Tez

Johnson

With Bucky Irving finally back in action and Chris Godwin getting more involved, Johnson’s usage cratered. The only time he made a noticeable impact in the game was when his second quarter OPI penalty took a Rachaad White touchdown off the board. Johnson should continue to soak up snaps and run routes in this short-handed offense, at least until Mike Evans returns. It’s just not providing WR4 numbers in fantasy with the playoffs almost here.

He also rushed three times for zero yards. Johnson has been a nice story as a seventh-round rookie, but he has never topped 60 yards receiving in a game, so his fantasy value is excessively tied to touchdown value. That makes him really difficult to trust, especially next week against the Rams.

It’s not a great mode to be in as the Bucs head into their Week 11 matchup against the Bills. Stroud said he did not expected Godwin or Irving to practice Wednesday, and both players would seem unlikely to suit up against Buffalo. Look for Rachaad White and Sean Tucker to continue splitting the Bucs’ backfield workload against a weak Buffalo rush defense, and for Tez Johnson to operate as the team’s WR2 with Godwin sidelined.

The two-score day doubled Johnson’s previous season total. He found the end zone from 10 and 11 yards out. Johnson’s first touchdown had him get free in the right right corner of the painted area as Baker Mayfield desperately danced around to create more time. Johnson is proving to be a stable-floor, questionable-ceiling option as a weekly WR4 as the Bucs wait for the likes of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans to get healthy. That won’t be in Week 11 against the Bills, keeping Johnson in the top-50 mix.

Saints CB Alontae Taylor caused a brief scare by laying a hard hit on the diminutive wide receiver on a 12-yard gain, but Johnson encouragingly hopped up immediately after and showed no ill effects from the forceful interaction. Johnson repeatedly made plays in the middle of the field, tallying multiple double-digit gains while trailing on WR Emeka Egbuka with six targets in this one. Johnson will be a WR3/4 against the Patriots following the Buccaneers’ Week 9 bye.

The Buccaneers are without three of their top players this week. While Irving and Godwin continue to miss games, long-time No. 1 WR Mike Evans (collarbone/concussion) was recently placed on injured reserve. Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka will continue to operate as a fantasy WR1, while fellow rookie WR Tez Johnson can be started as a high-upside WR3/FLEX. Reddick’s absence is a plus for the Saints’ offense. His 27 quarterback pressures lead all Buccaneers defenders by three. Fortunately, DT Vita Vea (foot) is active.

Johnson saw an increased snap rate throughout due to the team managing the workload of fellow rookie Emeka Egbuka in the first half and veteran receiver Mike Evans’ departure in the second quarter. He appears to be worthy of a waiver addition considering the state of the wide receiver corps, with Evans likely to miss the team’s Week 8 meeting with the Saints.

If you’re going to make only one catch, make it a wildly impressive 45-yard post deep strike that lands you in the end zone. Johnson’s target count was a bit curious given his 4/59 line last week and the loss of Emeka Egbuka, but he was simply outJohnsoned in this one. Johnson certainly seems like the safer bet of himself and (Kameron) Johnson to continue to function in this offense based on the snap counts. But he was not the one that finished with the best line in Week 6.

Johnson had just three total targets on the season coming into this game, but the Bucs clearly saw a mismatch over the middle of the field against the Seahawks. The rookie seventh-round pick looked elusive after the catch and showed soft hands over the middle of the field. That being said, it’s hard to rely on him doing this again next week.

Johnson will serve as a rotational deep-threat option for Baker Mayfield. His thin frame (5'10/154) simply does not lend itself to the repeated hits one incurs in a full-time role. Johnson did earn 100-plus targets in his two seasons at Oregon, though. His big-play style make him a better fit in best ball for now, pending any major on-field breakthroughs.