Johnson (ankle) finished with six receptions (10 targets) for 78 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 38-20 loss to the Falcons.
Johnson suited up as expected following a bout with a minor ankle injury leading up to Sunday's contest. The veteran wideout served his usual role as the Carolina's No. 1 receiving option, leading the club in every receiving category while cashing in his third touchdown of the season. The longtime Pittsburgh Steeler has not skipped a beat since changing squads this past offseason, generating 340 yards off of 29 receptions (55 targets) through six games. Johnson makes for a fine fantasy play against a soft Washington defense next Sunday.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Officially active Sunday
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Johnson (ankle) is active for Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Falcons, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
The veteran wideout was thought to be trending in the right direction entering the weekend, and that optimism has now been validated. With Johnson available to serve in his customary No. 1 role, he'll carry a solid fantasy outlook provided no in-game setbacks. The Panthers could well turn to a pass-heavy approach in a game they enter as home underdogs and in which they face a Falcons offense that appears to be settling into a groove.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Expected to suit up Sunday
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Johnson (ankle) remains listed as questionable but is likely to play in Sunday's game against Atlanta, sources tell Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Johnson has been dealing with an ankle issue for nearly two weeks, but he was able to suit up in Week 5 against Chicago and appears set to do so again Sunday. The wideout was quiet against the Bears with just three catches on six targets for 23 yards along with two carries for six yards, but the Panthers haven't provided an indication that the injured ankle was responsible for his lack of production. Johnson posted a much more robust 15-205-2 receiving line between Weeks 3 and 4 while working with veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Listed as questionable
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Johnson (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
There hasn't been much suggestion of legitimate concern about Johnson's Week 6 availability, but fantasy managers will now need to make sure he's active ahead of a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday. Johnson played through the same injury last week and handled his normal workload until the fourth quarter of a 36-10 loss to the Bears, catching three of six targets for 23 yards and taking two carries for six yards. It was by far his worst fantasy performance since Andy Dalton took over as the Panthers' starting quarterback, albeit in what was easily the toughest matchup of that stretch. In any case, Johnson heads into the weekend with at least some small degree of uncertainty after being a limited practice participant Wednesday through Friday.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Limited in practice again
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Johnson (ankle) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Johnson played through the same injury and handled his normal workload in Sunday's loss to the Bears, after logging limited practices Thursday and Friday last week. He's now been a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday this week, giving him one last chance to upgrade to 'full' before Sunday's game against the Falcons.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: WRs to Start
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Johnson had a down game in Week 5 at Chicago with 5.9 PPR points, which was his worst outing since Week 2 and worst performance with Andy Dalton as the starting quarterback. Johnson should get back on track this week against the Falcons, who have allowed every No. 1 receiver to score at least 13.5 PPR points this season, including three guys (DeVonta Smith, Rashee Rice and Mike Evans) to score at least 20.6 PPR points. I like Johnson as a No. 1 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Cleared to face Chicago
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Johnson (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at Chicago, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Johnson never quite progressed to full practice participation, logging limited sessions Thursday and Friday, but the lack of an injury designation nonetheless confirms his ankle isn't a major concern. He's caught 15 of 27 targets for 205 yards and two TDs in two games since Andy Dalton took over as the starting QB, putting up big numbers against the Raiders and then Bengals. Chicago's defense should be more of a challenge, but Johnson doesn't necessarily need efficient production to be useful in fantasy, as he's accounted for 30 percent of Carolina's targets and 44 percent of the team's air yards.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Puts in limited practice
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Johnson (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Johnson took a step forward from Wednesday, when he opened the practice week as a non-participant due to the ankle issue. The wideout will look to upgrade to full activity Friday, and if he does, Johnson will likely head into Sunday's game against the Bears without an injury designation. Johnson has demonstrated a strong rapport with Andy Dalton through the latter's first two turns as Carolina's starting quarterback, stringing together a 15-205-2 receiving line on 27 targets between a Week 3 win over the Raiders and a Week 4 loss to the Bengals.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Back at practice Thursday
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Johnson (ankle) is participating in Thursday's practice, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Johnson sat out Wednesday's practice due to an ankle issue, but Panthers head coach Dave Canales offered optimism that the veteran wideout would be available Week 5. Carolina may simply be exercising caution with Johnson, who played through a groin injury Week 4. In the Panthers' last two games, both of which featured Andy Dalton under center, Johnson has combined for 15 catches for 205 yards and two touchdowns on 27 targets. Even practicing in a limited capacity Thursday would signify an improvement for Johnson, as he works to gain clearance for Sunday's road matchup against the Bears.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Dealing with ankle issue
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Johnson didn't practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury.
The Panthers seem to be exercising caution with Johnson, as head coach Dave Canales relayed that the team wants to "get ahead of it" in reference to the wide receiver's health concern. Johnson's production has taken off the last two games with Andy Dalton under center, combining for 15 catches (on 27 targets) for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Considering his outsized role in Carolina's offense at the moment, his status will be one to monitor as the week goes on to get a sense of his chances to play Sunday at Chicago.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Ready for regular role
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Johnson (groin) is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Johnson had a groin injury pop up Thursday that sidelined him for practice, but he got in a limited session Friday and will be ready for action in Week 4. There doesn't seem to be any concern about his snap count or effectiveness, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports that the wide receiver got extra work in with new starting quarterback Andy Dalton throughout the week. Johnson should once again serve as the focal point of Carolina's passing attack.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Questionable after limited practice
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Johnson (groin) was limited in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Johnson's absence from practice Thursday was downplayed, with Steve Reed of the Associated Press suggesting it was a precautionary measure due to a wet field. That may be true, but fantasy managers will need to monitor the situation ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff after Johnson was limited in his return to practice and given an injury designation for the game. Panthers coach Dave Canales said he's optimistic about Johnson's chance of playing, as the wide receiver looked fast during practice Friday, per Reed.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Sits out practice with groin issue
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Johnson was added to the Carolina injury report as a non-participant in Thursday's practice due to a groin injury, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
While a mid-week addition to the injury report can often be a foreboding sign, Steve Reed of the Associated Press relays that the team considers Johnson's absence from Thursday's practice as precautionary due to the slick field conditions in Charlotte. Johnson is expected to return to practice Friday, which would alleviate most of the concern about his status heading into Sunday's game against the Bengals. With Adam Thielen (hamstring) landing on injured reserve earlier this week, Johnson could end up taking on an even greater share of the target volume in the Carolina passing game. Johnson demonstrated a strong rapport with quarterback Andy Dalton in the latter's first start in last Sunday's win over Las Vegas, registering eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: WRs to Start
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The quarterback change in Carolina worked wonders for Johnson in Week 3 at Las Vegas, and it should be a sign of things to come. Andy Dalton, replacing Bryce Young, helped Johnson play like an elite receiver against the Raiders with eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. He's going to continue being a target hog with Adam Thielen (hamstring) on injured reserve, and the Bengals have allowed the opposing No. 1 receiver to score at least 18.5 PPR points in each of the past two games with Rashee Rice and Terry McLaurin. Johnson should be considered a quality starter in all leagues in Week 4.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Sleeper WRs
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I'm hopeful that things start to improve for Johnson in Week 3 at the Raiders, with Andy Dalton starting at quarterback for the Panthers in place of Bryce Young. Johnson has been awful so far in two games in Carolina, with five catches for 34 yards on 12 targets. I'm willing to use Johnson as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues against Las Vegas, and the Raiders have allowed at least one receiver to score at least 14.9 PPR points in each game this season against the Chargers and Ravens.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Quiet debut for Carolina
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Johnson caught two of six targets for 19 yards in Sunday's 47-10 loss to the Saints.
The former Steeler finished second on the Panthers in targets in his debut for the team, but Johnson was rarely on the same page with second-year QB Bryce Young. Johnson saw his numbers decline in his final two years for Pittsburgh due to erratic quarterback play, and it looks like his situation may have gotten even worse with the offseason move to Carolina. The target volume was at least mildly encouraging, and Johnson will try to do more with his looks in Week 2 against the Chargers.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Expected to face Bills
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Johnson (illness) is among the Panthers on track to see action in Saturday's preseason finale against the Bills, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Johnson missed Thursday's practice with an illness, but his name is not listed among the Panthers' players in line to sit Saturday during a contest in which the team's starters are expected to see snaps. As the coming season approaches, Johnson is poised to lead a Carolina WR corps that also includes Adam Thielen, Jonathan Mingo and Xavier Legette.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Comes down with illness
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Johnson missed Thursday's practice with an illness, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer reports.
It's apparently minor, with David Newton of ESPN.com reporting that coach Dave Canales still hopes to have Johnson play in Saturday's preseason game against Buffalo. The Panthers didn't use many starters in their first two preseason games, resting QB Bryce Young and a slew of other players. Johnson recently missed some practices with a groin strain, but he was back on the field Tuesday and Wednesday after sitting out for less than a week.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Returns to practice
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Johnson (groin) returned to practice Tuesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Johnson was out for less than a week after suffering an apparently minor groin injury. He's otherwise been healthy and practicing since the Panthers traded for him in March, with multiple beat reporters suggesting this summer that Johnson has been QB Bryce Young's favorite target at training camp.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Not suiting up Saturday
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Johnson (groin) isn't slated to play in Saturday's preseason contest against the Jets, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Johnson sat out the last two practices ahead of this contest due to a strained groin, so it's no surprise that he'll remain on the sideline Saturday. He'll be joined by fellow wide receivers Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette, which leaves Jonathan Mingo, Terrace Marshall and Ihmir Smith-Marsette, among others, to get reps at the position. Johnson is ramping up for his first season in Carolina after managing between 717 and 1,161 receiving yards over the last four campaigns.
