Diontae Johnson Traded to Panthers: Fantasy Football Impact & Takeaways (2024)

There were rumblings at the start of the NFL’s legal tampering period that Steelers WR Diontae Johnson was on the trade block. And on Tuesday evening, news broke that Pittsburgh was trading the veteran WR to the Carolina Panthers.

Let’s examine the immediate implications and fantasy impact of Johnson being traded to the Panthers.

Steelers Trade Diontae Johnson to Panthers

The Steelers are trading WR Diontae Johnson and a seventh-round draft pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for CB Donte Jackson and a sixth-round draft pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The 27-year-old Johnson has spent all five of his NFL seasons in Pittsburgh and is entering the final year of a two-year, $36.7 million deal.

A third-round pick in the 2019 draft, Johnson has averaged 78.2 catches, 872.6 yards and 5.0 TD catches a year over his five seasons with the Steelers. His best year was 2021, when he had 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. Johnson missed four games with a hamstring injury last season and finished with a career-low 51 catches for 717 yards and five touchdowns.

Johnson is a terrific route runner who excels at getting open. That skill will be greatly appreciated by Panthers QB Bryce Young, who endured a difficult rookie season in 2024, at least partly because of a shortage of quality pass catchers. Johnson has had issues with drops for much of his career, although he was charged with only two drops last season, per PFF. Johnson also has a maddening habit of running backward after making catches.

Johnson immediately becomes Carolina’s No. 1 receiver and should see no shortage of targets. He averaged 153.3 targets a year from 2019 through 2021, and Johnson could have that sort of a target total in 2024 if he stays healthy all season.

George Pickens from Week 1-5 2023

(Diontae Johnson injured Wk 1)

WR13 in fantasy averaging 12.8 points/game (19th) with a 43% air yards share and 24% target share.

Averaged nearly 80 receiving yards and 7.8 targets per game.

Two games with a season-high in targets (10).

— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) March 13, 2024

The acquisition of Johnson will likely relegate 33-year-old Adam Thielen to a supporting role. Thielen led the Panthers last season with 103 catches for 1,014 yards. Johnson’s arrival also bodes ill for the short-term fantasy value of Panthers WRs Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall, whose target outlooks will be diminished. But Bryce Young is getting a proven possession receiver, which can only help with his development.

In redraft leagues, Johnson should be regarded as a low-end WR3. For dynasty formats, I have Johnson ranked WR43.

With Johnson leaving Pittsburgh, George Pickens‘ fantasy value seems destined to increase. The mercurial Pickens has shown oodles of big-play ability, but he hasn’t always been a consistent target earner — and Johnson’s presence may have had a lot to do with that. Pickens figures to see a steadier diet of targets with Johnson out of the picture. Johnson’s departure should also bode well for Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth in terms of target share.

Pittsburgh have much else at wide receiver, so it’s a good bet they’ll tap into a deep rookie WR class. The Steelers have long had a Midas touch when it comes to drafting wide receivers, with Pickens and Johnson among the many gems they’ve unearthed at the position.