Falcons' Gurley, Ravens' Ingram among best bets to score
It’s Week 5 of the fantasy football season, and these are the top five best bets to score at the running back and wide receiver positionsOCTOBER 7, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
DIONTAE JOHNSON #18 - WIDE RECEIVER - BALTIMORE RAVENS
363 YDS •
31 REC •
3 TD
363 YDS
31 REC
3 TD
Steelers hope unexpected layoff doesn't mess with rhythm
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he feels as if he's “starting from scratch” after the team's unexpected week offOCTOBER 7, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sits out Wednesday's practice Johnson (toe) didn't practice Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Johnson has progressed out of the NFL's concussion protocol, but he continues to manages a toe issue that Pryor suggests is minor and one that hasn't kept the wideout out of any games. We'll circle back on Johnson's status Thursday, but it wouldn't surprise us to see him work fully as he did in advance of Week 3 action before approaching the Steelers' game against the Texans minus an injury designation. The team's scheduled Week 4 contest versus the Titans was postponed.
OCTOBER 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Escapes concussion protocol Coach Mike Tomlin announced Johnson is out of the concussion protocol, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Impact The 2019 third-round pick opened the season with back-to-back fruitful outings, combining for 14 catches (on 23 targets) for 149 yards and one touchdown. He then suffered a concussion Week 3 against the Texans and was blanked in the box score, before having an unexpected bye week due to COVID-19 complications with the Steelers' original Week 4 opponent, the Titans. Tomlin told Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Johnson will be a full practice participant Wednesday, which will set him up to return Sunday against the Eagles.
OCTOBER 6, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Progressing well from concussion Johnson (concussion) donned a helmet for Thursday's practice and took part in individual drills with the Steelers' other healthy receivers, Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Rev...
Impact Even though the NFL announced earlier Thursday that Pittsburgh's Week 4 matchup with the Titans would be postponed to a later date due to a COVID-19 outbreak among Tennessee players and staff, the Steelers are still holding practices during what's essentially an unexpected bye week. The postponement will provide Johnson with more time to recover from the concussion he sustained in the Steelers' Week 3 win over the Texans, but the wideout already looks close to clearing the NFL's protocol for head injuries, if he hasn't already. The Steelers may not reveal where Johnson stands in his recovery from the concussion until the team releases its first Week 5 injury report next Wednesday.
OCTOBER 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 4
With the regular season already reaching Week 4, one trend is evident: 2020 will be the year of the fantasy quarterbackSEPTEMBER 30, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Remains in concussion protocol Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Johnson is still in the league's concussion protocol, Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Impact Johnson suffered a concussion during Week 3's win over the Texans after playing just 19 snaps and failing to haul in either of his two targets. Tomlin said Johnson won't be able to clear the league's protocol until Friday at the earliest, so it's possible the second-year receiver will be able to play in Sunday's game versus the Titans. However, his practice capacity this week will be closely monitored. Chase Claypool and James Washington should both see an uptick in usage behind JuJu Smith-Schuster if Johnson sits out Sunday.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
FANTASY PLAYS: Players to add include Jefferson, Higgins
FANTASY PLAYS: Players to add for Week 4 include rookie receivers Justin Jefferson of Minnesota and Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati and Seattle running back Carlos HydeSEPTEMBER 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Steelers playing well in all areas during 3-0 start
The Pittsburgh Steelers are firing on all cylinders during their best start in a decadeSEPTEMBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fantasy Injury Updates: Chris Godwin, Diontae Johnson, Russell Gage, more WRs affect Week 4 waiver decisions A handful of wide receivers came out of Sunday's NFL action banged up. Here are the latest injury updates on Chris Godwin, Diontae Johnson,...
SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
Diontae Johnson Injury Update Could Bolster JuJu Smith-Schuster and Chase Claypool Fantasy Outlook Diontae Johnson had quietly emerged as the Pittsburgh Steelers' lead WR through two games in the 2020 NFL season, but the hype train has bee...
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • FANDUEL.COM
Won't return Sunday Johnson (concussion) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game versus the Texans, Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network reports.
Impact It appears Johnson has been diagnosed with a concussion. For the remainder of the game, James Washington and Chase Claypool should see an uptick in targets behind JuJu Smith-Schuster. Johnson will look to clear the league's concussion protocol before Week 4's matchup versus the Titans.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Possible concussion Johnson is being evaluated for a concussion during Sunday's game against the Texans, Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Impact While Johnson is unavailable, added wideout targets behind JuJu Smith-Schuster will be available for James Washington and Chase Claypool.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
JuJu Smith-Schuster Injury Update Could Boost Diontae Johnson Fantasy Outlook in Week 3 There's already been some room for disappointment for fantasy football managers who drafted Pittsburgh Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster...
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • FANDUEL.COM
Resumes practicing fully Johnson (toe) practiced fully Thursday.
Impact As was the case last week, Johnson sat out practice Wednesday before returning to a full session Thursday. He was on the field for 83 percent of Pittsburgh's snaps on offense in Week 2's win over the Broncos, en route to recording eight catches on 13 targets for 92 yards and a TD. He'll remain busy this Sunday against the Texans, especially if fellow wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) is limited at all.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Diontae Johnson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyson Alualu miss Steelers practice with minor injuries During his weekly news conference the day prior, coach Mike Tomlin had grouped Johnson and Alualu together with linebacker Bud Dupree as “gu...
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • PENNLIVE.COM
Sits out practice Wednesday Johnson (toe) didn't practice Wednesday.
Impact Fellow starting wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) also sat out practice. Both players ended up missing practice last Wednesday with the same injuries, but returned to full sessions Thursday and entered the Steelers' eventual Week 2 win over the Broncos minus designations. That pattern won't necessarily be repeated Week 3, but at this point, it would be surprising if Johnson's toe issue keeps him out of Sunday's game against the Texans.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Still dealing with toe issue Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Johnson continues to deal with a lingering toe injury, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact Johnson has showed up on the Steelers' injury reports the past two weeks with toe or foot issues, but he hasn't been slowed down on game days. He's been Pittsburgh's top receiver during the team's 2-0 start to the season, logging double-digit targets in both contests and compiling 14 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers could look to limit Johnson's workload in practice again this week, but barring a setback, he'll likely enter Sunday's matchup with the Texans minus an injury designation.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
2-0 or 0-2? Steelers, Roethlisberger eye improvement
The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a 2-0 start but believe there is plenty to work on following a narrow escape against DenverSEPTEMBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Finds end zone as leading receiver Johnson caught eight of 13 targets for 92 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 26-21 win over the Broncos.
Impact Johnson led the team in targets, catches and receiving yards while scoring his first touchdown of the season on a 28-yard strike in the fourth quarter. The second-year wideout has taken a big leap forward to start the new season and has drawn a whopping 23 targets from Ben Roethlisberger over two games. That type of attention from a capable passer carries plenty of fantasy value and Johnson will look to build on this outstanding performance in a favorable matchup next Sunday against the Texans.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Back to full practice After sitting out practice Wednesday, Johnson (toe) practiced fully Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Impact The same applies to JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), which puts the wideouts -- who both logged 55 of a possible 64 snaps on offense in Monday's win over the Giants -- on track to start and handle their usual roles Sunday against the Broncos. In Week 1, that resulted in Johnson catching six of his 10 targets for 57 yards.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Doesn't practice Wednesday Johnson (toe) didn't practice Wednesday.
Impact Nor did JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), but both players logged 55 of a possible 64 snaps on offense in Monday's win over the Giants, so it's possible that the Steelers are simply managing the reps of a couple of key players dealing with opening-game aches and pains. Added clarity on that front will arrive no later than Thursday, when the team resumes preparations for Sunday's tilt against the Broncos. Johnson was targeted a team-high 10 times in Week 1, yielding six catches for 57 yards.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
What elbow problem? Roethlisberger quiets doubters in opener
It looks as if it might be time to stop talking about Ben Roethlisberger's surgically repaired right elbowSEPTEMBER 15, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Diontae Johnson Fantasy Outlook Includes 2020 Breakout Potential Few players generated more buzz than Diontae Johnson did this offseason. But fantasy managers who spent a mid-round pick on the second-year...
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 • FANDUEL.COM
Busy in opener Johnson caught six of 10 targets for 57 yards in Monday night's 26-16 win over the Giants. He also muffed a punt, resulting in a lost fumble in the first quarter.
Impact Johnson's night got off to a poor start, as he gifted the Giants the ball on his own three-yard line after coughing up a punt on the game's first drive. He later also had a miscommunication with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but Johnson's play elevated as the game wore on, and his ability to create separation with his quickness resulted in a team-high target tally while he tied JuJu Smith-Schuster for the lead in receptions. Although his fellow wideout scored twice on his six grabs, Johnson still flashed intriguing ability behind Smith-Schuster and will hope to cut out mistakes while maintaining his level in Week 2 versus the Broncos.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
