With the 21st pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Chargers selected TCU wide receiver, Quentin Johnston. The freakishly athletic 6’4 wideout amassed 1,067 yards and six touchdowns for the Horned Frogs on their way to the national championship in his junior season. Those numbers would likely have been higher if he had not dealt with a few minor injuries along the way.
A massive target, Johnston combines both size and speed and his unique stop-start ability also shows after the catch. Johnston averaged 8.9 yards after the catch in 2022 (10th in FBS), and his 18 forced missed tackles ranked eighth this season among receivers in the power five conferences. Johnston is a prototypical vertical receiver whose natural athleticism and size should translate quickly to the NFL.
Quentin Johnston Fantasy Football Rookie Ranking and Analysis
Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty Ranking: Wide Receiver No. 2
Fantasy Football Redraft Ranking: Wide Receiver No. 45
New offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will have plenty of weapons for Justin Herbert to work with as Johnston joins an already loaded receiving room that includes Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Joshua Palmer. Johnston profiles as a similar receiver to Mike Williams with his massive size and speed. Should the oft-injured Williams miss any time, there will be plenty of opportunity for Johnston to make a splash. The Chargers’ 687 pass attempts last season were second only to the Buccaneers.
Justin Herbert gets a boost with this move, as they simply can’t run out of options for the talented quarterback. Keenan Allen should remain the WR1, while Joshua Palmer and Mike Williams will see their stock dip a bit. Johnston should be taken as a WR3 in fantasy drafts, and has the possibility to be a late round pick that returns big rewards.
