Is Quentin Johnston A Breakout Candidate In 2023? Fantasy Football Outlook

Quentin Johnston is one of the most exciting rookie wide receivers. Will Quentin Johnston have a breakout season in 2023? Should you draft Quentin Johnston in fantasy football leagues?

The Chargers drafted TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston with the 21st pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Johnston was the second wide receiver taken, just one pick after Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He led the Big 12 conference in yards per reception in 2020 and finished in the top three in each of his three seasons.

Now Johnston is getting hyped as a potential playmaker right out of the gate. His ADP in National Fantasy Football Championship drafts is WR44, ahead of veterans like Brandin Cooks and rookies like Zay Flowers. Will Johnston be a fantasy football asset and a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2023?

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Will Quentin Johnston Be A Breakout Star In 2023?

In three seasons at TCU, Quentin Johnston caught 115 passes for 2,190 yards and 14 touchdowns. He scored six receiving touchdowns in both his sophomore and junior seasons before declaring for the draft. He also scored two rushing touchdowns on goalline carries during his freshman season.

Johnston was considered the WR1 on some draft boards and WR2 on others. He's a dynamite playmaker who excels at defeating zone coverage but needs to work on beating press coverage. At 6′3” and with a 40.5-inch vertical jump, he should be able to get above defenders and come down with contested catches.

The Chargers have good wide receivers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but they are not always on the field together at the same time. Williams has never played every single game of a season since he entered the league in 2017, and he has missed at least three games in each of the past three seasons.

Johnston could very well have a chance to be involved in the Chargers' offense even if Allen and Williams both stay healthy, and their injury risks only increase the chances of Johnston having a sizable role.

When Should Fantasy Players Draft Quentin Johnston?

Johnston is going as the WR42 on average in Yahoo and ESPN drafts, which is about the same position he is going in high-stakes NFC drafts. Fantasy managers in expert leagues and public leagues generally agree on his standing compared to the other rookies.

Over the past three years, the fantasy community has seen multiple rookie receivers have big seasons. In 2020, it was Justin Jefferson. Then there was Ja'Marr Chase. Last season, there was none who came close to the two former LSU teammates, but Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and, to a lesser degree, Drake London, had good seasons.

The top rookie WRs last season all had substandard quarterback play hindering their production. Wilson may well have looked like JJ if he had Burrow throwing him the ball instead of Zach Wilson and Joe Flacco. Quentin Johnston has Justin Herbert throwing him the football. He could have a rookie breakout season, but you will have to pay up to get him.

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