Theo Johnson's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (hip) has been placed on the physically unable to perform list, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. The Giants "hope" it's not a long-term problem for the rookie. Johnson caught 34 passes for 341 yards and seven touchdowns at Penn State last season, prompting the Giants to select him 107th overall in April's draft. It was a timely addition for New York's NFC franchise given that veteran Darren Waller retirement less than two months later. The Giants' current tight end depth chart is headlined by Johnson and Daniel Bellinger. Johnson may face an uphill battle to open 2024 as the Giants' No. 1 tight end given his injury and unfamiliarity with New York's system. This makes Bellinger the more intriguing option in redraft fantasy leagues, though Johnson has the edge in dynasty formats.

Now that tight end Darren Waller officially announced his retirement over the weekend, New York Giants tight ends Daniel Bellinger and rookie Theo Johnson are set to compete for primary pass-catching duties at the position in 2024. Johnson was a fourth-rounder this year, while Bellinger was a fourth-round selection in 2022. But tight ends are physical, but Bellinger has the clear experience edge, having caught 55 of 63 targets for 523 yards and two touchdowns in 29 games in his first two NFL seasons. However, Bellinger's production has left a lot to be desired in fantasy in terms of upside, leaving the door open for Johnson to impress and earn more work as his rookie campaign rolls on this fall. In a suspect Giants offense with a quarterback coming off a torn ACL last year, neither Bellinger nor Johnson represent anything more than a low-end TE2 in fantasy.

If New York Giants tight end Darren Waller retires, as he's expected to do this offseason, rookie fourth-round tight end Theo Johnson will have a major opportunity for playing time. The G-Men have veterans who will log snaps in blocking roles, but Johnson should rival Daniel Bellinger for the most targets at the position in 2024. However, Johnson needs significant development for his production to match his athletic profile, and his production will most likely be inconsistent. "I don't think he's a dynamic athlete, but he's a good height/weight/speed prospect," an unnamed executive said. "He's just solid. Probably a solid No. 2 in the NFL, and they got him in the fourth round."

The New York Giants selected Penn State tight end Theo Johnson with the No. 107 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft on Saturday. This pick makes a lot of sense with the Giants still unsure if Darren Waller will hang up his cleats. The 23-year-old Johnson is extremely athletic with plenty of speed to spare despite standing at a monstrous 6-foot-6 and 259 pounds. In his final year with the Nittany Lions in 2023, he had seven touchdowns, although it came on just 34 receptions and 341 yards. Even if Waller decides to retire, Johnson may have an uphill battle to climb to reach any kind of fantasy relevance in single-year leagues with Daniel Bellinger still around. At best, he'll probably be a red-zone weapon for quarterback Daniel Jones.