The Los Angeles Chargers got a much-needed win on Sunday when they defeated the Chicago Bears 30-13. QB Justin Herbert looked like his old self, going 31-of-40 for 298 and three touchdowns, and distributed the ball around to a lot of players, including rookie WR Quentin Johnston. The rookie from TCU had five catches for 50 yards, which is an NFL career-high.
With that in mind, should fantasy football managers sign Johnston off the waiver wire?
Should Johnston Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 9?
The Chargers drafted Johnston with a thought toward the future. But with the injury to WR Mike Williams, he is now even more important this season.
He is a similar build to Williams — he measures 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. He also has great size and speed and has the potential to be a star in this league. However, it has been a slow process for him so far.
Was the performance against the Bears a sign of things to come, or is it still too early to count on Johnston?
MORE: PPR Rankings
If you’re a Chargers fan, you should be ecstatic with the play of Johnston. If you are a fantasy manager, too, this should also excite you. This was the first game that he had been involved in the offense, and it was against one of the worst teams in the NFL, the Bears.
The Bears are currently ranked 30th against the pass, allowing 262.3 yards per game. Meanwhile, the Chargers’ next opponent is the New York Jets, who are currently fifth in the league in pass defense, averaging 184.4 yards per game.
Obviously, the Jets present a much bigger challenge for the Chargers’ passing game. However, the situation with WR Joshua Palmer is something that could open up more opportunities for Johnston. Palmer had been battling a knee injury and appeared to hurt it again in the first quarter against the Bears.
Palmer was coming off a career game against the Kansas City Chiefs, when he had five catches for 133 yards. Keenan Allen is the unquestioned WR1, and RB Austin Ekeler is obviously going to be heavily involved in the passing game.
Right now, the first thing to do is to keep an eye on the status of Palmer. If he is healthy, then it may still be too early for Johnston to be involved in the offense. However, if this is an injury that lingers for Palmer, then Johnston could have a much bigger role in the offense. The matchup against the Jets’ secondary will be a challenge, but there could be some possibilities in the next few weeks.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!