead of him on the depth chart before his role increased. The only unknown was when that would happen.
That time is now.
With the injury to Mike Williams, the Chargers offense worked to get Johnston more involved and he saw his target share increase in Week 8 to a rosterable level. Johnston’s Week 7 to Week 8 increase from 2 targets to 6 was welcome news for QJ owners. Week 9 will mark an even bigger milestone for Johnston as the knee injury to Joshua Palmer and his OUT designation for Week 9 means an increased role for Johnston and makes him startable as a flex play for the week.
LA Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams tore his ACL in the Chargers win vs the Minnesota Vikings and will be out for the remainder of the season.
Wide receiver Mike Williams of the Los Angeles Chargers was injured on Sunday in the Chargers’ win over the Minnesota Vikings. According to Ian Rappaport on Twitter, via sources, an MRI revealed Williams tore his ACL. Williams will miss the remainder of the season.
Williams missed 4 games in 2022 with a high-ankle sprain. As of Monday morning of Week 3 of the season Williams was the WR13, so the injury is significant to the Chargers as well as fantasy owners.
Fantasy owners should look to Josh Palmer to fill in the target share in Williams’ absence. Rookie WR Quentin Johnston, who was expected to take some time before being productive, may see an increase in production. In deeper leagues, Derius Davis has received limited looks in 2023, and KJ Hill or Keelan Doss may be elevated from the practice squad.
