Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Minimal production on 10 targets
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Johnson recorded two catches on 10 targets for 38 yards in Sunday's 28-14 win over the Browns.
Johnson led the Steelers in targets by a wide margin, though he struggled to turn that into production. Positively, he did manage a 32-yard catch -- the longest play from scrimmage for Pittsburgh -- and also chipped in a reception to convert a two-point attempt late in the game. Johnson struggled for much of the season and saw a steep dropoff in production as compared to 2021, particularly because he failed to find the end zone across 17 games. He remains under contract for two additional seasons with the Steelers, though Johnson could fall behind George Pickens in priority for targets in 2023.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: WRs to Sit
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I hope the Kenny Pickett to Johnson connection improves for 2023 because it hasn't gone well for Fantasy managers in 2022. Johnson had two catches for 35 yards on seven targets at Baltimore in Week 17, and he has now scored 11 PPR points or less in the past 11 games with Pickett under center, including seven games with nine PPR points or fewer. Johnson also has yet to score a touchdown this year. Now, he did play well against the Browns in Week 3 with eight catches for 84 yards on 11 targets, but that was Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback. Johnson is a No. 3 PPR receiver in Week 18 at best and someone to avoid in non-PPR leagues.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Sit Them (Lineup Decisions)
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The Browns pass defense has been excellent in terms of efficiency all season long -- they just held Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson to 62 scoreless yards combined and have let only Chris Godwin (on 13 targets) and Ja'Marr Chase (on 15 targets) to get more than 70 yards in their past 11 games. Touchdowns? Those are a different story -- the Browns have allowed 14 on the season to wideouts, but none in their past three games against inferior quarterbacks. Kenny Pickett has thrown six touchdowns all season -- three to Pickens, zero to his other wide receivers. That's particularly crazy since Johnson has a team-high eight end-zone targets from Pickett. This should be a great game for Najee Harris and another tepid one for the Steelers' pass-catchers.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Returns to field with full practice
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Johnson (hip) was a full practice participant Thursday.
Johnson's availability for Sunday's regular-season finale with the Browns temporarily looked to be in flux after the hip issue kept the wideout off the practice field Wednesday, but his ability to take every rep a day later clears up any concern about his status. Though health hasn't been much of a concern for Johnson this season -- he's played in all 16 of the Steelers' games to date while playing no fewer than 74 percent of the offensive snaps on every occasion -- the 26-year-old wideout has seen his production dip considerably following the retirement of longtime starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. With either Kenny Pickett or Mitchell Trubisky under center in 2022, Johnson has produced 84 receptions for 844 yards on 137 targets and still has yet to record a touchdown.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Held out of practice
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Johnson missed Wednesday's practice with a hip injury.
Johnson has been listed with hip and/or toe injuries for the past month without missing a single game. A return to practice Thursday, even in a limited capacity, would put him on track to play Sunday against the Browns. Another absence, on the other hand, might be cause for legitimate concern as the tries to go 17-for-17 in appearances in an otherwise disappointing campaign.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Struggles with seven targets
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Johnson had two receptions (seven targets) for 35 yards in Sunday's 16-13 win over the Ravens.
Johnson was not on the same page with quarterback Kenny Pickett in this one, resulting in a season-low 29 percent catch rate. The veteran wideout was dealing with a hip injury during practice this week, and he went down holding his shin Sunday before ultimately returning and finishing the contest. It wouldn't be surprising to see the 26-year-old pop up on the injury report again in Week 18 following this punishing win. Assuming good health, Johnson will look to bounce back against the Browns on Sunday.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: WRs to Sit
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Kenny Pickett returned in Week 16 against the Raiders from basically a two-game absence with a concussion, and Johnson had a slight downturn in production with five catches for 64 yards on seven targets. In the two previous games with Mitchell Trubisky -- Pickett left early in Week 14 against Baltimore -- Johnson had at least 14 PPR points in each outing. Pickett hasn't featured Johnson to the same extent as Trubisky, and Johnson has scored 11 PPR points or less in the past 10 games with Pickett under center, including six games with nine PPR points or fewer. He also has yet to score a touchdown this year. Johnson is a No. 3 PPR receiver at best in Week 17 and almost unstartable in all non-PPR leagues.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Logs full practice
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Johnson (hip) was a full practice participant Thursday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Johnson, who managed a toe issue ahead of Week 16 action, was limited during Wednesday's practice, but the wideout's full participation Thursday puts him on track to suit up Sunday night against the Ravens. In his team's 13-10 win over the Raiders last Saturday, Johnson recorded an 88 percent snap share while catching five of his seven targets for 64 yards. This time around, he'll be facing a Baltimore defense that is allowing an average of 239.5 passing yards per game to date.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Logs limited practice Wednesday
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Johnson (toe) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Johnson missed practice last Wednesday and Thursday with the same injury before being listed questionable for this past Saturday's win over the Raiders. The wideout played in the contest while logging an 88 percent snap share and catching five of his seven targets for 64 yards. With no reported setbacks coming out of that game, chances are Johnson's listed limitations Wednesday are a case of his reps being managed in advance of this weekend's showdown with the Ravens.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Tallies five receptions
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Johnson recorded five receptions on seven targets for 64 yards in Saturday's 13-10 win over the Raiders.
Johnson finished third on the team in targets, behind both Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris. He still managed a relatively productive performance, highlighted by gains of 15 and 14 yards, and he has now topped 60 yards in four consecutive games. Despite his recent run of productivity, Johnson has still yet to find the end zone in 15 games on the campaign.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Active versus Raiders
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Johnson (toe) is listed as active for Saturday night's game against the Raiders.
Though Johnson, whom the Steelers listed as questionable due to a turf toe issue, didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review previously relayed via running back Najee Harris that the wideout got some work in when the Steelers took the field Friday. With his Week 16 active status confirmed, Pittsburgh's top WR should see his share of targets Saturday from QB Kenny Pickett, barring any in-game setbacks. In his last outing, Johnson caught all 10 of his targets for 98 yards in his team's 24-16 win over the Panthers last weekend.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Returns to practice Friday
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Johnson (toe) returned to practice Friday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Johnson is questionable for Saturday night's game against Las Vegas after managing one limited practice Tuesday ahead of back-to-back absences Wednesday and Thursday. Steelers RB Najee Harris revealed Friday afternoon that Johnson had rejoined the team for its end-of-week practice, which won't show up on the official injury/practice report. In any case, Johnson said he'll be fine to play and now seems to be moving in that direction.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Listed as questionable versus Raiders
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Johnson, who didn't practice Thursday and is listed as questionable for Saturday night's game against the Raiders, expects to be back on the field Friday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports. "It was just a little toe, nothing major. I am good," Johnson noted Thursday. "I am going to be out there tomorrow. They just gave me a little two days off to let it rest. It's nothing major."
Per Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com, the Steelers are slated to get some more work in Friday, at which point, there should be added context with regard to Johnson's Week 16 status. Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com, Johnson indicated that he should be good to go versus Las Vegas.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Misses practice
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Johnson (toe) didn't practice Wednesday, Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Johnson caught 10 passes for a season-high 98 yards in Sunday's 24-16 win over the Panthers, but he came out of the game dealing with turf toe and now appears uncertain for Saturday's matchup with the Raiders. Head coach Mike Tomlin said earlier this week that he expected Johnson to play against Las Vegas, and a return to practice Thursday would put the veteran wideout on track to make good on Tomlin's prediction.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Listed as limited
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Johnson (toe) is listed as a limited participant on Tuesday's estimated practice report, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports.
The Steelers didn't hold an actual practice just two days after defeating the Panthers. They're on a short week, along with most of the NFL, but Johnson seems more likely than not to play after putting up a season-high 98 receiving yards against Carolina. He did play only 74 percent of snaps in the win, his first time below 81 percent share all season.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Tending to turf toe
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Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Johnson is dealing with a turf toe injury, Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
For a player with no touchdowns to his name in 14 appearances this season, Johnson's season-high catch total (10) and yards from scrimmage (100) from Sunday's win at Carolina was a welcome sight. He was working with backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky in that contest, but there's an expectation regular starter Kenny Pickett (concussion) is back for Saturday's matchup with the Raiders. Johnson himself has a health concern as the Steelers embark on Week 16 prep, but Tomlin added that he doesn't believe the injury will impact the wide receiver later this week, perhaps an encouraging sign that his availability isn't in danger.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Makes 10 grabs
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Johnson caught all 10 of his targets for 98 yards in Sunday's 24-16 win over the Panthers. He also rushed once for two yards.
Johnson hauled in every pass that fill-in starter Mitch Trubisky threw his way, leading the Steelers in all major receiving categories while posting a season high in catches. That production came despite Johnson advocating earlier in the week for Mason Rudolph to start at quarterback with rookie Kenny Pickett (concussion) on the mend. While it remains to be seen who will be under center in Week 16 versus the Raiders, Johnson at least put together a strong performance in Sunday's win.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Sleeper WRs
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We haven't had a lot of positive things to say about Johnson this season because he's struggled as a Fantasy asset. He hasn't scored a touchdown yet this year, and he has six games this season with nine PPR points or less. But Johnson's season might have been different if Mitchell Trubisky started every game instead of Kenny Pickett, who is doubtful to play in Week 15 with a concussion. In the first three games of the season with Trubisky, Johnson averaged 13.7 PPR points per game, and he had 33 targets for 21 catches and 196 yards over that span. Trubisky replaced an injured Pickett in Week 14 against Baltimore, and Johnson finished with six catches for 82 yards on eight targets. If Trubisky starts as expected in Week 15 at Carolina, then I like Johnson as a high-end No. 3 PPR receiver.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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We haven't had a lot of positive things to say about Johnson this season because he's struggled as a Fantasy asset. He hasn't scored a touchdown yet this year, and he has six games this season with nine PPR points or less. But Johnson's season might have been different if Mitchell Trubisky started every game instead of Kenny Pickett, who could be out in Week 15 with a concussion. In the first three games of the season with Trubisky, Johnson averaged 13.7 PPR points per game, and he had 33 targets for 21 catches and 196 yards over that span. Trubisky replaced an injured Pickett in Week 14 against Baltimore, and Johnson finished with six catches for 82 yards on eight targets. If Trubisky starts as expected in Week 15 at Carolina then I like Johnson as a high-end No. 3 PPR receiver.
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson: Flex Starter in PPR (Lineup Decisions)
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If Mitchell Trubisky starts, or even if Mason Rudolph starts, there's PPR flex appeal for Johnson in a matchup where he should be counted on to convert targets for decent yardage and little else. There's just too much of a track record to trust Johnson if Pickett starts, however. Starting Johnson means banking on volume, which makes him in line to be a better Fantasy choice in PPR than Gabe Davis, Marquise Brown D.J. Moore and George Pickens.
