With Ju Ju Smith-Schuster likely to miss another game, Diontae Johnson has a clearer path to fantasy production in Week 15.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson had a nice game in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals, with six receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown, one carry for 16 more yards while adding an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown. A repeat in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills is highly unlikely, but Johnson’s outlook has gotten rosier quickly.
After missing the previous three games, Ju Ju Smith-Schuster knee, concussion) was tentatively in line to return to action this week. But he left Thursday’s practice early after aggravating his knee issue, and he’s now not expected to play against the Bills on Sunday night.
Though James Washington has popped up as a fantasy option in recent weeks, being down to Devlin Hodges under center is not good for the Steelers’ pass offense. This week’s matchup against Buffalo looks particularly stifling, as they entered Week 15 allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers (Yahoo!, 0.5-point PPR scoring). But there is a path for Johnson to find success.
The Bills have one of the top cornerbacks in the league in Tre’Davious White. But he lines up on the left side, the offense’s right side. That has led to opponents avoiding him, and as James Koh of Yahoo! cited the Bills have allowed the sixth-most yards in the league to the left side and that’s where Johnson primarily operates.
Johnson has at least five targets in three straight games, in four of his last five and in five of his last seven. Over the last two games, with Hodges back in as the starter, Johnson has a 32.5 percent target share (13 targets on 40 attempts).
Johnson is not a top-tier fantasy starter for Week 15. But for those who have had their wide receiver depth dinged by injuries, there’s potential as a WR3/WR4 in deep leagues and he’s worth thinking about as a contrarian play in DFS.