Quentin

Johnston

The Chargers attempted to get Johnston going in the second half, but were unable to do so. The lanky wide receiver led the team in receiving touchdowns this year, catching 51-of-78 targets for 735 yards and eight touchdowns. Johnston was seemingly headed toward a career year early on, banking two WR1 finishes and two WR2 finishes in Weeks 1-4. His fantasy results became more volatile as the season progressed. Johnston has established himself as a capable tackle-breaking weapon and should compete for a starting role in 2026. His FLEX viability could simply come down to WR Tre’ Harris’ offseason development. Chargers veteran WR Keenan Allen is a free agent.

Johnston’s day was highlighted by a 60-yard gain on a go route down the left sideline, after running right past Texans CB Tremon Smith. The play fittingly occurred right after Smith put a late hit on QB Justin Herbert, who may have been looking to embarrass the defender. A few plays before that, Johnston got open on a comeback route, hauling in a 16-yard gain along the left sideline. He impressively beat Texans CB Kamari Lassiter on a 12-yard out route on the following drive and later picked up a first down inside the Texans’ red zone, helping to set up TE Oronde Gadsden III’s one-yard touchdown reception. Johnston is a boom-bust FLEX against the Broncos next week.

He won a couple of sideline go balls against the weak Dallas secondary, one for a spectacular one-handed touchdown, and another for a 50-yard gain early in the third quarter. The Chargers’ passing game is so spread around that it’s hard to get excited about anyone, but Johnston became the first Chargers receiver since Antonio Gates to have back-to-back seasons with eight or more touchdowns. It sure seems like Johnston will be low on the WR3 line against the Texans in Week 17.

Johnston returns after missing Week 15 to this groin injury that popped up during last Friday’s practice. Johnston will be a WR4 in a crowded Chargers’ receiver corps. Also active for the Chargers off the questionable line are Elijah Molden (hamstring) and Teair Tart (shin), while Bud Dupree (back) and Trey Pipkins (ankle) will be inactive from the questionable line. Also inactive for the Chargers are: WR Derius Davis, S RJ Mickens, CB Nikko Reed, G Branson Taylor and TE Tyler Conklin.

Johnston remained limited in practice all week, which is unfortunate. Johnston is not a weekly must-start, but he can deliver big plays in good matchups. The Cowboys’ wide receiver-coverage unit qualifies as one such matchup. If he can play, he will be at risk of suffering an in-game setback, but his ceiling is high enough for managers to consider starting him in some situations. Hopefully, he is good to go.

Johnston has a chance to suit up this week, but he remains in the questionable camp after logging another limited practice session. The Chargers could use their capable post-catch producer against the Cowboys this weekend, in what should be a fantasy-friendly game environment.

Johnston was a late addition to the injury report last week. He didn’t appear on the report until Friday, when the team listed him as questionable after a limited practice. His return to practice puts him on the right side of questionable for Week 16. The LA passing game has sputtered since the team lost Joe Alt. Johnston, as the primary deep threat, has been significantly impacted. Even if he is active for Week 16, Johnston will be stuck in the WR4 ranks.

Johnston popped up on the team’s injury report late in the week and will sit against Kansas City as the Chargers make a push for the postseason. Johnston’s absence should mean for snaps and routes for WR Tre’ Harris, who becomes a desperation play in 14-team leagues. Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen could also see an increase in targets with Johnston sidelined.

A surprise questionable, at that. Johnston was limited in practice with the new designation. If Johnston were to miss this week’s game, he’d likely consolidate Justin Herbert’s target tree a bit rather than give his whole role over to rookie Tre Harris.

Johnston saw his fair share of lockdown coverage from Quinyon Mitchell in this one, although his three targets were largely a product of only 26 Justin Herbert pass attempts on a night the Los Angeles defense stepped up with five takeaways. Johnston remains a touchdown-dependent fantasy asset in a now-crowded receiving corps due to the emergence of tight end Oronde Gadsden, with the ever-present potential to see his volume curbed due to the strength of their defense and absence of the team’s starting tackles.