If you had to guess who the top fantasy football tight end in Week 1 was, it would probably take you a while to land on the correct answer. After setting career highs in catches and yards last season, it was Saints tight end Juwan Johnson who kicked down the door and led all tight ends in PPR scoring. Now he’s a waiver-wire darling and has reshaped his season-long fantasy football outlook.
If you’ve added Johnson, chances are you’re now considering whether or not to start him. Let’s break down whether the Saints’ tight end is worth a spot in your Week 2 lineup.
Week 1 Breakdown
Much of the chatter surrounding Johnson after Week 1 focused on his “drop” in the final seconds of the Saints-Cardinals game. With New Orleans needing a score, Johnson had the ball go through his hands in the end zone. But given that he was tightly covered and undercut by a rotating safety, it wasn’t exactly an egregious mistake. Watch and decide for yourself:
Up to that point, Johnson had pulled in eight targets for 76 yards. He was second on the team with 11 total targets, and it wasn’t just a one-off due to game script: Johnson played 74 of 75 snaps and ran 47 total routes. Being targeted on over 20% of those routes is a strong sign of his involvement in the offense. Add in an 8.1-yard average depth of target, and the upside is clear.
Now he gets a severe test in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers. Their linebacking duo of Fred Warner and Dee Winters is built to shut down tight ends. Can Juwan maintain his momentum and capitalize on the hype? Or is he about to crash back to earth?
The Verdict
This might be the toughest matchup Johnson sees all year. Warner and Winters will be draped all over him, but the game script may still play into his favor. With the 49ers starting Mac Jones, their offense could sputter, giving the Saints more time of possession and more chances to air it out.
If Jones can’t sustain drives for San Francisco, Johnson should see more opportunities. He may deliver TE1 value off volume alone and is worth a start if you’re unsure about your tight end situation. Even if he flops this week, there’s plenty of reason to believe in his role moving forward.
