Diontae Johnson
28-Year-Old
Free Agent
2024 Receiving Stats
REC
33
YDS
375
TD
3
AVG
11.4
TAR
67
Rest-of-Season Projections
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
Cut by Houston
The Texans waived Johnson on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
In moving on from Johnson, the Texans appear to be comfortable proceeding with Nico Collins, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie as their receiver group for the remainder of the postseason. Claimed off waivers from the Ravens in late December, Johnson played a total of 38 offensive snaps for the Texans across two contests, which came in Week 18 against the Titans (22) and in last Saturday's wild-card playoff win over the Chargers (16). He accrued three catches for 24 scoreless yards in the two games and was seemingly dissatisfied with his muted role on offense, as Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston relays that the 28-year-old was visibly upset following Saturday's win and needed to be calmed down by teammates. Johnson will now be looking for a fourth team this season, though it would be surprising if another playoff team added him to its roster. Assuming he clears waivers and becomes a free agent, Johnson will be seeking his fifth team in less than a calendar year after stints with Pittsburgh, Carolina, Baltimore and Houston.
In moving on from Johnson, the Texans appear to be comfortable proceeding with Nico Collins, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie as their receiver group for the remainder of the postseason. Claimed off waivers from the Ravens in late December, Johnson played a total of 38 offensive snaps for the Texans across two contests, which came in Week 18 against the Titans (22) and in last Saturday's wild-card playoff win over the Chargers (16). He accrued three catches for 24 scoreless yards in the two games and was seemingly dissatisfied with his muted role on offense, as Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston relays that the 28-year-old was visibly upset following Saturday's win and needed to be calmed down by teammates. Johnson will now be looking for a fourth team this season, though it would be surprising if another playoff team added him to its roster. Assuming he clears waivers and becomes a free agent, Johnson will be seeking his fifth team in less than a calendar year after stints with Pittsburgh, Carolina, Baltimore and Houston.
NFL Stats
Loading NFL Stats...
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.
Loading Fantasy/Red Zone Stats...
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.
The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Air Yards Per Game
46.9Air Yards Per Snap
1.75% Team Air Yards
13.7%% Team Targets
11.1%Avg Depth of Target
9.9 YdsCatch Rate
51.7%Drop Rate
3.4%Avg Yds After Catch
3.0% Targeted On Route
22.1%Avg Yds Per Route Run
1.36Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2024 NFL Game Log
Loading Game Log...
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Diontae Johnson lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Team Alignment Breakdown...
2024 Diontae Johnson Split Stats
Loading NFL Split Stats...
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 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.53 secShuttle Time
4.45 secCone Drill
7.09 secVertical Jump
33.5 inBroad Jump
123 inBench Press
15 repsHand Length
9.00 inArm Length
30.75 in
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Diontae Johnson See More
With Super Wild Card Weekend kicking off the postseason, Juan Carlos Blanco looks at the key injuries affecting the 12 teams in action beginning Saturday.
The Texans insist on playing safeties in the slot, which might be a way of asking for trouble from Ladd McConkey.
The top NFL DFS targets for Saturday's wild-card round slate on Yahoo include Derrick Henry as the Baltimore Ravens look to steamroll past the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC North rematch.
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.
More Fantasy News
One grab in playoff win
Johnson caught his lone target for 12 yards in Saturday's 32-12 win over the Chargers in the wild-card round.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Two catches in team debut
Johnson caught two of four targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 23-14 win over the Titans.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Expected to play this week
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday that Johnson will play in Sunday's game against the Titans, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Practices with new team
Johnson practiced Monday for the first time since the Texans claimed him off waivers, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Inactive Wednesday
Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Wednesday's game against the Ravens.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Ravens tenure ends quickly
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.
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.