Quentin Johnston Week 3 Waiver Wire: Should fantasy managers add Chargers WR?

Quentin Johnston was highly hyped heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. After all, he was one of the leading contributors to TCU's shocking run to the national title game in the 2022 season. And when the Los Angeles Chargers drafted him 21st overall in 2023, he was expected to be a future WR1.

However, the Chargers were the AFC's worst team in his rookie season. They then lost Keenan Allen and Mike Williams to other teams during the ensuing offseason, thrusting him into a leadership role.

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Should you add Chargers WR Quentin Johnston in Week 3 Waiver Wire?

Before discussing Quentin Johnston, one must first understand how HC Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman are experimenting with the Chargers' offense in the hopes of finding a concrete identity for it.

In the first game against the Las Vegas Raiders, he used a double-RB formation with Scott Matlock, normally a defensive lineman, at fullback à la Patrick Ricard, who has assumed a similar role at the Baltimore Ravens, coached by Harbaugh's brother, John.

For the second game at the Carolina Panthers, he switched to a two-TE formation, with Hayden Hurst joining Will Dissly. Johnston started this game and acquitted himself well, catching five of six targets for 51 yards and two touchdowns.

Such an impressive performance should theoretically make him a projected starter in Week 3, and thus a good pickup for a waiver wire. However, as will be stated later, there are circumstances in Johnston's next game that will make him someone to avoid.

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Quentin Johnston's fantasy outlook for 2024 NFL season

According to Sportskeeda's Fantasy Footbal Ranking, Quentin Johnston currently sits as WR79 ahead of Week 3. That puts him in the middle tier - not good enough to be elite, but not bad enough to be a bust.

Jim Harbaugh is still looking for a concrete offensive identity after he and general manager Joe Hortiz ditched most of the roster during the offseason. The most prominent position to take a hit was wide receiver, which once boasted the aforementioned duo of Keenen Allen and Mike Williams.

Given his youth, it is not hard to see Johnston becoming the WR1 under this regime.

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Is Quentin Johnston a good waiver wire pick up in Week 3 fantasy football?

The Chargers' next opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers, have two top-tier defensive backs in Joey Porter Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick who can give Quentin Johnston problems. But as they say, no passes can happen without a strong offensive line.

And that will be a problem against the Steelers, who also boast one of the league's best linebacker corps in TJ Watt, Patrick Queen, and Alex Highsmith. These highly-athletic men will pose a monstrous problem for Rashawn Slater and Co., so Justin Herbert needs to be on his toes if he wants to find his man.

To prevent this, Harbaugh and Roman will very likely lean heavily on the run, mitigating the linebackers' output. This means rather limited receiving opportunities for Johnston, which will affect his fantasy stock to the point that he is someone to skip on one's waiver wire.