Diontae Johnson
27-Year-Old
2023 Receiving Stats
REC
51
YDS
717
TD
5
AVG
14.1
TAR
87
2024 Projections
2023 Fantasy Outlook
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. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Dealt to Carolina
The Steelers are slated to trade Johnson to the Panthers in exchange for Donte Jackson and a pick swap, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Johnson had a relatively disappointing 2023 season as the No. 1 option in Pittsburgh, as he finished with a career-low 51 receptions to go along with 717 yards through the air and five touchdowns. After spending his first five seasons with the Steelers, the 27-year-old will compete with Adam Thielen for the No. 1 pass catching role in Carolina and look to build a rapport with Bryce Young.
Johnson had a relatively disappointing 2023 season as the No. 1 option in Pittsburgh, as he finished with a career-low 51 receptions to go along with 717 yards through the air and five touchdowns. After spending his first five seasons with the Steelers, the 27-year-old will compete with Adam Thielen for the No. 1 pass catching role in Carolina and look to build a rapport with Bryce Young.
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 2023 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
82.3Air Yards Per Snap
1.91% Team Air Yards
29.8%% Team Targets
18.1%Avg Depth of Target
12.3 YdsCatch Rate
58.6%Drop Rate
2.3%Avg Yds After Catch
5.2% Targeted On Route
21.8%Avg Yds Per Route Run
1.79Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2023 NFL Game Log
Loading Game Log...
Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
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...
2023 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
Day 2 of the NFL Draft featured plenty of future fantasy football stars, and Joe Bartel recaps it with analysis for all the rookies you will be drafting this season and beyond.
The NFL Draft gets underway tonight and John McKechnie projects how things will unfold with his first-round NFL mock. After Caleb Williams goes 1st to the Bears, chaos could ensue.
Most of the big ADP changes can be easily explained, but there are also guys like Isiah Pacheco and Kenneth Walker dropping down the ranks for unclear reasons.
Often injured and now aging, Mike Williams' free agent market so far has turned out somewhat dreary.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Potential target for Jets
Rich Cimini of ESPN.com lists Johnson as a potential trade candidate for the Jets.
ANALYSIS
Johnson has one year left on his contract worth $10 million, which would make him an easier piece for the Steelers to move on the trade market. He had a shaky 2023 season, as he registered a career-low 51 catches, though he did miss four games early in the year due to a hamstring injury. The Jets' wide receiver corps lacks talent beyond 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, so the addition of a veteran like Johnson could help to open up the passing game for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Johnson has one year left on his contract worth $10 million, which would make him an easier piece for the Steelers to move on the trade market. He had a shaky 2023 season, as he registered a career-low 51 catches, though he did miss four games early in the year due to a hamstring injury. The Jets' wide receiver corps lacks talent beyond 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, so the addition of a veteran like Johnson could help to open up the passing game for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
Johnson is on the small side for an NFL wideout, and while he perhaps plays a bit faster than
his 4.53 40 time from the 2016 Combine suggests, he won't be mistaken for a burner anytime soon. No matter, the Steelers have peppered him with targets, and it's hard to fault them when you see how easily Johnson gets open on short routes and the way he puts defenders on skates once the ball is in his hands. The big concern in 2020 was drops, with 13 a league high
and ultimately costing him a 1,000-yard season. Last year, Johnson cut the drops (five) and
surpassed 1,000 yards with relative ease, though it required a boatload of targets (169, t-2nd) in
an offense with poor blocking and a washed-up version of Ben Roethlisberger. While it's not
hard to imagine even better numbers in the future, Johnson's drawbacks for 2022 sound awfully similar to 2021. Mitch Trubisky or rookie Kenny Pickett might prove better than late-stage
Roethlisberger, but probably not by much, and the O-line landed just one clear upgrade in the
offseason (RG James Daniels). Then again, those weaknesses might work in Johnson's favor
when it comes to volume. As much as the Steelers hope for breakthroughs from Pickett, Chase
Claypool and rookie wideout George Pickens, there's also a chance they end up overly reliant
on short throws again, in which case Johnson, TE Pat Freiermuth and RB Najee Harris would
stay well fed.
More Fantasy News
Finds end zone in playoff loss
Johnson secured four of seven targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers' 31-17 wild-card loss to the Bills on Monday afternoon.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Long touchdown catch
Johnson recorded four receptions on five targets for 89 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 17-10 win over the Ravens.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Loses out to Pickens again
Johnson recorded four catches on four targets for 76 yards in Sunday's 30-23 win over Seattle.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Minimal chemistry with Rudolph
Johnson caught two of five targets for 15 yards in Saturday's 34-11 win over the Bengals.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Good production in loss
Johnson recorded four catches on six targets for 62 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 30-13 loss to the Colts.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.