All eyes were on the Chargers last Friday when they took on the rival Chiefs in Brazil. Analysts weren’t sure of what to make of this Los Angeles offense. Justin Herbert is a terrific quarterback, but the loss of franchise left tackle Rashawn Slater (knee) was concerning. It’s safe to say that most doubters have been silenced. The Bolts put up 27 points, headlined by a two-touchdown performance from wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
The former first round pick is no stranger to productive stat lines. However, his ‘boom’ games are usually followed with disappointing outings. So, who is the real Quentin Johnston, and what can we expect from him going forward? Let’s break down his chances of becoming a fantasy football WR1 in 2025.
Quentin Johnston fantasy football outlook
It’s no surprise that Johnston was a popular pick in most Week 2 waiver wire rankings. After all, the third-year pro has flashed his potential before. Last season, he hauled in 55 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. The caveat is that he failed to record double-digit fantasy points in seven different contests. That level of week-to-week variance made Johnston a frustrating player to roster for most managers. Not good enough to drop, but never good enough to start with confidence.
Ladd McConkey is expected to serve as Los Angeles’ top wideout. However, there’s still room for several other pass catchers to contribute for the Chargers. In addition to the touchdowns, Johnston reeled in five catches on seven targets for 79 yards against the Chiefs. Last season, the TCU alum reached five catches on just four different occasions. He tallied 80 yards or more only twice.
It’s worth noting that QJ wasn’t the only productive Bolts wide receiver. McConkey recorded six catches for 74 yards, while veteran Keenan Allen chipped in with seven catches, 68 yards and a touchdown. Can they put up those kind of numbers every week? It’s borderline impossible, especially as defenses grow more familiar with LA’s offensive scheme. Still, it looks like each member of this trio is a fantasy asset. In that regard, Johnston’s big-play ability and knack for the end zone gives him an edge over his teammates.
Despite his reputation as a deep threat, Johnston is also someone Herbert throws to often. The 24-year-old ranked 47th in football last season with 91 targets, despite missing two games. Does that make him an immediate fantasy superstar? Of course not, but pessimistic managers might be overlooking the wideout’s role in Los Angeles’ offense.
Right now, we don’t have enough data to call Johnston a set-it and forget-it starter. Week 2’s matchup, a Monday Night meeting with the Raiders, should give managers a better understanding. What’s immediately clear is that the youngster is only improving as a playmaker at the NFL level. The next step is being productive even on days without scoring a touchdown. Once Johnston gets to that point, it’ll be tough to keep him out of your fantasy football lineups.
