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Diontae Johnson Contract Terms
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Diontae Johnson is signing a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns.
Fantasy Football Impact
Heading into his seventh NFL season, Diontae Johnson is now on his fifth team. Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, Johnson was a steady contributor during his five-year tenure there. He averaged 872.6 receiving yards and five touchdowns per season, with his peak coming in 2021. That year, catching passes from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Johnson finished as the eighth-best wide receiver in PPR formats, averaging 17.3 fantasy points per game.
However, after Roethlisberger’s retirement, Johnson’s fantasy stock took a hit. With Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, and Mason Rudolph rotating under center, Johnson slipped to WR32 in 2022 and never quite regained his previous form.
In a whirlwind 2024 season, Johnson was first traded to the Carolina Panthers, where he played just seven games. Though he topped 21 PPR fantasy points in two of those games, Johnson was dealt again, this time to the Baltimore Ravens. After four appearances with Baltimore, Johnson was suspended for one game by General Manager Eric DeCosta for refusing to enter the Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was subsequently waived.
The Houston Texans claimed Johnson off waivers following Tank Dell’s season-ending injury, but Johnson only saw two receptions in a single game before being waived once again. The Ravens then reclaimed him, though he was ineligible to play for the remainder of the season. The move was a strategic one by Baltimore, potentially aiming to earn a compensatory draft pick in 2026, depending on the contract Johnson signed in free agency.
Johnson now finds himself with the Cleveland Browns, looking to bounce back after a rocky and controversial 2024 campaign.
Or will controversy follow him to the new team? The Browns created an unpredictable quarterback room with the addition of both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft. Leading up to the Draft, many expected Sanders to go in the first round, but he ultimately fell to the fifth round. My Footballguys colleague Jeff Blaylock details Sanders' fantasy football fallout in his recent instant reaction article. In addition to these two rookie quarterbacks, the Browns also acquired veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett this offseason, while still rostering Deshaun Watson, who is out indefinitely due to his second Achilles tendon tear. This kind of quarterback carousel is not ideal for Johnson, who is looking to return to form.
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The Fantasy Football Fallout
The one good thing Johnson has going for him in joining the Browns is the lack of depth in their receiver room. Outside of Jerry Jeudy, he'll be battling Cedric Tillman for the No. 2 role on the depth chart. From Weeks 7 to 9 last season, Tillman caught fire, averaging 21.5 PPR points per game and leading all NFL receivers over that stretch. Because of this, Tillman's surpassing Johnson for targets is the likely outcome.
Johnson's presence will be a benefit as it will help open things up for the Jeudy-Tillman tandem by drawing attention from defenders. Also, with the addition of Johnson, lower-depth options on the Browns' depth chart, like Jamari Thrash, stand to suffer. Though for fantasy purposes, Thrash hasn't been significant.
Regardless of who the quarterback carousel lands on, having a reliable target like Johnson, especially one already familiar to Kenny Pickett from their time in Pittsburgh, can only help.
Stock Watch
Risers
Fallers
Overview
After signing a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns, Diontae Johnson’s fantasy outlook remains murky. While his arrival adds value to the Browns' offense, he could end up as little more than a depth option and fringe flex play in deeper leagues. Following a tumultuous 2024 season, his path back to fantasy relevance hinges on whether the Browns' quarterback carousel finally comes to a stop with a reliable option under center.