Juwan Johnson puts up goose egg vs Giants

Johnson split reps with Noah Fant and Oscar Delp once again. He had one catch headed into overtime but made the most of the extra drive with a game-winning touchdown grab. It was his first touchdown since Week 3. This was also his first multi-catch game since Week 5. With Jordyn Tyson set to take on a larger role in the coming weeks, Johnson’s days as a high-end TE2 appear to be over. Fantasy managers can do better off the waiver wire in Week 10.

The oft-injured Tyson hurt his hamstring in training camp and is yet to make his NFL debut. According to Schultz, he should be good to go Sunday against the Browns. A limited participant in practice throughout the week, it’s unclear how much Tyson might play in his first game. Eventually, though, he should settle in as the Saints’ WR2 behind Chris Olave. Tyson’s return also puts a damper on the fantasy prospects of Devaughn Vele and Juwan Johnson.

Johnson was solid over the first four weeks of the season, but this was another clunker for the 30-year-old tight end. After going over 50 yards in his first four games and bringing in three touchdowns, Johnson has just 23 total yards without a score in the next three. Because of positional value Johnson can’t be completely ignored, but the Saints haven’t paid much attention to him lately, so it’s time to look for alternatives, at least.

Johnson had hovered around 50 yards in every game before today’s loss, but a shutdown Minnesota defense was more than enough to mute the production of every New Orleans pass-catcher. Things should improve for everyone when the Saints take on the Giants next week. Johnson will be a volume-based TE2 for Week 6.

Johnson saw a slight uptick in snaps and routes after Noah Fant was inactive with an abdominal injury but returned a modest receiving line while being kept out of the end zone. The towering veteran finished third on the team in targets behind Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele, the latter of whom scored the only receiving touchdown in a game that saw the two teams combine for seven rushing scores. Johnson remains a back-end TE1 for as long as rookie Jordyn Tyson remains sidelined, which appears likely to persist for another few weeks, at minimum. That holds true ahead of a Week 5 meeting with the vaunted Vikings defense.

Johnson was getting open at will on out routes and shallow crossers. He and Noah Fant, along with the two Raiders tight ends, combined for six touchdowns, tying an NFL positional record. Johnson fumbled while trying to make a big play for his team late in the game. He attempted to stiff-arm Nakobe Dean, who cleanly punched the ball out for Eric Stokes to recover. Tyler Shough threw a bad pass to Johnson earlier on, which CB Hezekiah Masses easily picked off and returned downfield. Johnson raced after him and successfully punched the ball out with a diving hammer-fist, but the Raiders ultimately recovered that fumble, leading to a turnover for the Saints. Johnson remains a reliable TE1 against the Falcons next week.

Johnson was on the receiving end of two big plays in Sunday’s win over the Ravens. Johnson hauled in a short pass on a third-and-13 in the third quarter and turned it upfield for a 25-yard gain. In the fourth quarter, Johnson again picked up 25 yards on a short pass on third-and-eight, taking it to the Ravens’ five-yard line and setting the Saints up for a touchdown a few plays later. Johnson has caught seven passes in his first two games and is averaging an impressive 17.1 YPR on said catches. He’ll be on the TE2 radar for next week’s game against the Raiders.

Johnson posted a 3/54/1 receiving line last week and can be treated as a TE1 again in Week 2. Saints WR1 Chris Olave is nursing a hamstring strain, though the team is telling reporters that the injury is not concerning. Johnson could take on a slightly larger workload if Olave is at all limited, though we won’t know if that is the case until the dust settles and the game ends.

Johnson is firmly on track to play. Illness-related absences are very rare, and the Saints’ No. 1 tight end is already back at it. The Saints face the Ravens this weekend, in what should be a high-scoring game environment. Johnson is a locked-in TE1.

Players rarely miss games because of illnesses, especially when it crops up four days before kickoff. Johnson should be fine, but fantasy managers counting on him as a high-end TE2 will want to check in on Friday. Fellow tight end Oscar Delp was limited with a hamstring issue. He missed Week 1 because of the injury but has a shot at making his NFL debut versus the Ravens this Sunday. He will not be on the fantasy radar if active.