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: Contrarian DFS Play
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Like his teammate Chuba Hubbard, Diontae Johnson's price has not caught up to his reality. He's a top-12 wide receiver. The past two weeks he's actually been WR3, behind only Jauan Jennings and Malik Nabers. He's an auto-play until his price starts to reflect the fact that he has a competent quarterback.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Another big game in Week 4
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Johnson caught seven of his 13 targets for 83 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 34-24 loss to the Bengals.
The first-year Panther has been one of fantasy's top wide receivers since Andy Dalton took over for Bryce Young at quarterback. Johnson has caught 15 of his 27 targets for 205 yards and two touchdowns, including five catches of 15-plus yards, over Carolina's last two games. The Panthers trailed for most of Sunday's contest and Johnson benefitted from Dalton's 40 pass attempts, but that's expected to be a common theme this season, as Carolina's defense has now given up just over 32 points per game through four weeks. Johnson is expected to continue putting up big numbers and remain the Panthers' top target as the team travels to Chicago in Week 5.
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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: Expected to play Sunday
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Johnson (groin), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Bengals, is expected to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Johnson returned to practice Friday after missing Thursday's session with a groin injury and now appears to be on track to suit up against Cincinnati. The wide receiver caught eight of 14 targets for 122 yards and a touchdown in Week 3 versus the Raiders, and he'll likely remain busy against the Bengals.
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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: Minimal production in Week 2 loss
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Johnson brought in three of six targets for 15 yards in the Panthers' 26-3 loss to the Chargers on Sunday.
The veteran was once again a victim of circumstance, as Bryce Young threw for only 84 yards on 3.2 yards per attempt. Johnson did draw a team-high amount of targets that also matched his Week 1 total. As expected, Young sees Johnson as a reliable receiver, but the second-year quarterback's inability to get the ball downfield will continue to cap Johnson's fantasy value heading into a Week 3 road matchup against the Raiders.
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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.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Not at practice
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Johnson (groin) isn't practicing Thursday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Johnson initially was held out of practice Wednesday, with coach Dave Canales saying the wideout had a "mild groin strain." The Panthers apparently don't expect him to be out for long, but it's probably safe to assume Johnson will miss Saturday's preseason game against the Jets.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Sidelined by groin strain
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Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Johnson missed Wednesday's practice with a "mild groin strain," Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Aside from Wednesday, Johnson hasn't missed any notable practice time since the Panthers traded for him in March, with most reports from training camp noting that the 28-year-old receiver has seen a steady flow of targets from quarterback Bryce Young. Canales downplayed the severity of the groin strain, but it's probably safe to assume Johnson will miss Saturday's preseason game against the Jets.
