Last September, Quentin Johnston appeared to be taking an enormous step ahead in his third season. Fantasy soccer managers had been successful matchups on the again of his 15+ PPR factors and he gave the impression to be the alpha of this growing offense. He, nonetheless, limped to the end line and gave us a close to reproduction of his 2024 stat line.
Is statistical development to be anticipated from the former Horned Frog, or is one other hit-and-miss season the most definitely end result for QJ?
Advertisement
Should You Draft Quentin Johnston in Fantasy Football?
We had been so shut. So, so shut.
Johnston scored twice in the season opener in São Paulo and cleared 85 yards or scored in 4 of his 5 video games after that. Drafted between Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Zay Flowers in 2023, making good on that draft capital appeared like an uphill battle coming into final season—however we lastly had proof of idea over an honest pattern dimension, with him main an offense shifting in a path we appreciated.
Until we did not.
Johnston posted only a pair of top-20 finishes in the second half of final season, and each arrived lengthy after you had misplaced religion in him. There was per week when he turned 10 targets into simply 42 yards, and 7 days later, he was held off the stat sheet altogether.
Advertisement
START PREPARING: PFN’s FREE Fantasy Mock Draft Simulator
Regression to the imply hit like a ton of bricks. We left 2025 with the very same baseline expectation for him that we entered with, and that’s merely not sufficient to financial institution on.
He turns 25 in September, making it harmful to imagine his developmental window has slammed shut; nonetheless, with 52.2% of his profession video games ensuing in a single-digit PPR level complete, it’s arduous to get too excited.
Factor in that he has simply as many profession video games with fewer than two PPR factors as he does with 16+ (six apiece), and investing in him over any of the major rookie WRs—or choices like Josh Downs and Jayden Reed, who watched teammates vacate targets proper in entrance of them—turns into an excellent more durable promote.
Advertisement
FANTASY RANKINGS: PFN’s FREE Fantasy PPR, Half-PPR, and Non-PPR Rankings
The concept of betting on a 28-year-old Justin Herbert feels snug. It appears like an inexpensive gamble in the center rounds, and I perceive the logic of speaking your self into Johnston’s sporadic profile. Still, it’s the alternative price hurdle that I can’t clear. The huge receiver place is as deep because it has ever been, which actively devalues gamers who battle to supply constant week-to-week manufacturing, regardless of how tantalizing their single-game ceiling is perhaps.
Preseason Fantasy WR Rankings
Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI
Michael Pittman Jr. | PIT
This article initially appeared on Pro Football Network.