It feels like Johnston is in a make-or-break year with the Chargers, though Fantasy managers may have broken from him years ago. The receiver made some good improvements in his numbers in 2024, most notably his touchdown production. But he was still way too inconsistent with how he delivered his stats: five games with 15-plus PPR points, seven with 10.4 or fewer PPR points. He remains a tough-to-trust Fantasy option, especially after the Chargers drafted Tre Harris, who could impact Johnston's opportunities. You're better off letting someone else deal with this headache on draft day.
Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Progressing in concussion protocol
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Johnston (concussion) did individual drills at practice Thursday, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
It's a sign of progress through the concussion protocol after a hard hit knocked him out of Saturday's preseason loss to the Rams. The quick return to practice, even in a limited capacity, suggests Johnston is on track for Week 1 against the Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He mostly worked with the first-string offense this summer, but his season-long role is in doubt after the Chargers drafted WRs Tre Harris (second round) and KeAndre Lambert-Smith (fifth round) and signed Keenan Allen. The depth chart may be fluid beyond leading man Ladd McConkey.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Suffers concussion
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Coach Jim Harbaugh said Johnston sustained a concussion during Saturday's 23-22 preseason loss to the Rams, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
Johnston was on the receiving end of a big hit from a Rams defender on a missed connection down the right sideline with QB Justin Herbert early in the first quarter, and the former's helmet bounced off the turf as he went to the ground. After Johnston left the field on a cart, he went to a nearby hospital to be evaluated further. With a concussion now confirmed for Johnston, he'll be subject to the protocol for head injuries in order to practice and play in a game.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Leaves field on cart
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Johnston (head) was carted off the field during Saturday's preseason game versus the Rams, Greg Beacham of the Associated Press reports.
Johnston remained on the turf after landing hard on his helmet early in the first quarter and then was taken to the locker room, likely to undergo tests to determine the nature of his injury. Assuming a head injury is confirmed, he'd be subject to the concussion protocol in order to practice and eventually play again.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Not on track to play Thursday
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Johnston isn't in line to play in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Lions, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said that "veteran traditional starters" won't be seeing action in the contest, with Ladd McConkey also slated to get Thursday off. In the wake of Mike Williams' retirement, McConkey and Johnston are on track to start this season, with 2025 draftees Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith looking to make an immediate impact in a wide receiver corps that also includes Derius Davis and Jalen Reagor (lower body).
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Battling to keep X receiver spot
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Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Johnston, Tre Harris and Jalen Reagor can play the X receiver spot, Alex Insdorf of BoltBeat.com reports.
Johnston handled the role for most of 2024, posting a 55-711-8 receiving line in 15 regular-season games while more than doubling his yards per route (1.85) compared to an ugly rookie campaign. It was a clear step forward for the 2023 first-round pick, but he still left some big plays on the field, dropping seven passes and struggling in contested-catch situations. The Chargers responded by signing Mike Williams -- who has since retired -- and using a second-round pick on Harris to give Johnston competition for the X receiver spot. Johnston's name is the first one Roman mentioned when discussing the position in response to Williams' recent retirement.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Still running with first team
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Johnston was running with the first-team offense during mandatory minicamp, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Johnston took a step forward in his second pro season despite logging fewer snaps. However, his role in 2025 appeared to be in jeopardy after the team signed Mike Williams (undisclosed) and selected Tre Harris 55th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. According to Popper, Ladd McConkey, Johnston and Jalen Reagor have been the trio of receivers running with the first team during mandatory minicamp. Harris will likely rise up the depth chart as training camp progresses, so Johnston's role is not yet secure, particularly if Williams can remain on the field.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Could lose role to Tre Harris?
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Second-round pick Tre Harris figures to compete with Johnston and Mike Williams for perimeter snaps, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
The Chargers' top receiver, Ladd McConkey, is at his best working from the slot, yet also figures to get playing time in two-wide formations (as was the case for much of last season). Johnston thus finds himself in a tricky situation, despite being a recent first-round pick (22nd overall in 2023) who improved considerably between Years 1 and 2. The improved version was still wildly inconsistent, memorably putting up 186 yards in Week 18 before going catch-less (on five targets) in a wild-card round loss at Houston. Johnston is good with the ball in his hands, especially relative to other big WRs, but Harris may prove superior at getting open and catching the ball. There's also some chance, though perhaps a slim one, that Williams emerges as a real threat again, now two years removed from an ACL tear and returning to Los Angeles after a one-year sabbatical. The good news for those interested in Johnston is that his already-modest ADP figures to drop even further after the Harris pick.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Lays goose egg in WC loss
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Johnston (thigh) failed to bring in any of his five targets in Saturday's 32-12 playoff loss Houston.
Johnston entered the wild-card round loss carrying a questionable tag, but he showed no limitations from the thigh injury while running routes. The 23-year-old's playoff debut was instead plagued by his hands after he suffered multiple drops en route to a zero-catch performance. Saturday's dud comes on the heels of Johnston's best game of his career in Week 18 against the Raiders (13-186-0). The inconsistent sophomore finished the regular season with a 55-711-8 receiving line across 15 games for the Chargers.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Active for playoff opener
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Johnston (thigh) is active for Saturday's wild-card game in Houston.
Johnston sandwiched limited practices around a DNP on Wednesday due to a thigh issue and was given a questionable designation for the Chargers' postseason opener. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported Friday that Johnston was expected to play Saturday, which now has been confirmed. As a result, Johnston will team up with Ladd McConkey at wide receiver and look to build upon the 13-186-0 outburst he produced on 14 targets last Sunday at Las Vegas.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Expected to play Saturday
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Johnston (thigh/illness), who is listed as questionable for Saturday's wild-card round game against the Texans, is "good to go" for the contest, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Johnston logged a limited practice Tuesday and a DNP on Wednesday before returning to a limited session Thursday. Based on Fowler's report, the wideout (who put up a career-best 13-186-0 line on 14 targets in the Chargers' Week 18 win over the Raiders) is on track to be available for Saturday's 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff, with official confirmation of his status, either way, set to arrive once Los Angeles' inactives are posted.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Takes questionable tag into weekend
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Johnston (thigh/illness) is listed as questionable for Saturday's wild-card game against the Texans.
After producing a career-best 13-186-0 receiving line on 14 targets in the Chargers' Week 18 win over the Raiders, Johnston has been tending to a pair of health concerns that have kept him out of one practice and limited him in two others leading up to the playoff opener. Head coach Jim Harbaugh hasn't shed much light on the severity of the thigh injury or illness, but Johnston's status will now be worth keeping close tabs on leading up to Saturday's 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff. With the Chargers ruling out Joshua Palmer (foot) for the wild-card game, DJ Chark and Derius Davis would be next in line to take on more reps behind No. 1 wideout Ladd McConkey if Johnston is unable to play.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Limited in practice after big game
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Johnston was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice due to a thigh injury.
Johnston finished the regular season in impressive fashion, recording career highs in catches (13), receiving yards (186) and targets (14) in the Chargers' 34-20 win over the Raiders this past Sunday. He may have suffered a thigh injury along the way, however. His ability to practice Tuesday offers hope that the issue isn't too serious and won't impede his ability to suit up for Saturday's wild-card game in Houston.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: WRs to Sit
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Johnston has 14 targets in his past two games against Denver and New England, but he's finished with just eight catches for 66 yards and no touchdowns over that span for a combined 14.6 PPR points. He only had three catches for 38 yards on five targets in Week 1 against the Raiders, and Las Vegas is No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. Ladd McConkey remains a must-start Fantasy receiver in all leagues despite the matchup, but I would avoid Johnston if you can in Week 18.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Modest numbers on road
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Johnston caught five passes for 48 yards on eight targets in Saturday's 40-7 win over the Patriots.
Johnston dropped another pass and ideally would have done more with eight targets on a day where Justin Herbert threw for 284 yards and three touchdowns. There have been flickers from Johnston every so often throughout 2024, and the Chargers are clearly committed to giving him starter-level snaps, but it would be really nice to see Johnston even out his game and become more dependable. Johnston heads into his Week 18 matchup against Las Vegas with a catch rate of 54.5 percent at just 6.8 yards per target -- unacceptable numbers for a starting wideout playing in a Herbert offense.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: WRs to Sit
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I expected Johnston to struggle in Week 16 against Denver, and he had three catches for 18 yards on six targets, including another drop. He scored at least 15.5 PPR points in each of his previous two games prior to Week 16, but this could be another down performance for him in Week 17 at New England. Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez could make things tough on Johnston, and New England hasn't allowed a receiver to score double digits in PPR points in three games in a row against Indianapolis, Arizona and Buffalo. I like Ladd McConkey as a starter in all three-receiver leagues, but Johnston is tough to trust in this matchup on the road.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: WRs to Sit
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Riley Moss (knee) remains out for the Broncos again, but Patrick Surtain II might cause problems for Johnston in Thursday's game. Johnston only had three catches for 22 yards on four targets in Week 6 at Denver, and the Broncos are No. 7 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. Ladd McConkey remains a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues, but Johnston should be considered a No. 4 Fantasy receiver in this matchup.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Good to go for Week 16
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Johnston no longer appears on the Chargers' Week 16 injury report and should be available to play Thursday against the Broncos, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
The Chargers released their initial Week 16 report Monday, which listed Johnston as a non-participant due to an ankle injury. However, Popper notes that Johnston's inclusion on the report was a mistake, and the Chargers instead intended to list left guard Zion Johnson with the ankle injury. Johnston is coming off a busy outing in Sunday's 40-17 loss to the Buccaneers, as he saw a season-high 10 targets and finished with five catches for 45 yards and a touchdown.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Leads team with 10 targets Sunday
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Johnston finished with five receptions on 10 targets for 45 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 40-17 loss to the Buccaneers.
Johnston was one of the few bright spots for the Chargers in a forgettable loss, reeling in one of quarterback Justin Herbert's two touchdown passes. The 22-year-old Johnston led his squad in targets even with Ladd McConkey (knee/shoulder) back in action Sunday. Expect Johnston to remain involved as one of the Chargers' top pass catchers in Week 16 in a Thursday Night Football billing against the Broncos.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: WRs to Sit
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Johnston has struggled in the past two games, and it's tough to trust him heading into Week 14 at Kansas City. He has only nine targets in his past two outings against Baltimore and Atlanta, and he finished with two catches for 12 yards and no touchdowns over that span, including three drops against the Ravens. Prior to that, Johnston scored a touchdown in three games in a row, including at least 12.8 PPR points in two of those outings. But he had one catch for 9 yards on five targets in Week 4 against Kansas City, and I would only start him in deep, three-receiver leagues in Week 14.
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Chargers' Quentin Johnston: Sleeper WRs
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I wrote about Ladd McConkey as a start in Start 'Em & Sit 'Em, and Johnston is worth using as a high-end No. 3 receiver in all leagues. He has scored a touchdown in three games in a row, and this is a fantastic matchup against the Ravens. Baltimore has allowed 70 catches, 962 yards, and six touchdowns to receivers in its past five games on 119 targets, with seven guys scoring at least 12.9 PPR points over that span. I'm excited to see what McConkey and Johnston can do in Week 12.
