Diontae Johnson DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Diontae Johnson is focused on changing the perception surrounding him this season after a tumultuous 2024, he told ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi on Wednesday. Johnson was all over the place last season, leading the Carolina Panthers in receiving through the first seven games before a mid-year trade to Baltimore -- and eventual release after he refused to play in Week 13. The Texans claimed him, and he caught two passes for them in Week 18, but was waived after their wild-card win over the Chargers due to his "visible frustration" after playing just 15 snaps. The 28-year-old will get a chance to prove himself in Cleveland, as the target competition behind fellow WR Jerry Jeudy and tight end David Njoku isn't too daunting. Still, the offense's success will largely depend on who is calling signals for the Browns in 2025, and even that might not be a guarantee on a weekly basis.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Diontae Johnson is in attendance at mandatory minicamp this week after not showing up for voluntary organized team activities. Although there is opportunity in Cleveland this year behind WR1 Jerry Jeudy, fantasy managers won't be holding their breath for the 28-year-old wideout after he played for three teams in 2024. He caught 30 of 58 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns with the Panthers before being traded to the Ravens, where he caught just one pass in four games. Johnson finished the year in Houston and caught two passes for 12 yards. The former third-rounder (66th overall) by the Steelers in 2019 out of Toledo has regressed each season since his 1,000-yard campaign in 2021 in Pittsburgh. With one of the worst QB situations in the league on top of it, Johnson is barely ranked inside the top-100 wideouts at RotoBaller.

Wide receiver Diontae Johnson's one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns is for the veteran's minimum of $1.17 million and doesn't include any guaranteed money, according to ESPN's Field Yates. It's essentially a zero-risk deal for the Browns, while Johnson will be hoping to re-establish his value at just 28 years old. The former third-round pick (66th overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019 out of Toledo was traded to the Carolina Panthers last offseason. He caught 30 of 58 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven starts before then being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. Johnson was not a good fit there and only caught one of five targets for six yards before being cut. He then latched on with the Houston Texans and caught two of four targets for 12 yards in one game. Johnson has an opportunity in Cleveland alongside Jerry Jeudy, but his volatility and the Browns' QB situation makes him unattractive in most fantasy leagues.