Juwan

Johnson

This is Johnson’s standard statline of late, but it was more impressive today with Tyler Shough attempting only 20 passes in rainy Tampa conditions. Johnson is typically going to see at least 6-7 looks. We would expect him closer to that norm for Week 15 against the Panthers back on the Superdome’s fast track. Even with bye weeks over, Johnson will maintain low-end TE1 appeal.

It was business as usual for Johnson, who has at least four catches in three-of-four Tyler Shough starts. He scored in Shough’s first two starts but has since run dry in that department. That is to be expected with Shough taking his lumps on a week-to-week basis. Johnson led the Saints in targets this week, though Devaughn Vele paced the team in catches and yards. Johnson will remain a low-end TE1 for his Week 14 matchup with the Bucs.

Johnson operated as the Saints’ No. 2 pass-catcher, tying Devin Neal and Devaughn Vele for second in targets on the day. He drew a key defensive pass interference in the third quarter to help get the Saints in the red zone on a drive that eventually stalled out. Otherwise, it was a lot of underneath targets from Tyler Shough as the Falcons defense prevented deeper looks. Johnson has fantasy relevance as the secondary target in the offense, though lack of scoring consistency keeps him in the high-end TE2 range for Week 13 against the Dolphins.

Johnson’s 30-yard touchdown put the game on ice in the fourth quarter. In the Saints’ first game since trading Rashid Shaheed, the 29-year-old tight end tailed only Chris Olave with four targets. Johnson looks the part of a low-end TE1 heading into the Saints’ Week 11 bye week.

Johnson turned an otherwise quiet day into a likely TE1 outcome on a curl route run from the Rams’ 11-yard line. Johnson found a soft spot in the Rams’ zone coverage and waited for the ball. Once secured, he shucked off an arm-tackle attempt made by diving LB Nate Landman before powering past two more Rams defenders for the score. Johnson remains a low-end TE1 stab against the Panthers next week.

Olave missed practice last Wednesday because of the ankle issue. He returned on Thursday and was good to go for Sunday’s game. A full practice today suggests he is getting healthier. The same is true of Juwan Johnson, who was listed with a neck injury but practiced in full. Olave will stay in the WR2 ranks for Week 9 while Johnson is a volume-based TE1.

Johnson largely had a nondescript day, as the Saints’ offense struggled to move the chains. The veteran tight end picked up a first down on the Saints’ second drive, and later earned a target on 4th-and-2 in the fourth quarter, though he followed that play up with a drop. Taysom Hill totaled just three touches in his gadget role. Johnson is just a borderline TE1/2 against the Rams next week.

He’ll remain a tough player to trust for fantasy purposes in Week 8, as his role has faded considerably since Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill returned in Week 5. Johnson’s a startable TE2, nothing more.

Johnson sported a red non-contact jersey on Wednesday, but reportedly left it behind today. Johnson is on track to play this week against the Buccaneers. Johnson’s workload dripped in Week 6, but he bounced back with seven targets in Week 7. He’s on the TE1/2 fringes.

The neck injury is new for Johnson, but it doesn’t look like something that will force him to miss Week 8’s game. A limited session to open the week is standard fare for veterans midway through the season. Coming off a 79-yard return to form versus the Bears, Johnson will flirt with a TE1 ranking ahead of his date with the Bucs.