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TE Strength of Schedule

Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

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Bowers could have big year one


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the tight end position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the tight ends with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the tight ends that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  TE SOS  
1. Cincinnati Bengals 186.39
2. Miami Dolphins 193.98
3. Philadelphia Eagles 196.38
4. Washington Commanders 197.75
5. Houston Texans 198.15
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 199.18
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 199.68
8. New York Giants 201
9. Dallas Cowboys 201.18
10. Los Angeles Rams 201.38
11. Buffalo Bills 201.39
12. Chicago Bears 201.66
13. Arizona Cardinals 201.76
14. New York Jets 202.56
15. Jacksonville Jaguars 202.86
16. Baltimore Ravens 203.04
17. Denver Broncos 203.95
18. Los Angeles Chargers 204.02
19. Atlanta Falcons 204.25
20. Cleveland Browns 204.59
21. New Orleans Saints 205.62
22. Seattle Seahawks 205.73
23. San Francisco 49ers 206.80
24. Indianapolis Colts 206.89
25. Detroit Lions 207.92
26. New England Patriots 208.23
27. Kansas City Chiefs 210.92
28. Tennessee Titans 211.44
29. Green Bay Packers 212.07
30. Minnesota Vikings 212.23
31. Carolina Panthers 213.66
32. Las Vegas Raiders 213.81


A rookie led fantasy tight ends in scoring last year and the top rated rookie tight end this year gets the easiest fantasy schedule for tight end. Brock Browers and the Raiders have the most favorable schedule for tight ends. Sam LaPorta showed last year that a rookie can make an immediate fantasy impact, so don’t discount Browers to have big-time success in year one. He certainly looks the part of an elite tight end.

Another rookie with a good chance to start has the second easiest schedule for tight ends. Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders will compete with Tommy Tremble to start, but should emerge and be the top pass-catching tight end. He is looking like a good late-round gamble for fantasy teams.

The Vikings, Packers and Titans round out the top-five most favorable schedules for tight ends. T.J. Hockenson would be looking like a great pick if he wasn’t returning from a major injury. He is no sure thing to play early in the year. But once he is healthy, he could help fantasy teams in a big way once again.

Green Bay is likely to have Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft split a lot of the work at tight end, hurting both their value. They could produce some big games along the way, though, making them decent No. 2 fantasy tight ends this season. Both produced well in an expanded role last year.

Lastly, Chin Okonkwo didn’t quite have the breakout season many hoped last year, but he wasn’t bad by any means. Maybe he gets a few more chances this year and has some bigger games along the way with this favorable schedule. He is another decent tight end to grab as your backup.

The teams that top the list for toughest fantasy tight end schedules are teams that haven’t really utilized the tight end much in recent seasons. The Bengals have the toughest schedule followed bye the Dolphins. Mike Gesicki is the starter for the Bengals, but probably isn’t worth the risk with this schedule and the Bengals recent track record with tight ends.

Miami uses their tight ends to block more than anything in their offense. They have the occasional big game, but Jonnu Smith is going to be a risky weekly fantasy play. He would have looked much better landing with a different team.

There are a couple big-time fantasy tight ends that have unfavorable schedules. Dallas Goedert has the third toughest schedule. Goedert can be a little hit or miss to begin with in this offense, so this schedule gives him a little more concern. You might want to pass on him come draft day and go with another elite tight end with a better schedule and more consistency.

Dalton Schultz is the other elite tight end with a top-five unfavorable schedule. Schultz had a big first season with the Texans, becoming a favorite target of C.J. Stroud. He should get the targets this year. But he has a challenging schedule and more to compete with for targets, so his consistency might be a little off this year compared to last. 

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy tight ends. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the tight ends with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big-money contests.

  TE PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Atlanta Falcons 175
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 182.37
3. Philadelphia Eagles 184.73
4. Arizona Cardinals 187.67
5. Jacksonville Jaguars 187.77
6. New England Patriots 189.83
7. Miami Dolphins 190.37
8. New Orleans Saints 191.3
9. Los Angeles Rams 192.17
10. Pittsburgh Steelers 192.43
11. Cincinnati Bengals 196.1
12. Detroit Lions 196.12
13. Houston Texans 196.2
14. Indianapolis Colts 198.97
15. Buffalo Bills 199.63
16. Kansas City Chiefs 203.03
17. New York Jets 204.13
18. Carolina Panthers 205.7
19. Baltimore Ravens 205.9
20. Green Bay Packers 207.7
21. Chicago Bears 213.73
22. New York Giants 214.27
23. Seattle Seahawks 214.72
24. Cleveland Browns 214.97
25. Dallas Cowboys 215.8
26. Las Vegas Raiders 219.4
27. Washington Commanders 220.13
28. Denver Broncos 220.8
29. Minnesota Vikings 221.72
30. Tennessee Titans 223.73
31. San Francisco 49ers 225.53
32. Los Angeles Chargers 228.53


The Titans and Vikings are the only two teams with the most favorable fantasy schedule for tight ends during the regular season and playoffs. Hockenson is the intriguing one because he might not be fully healthy until late in the season. So while he might not be a huge fantasy factor for the regular season, Hockenson might be a difference maker in the playoffs.

Okonkwo is looking like a player worth grabbing as a No. 2 fantasy tight end, especially if you have an established starter ahead of him. Okonkwo has a high fantasy ceiling for the coming year because of a schedule that could facilitate a breakout season for him.

The Chargers actually have the best fantasy playoff schedule for tight ends. Donald Parham is the likely starter and has some potential in an offense looking for playmakers in the passing game. This could be his best season to date, making him an intriguing late-round gamble.

George Kittle is the biggest name on the list for top-five favorable fantasy tight end playoff schedules. He is going to produce big and could be even better down the stretch with a schedule setup for success.

The Falcons have the most challenging playoff schedule for fantasy tight ends. This is not good news for Kyle Pitts. He is already a polarizing fantasy player, so this schedule won’t do him any favors to get in good graces with more fantasy owners. Many think he could finally turn things around this year with a new coaching staff in place, but nothing is certain with this situation. Pitts could be a boom or bust pick once again.

The Eagles are the only team on both the top five most difficult fantasy schedules for tight ends for the regular season and playoffs. Goedert is looking like a player you might want to let someone else grab come draft day. There are a lot of good, young options at tight end this year. Going with one of those guys over Goedert might be the play on draft day.

Trey McBride is a favorite for many fantasy owners this year for a breakout season. He had a huge finish to last year and is shooting up draft boards. We wouldn’t avoid him come draft day because he has the fourth toughest fantasy playoff schedule. It is a little bit of a concern, but not a huge red flag for the talented tight end. Maybe just prepare for his numbers to dip a tad during the playoffs.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5

Player Notes
Caleb Williams Oct 7 7:00am CT
Caleb Williams

This Sunday, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams delivered his best performance of the season against the Carolina Panthers. In Week 5, Williams completed 20 of 29 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns while notably avoiding any turnovers. This marks the second time in three weeks that he has thrown for over 300 yards, and it was his third consecutive week without an interception. Williams excelled on passes of at least 15 air yards, completing all four attempts for 108 yards and both touchdowns. Additionally, he demonstrated his mobility with a one-yard touchdown run that was unfortunately called back due to a penalty. The Bears scored 36 points on Sunday, their highest total of the season, indicating that the offense is improving as Williams gains experience. Looking ahead to Week 6, Williams will face a Jaguars defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks (as of Week 5) this season, setting the stage for another potential breakout performance.

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D'Andre Swift Oct 7 7:00am CT
D'Andre Swift

On Sunday, Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift delivered a standout performance against the Carolina Panthers. He recorded 21 carries for 73 yards, a touchdown, and two receptions for 47 yards. Swift's most impressive play came on a 42-yard screen pass from Caleb Williams in the second quarter, where he evaded two defenders and maneuvered across the field to set up his one-yard touchdown run. Although Swift could have added to his tally, a one-yard touchdown run was wiped out by an illegal shift penalty, leading to Roschon Johnson scoring from one yard out just two plays later. After struggling with 42 or fewer scrimmage yards in his first three games with the Bears, Swift has surged with 285 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns over the past two weeks. Following a slow start to the season, he is now hitting his stride. The Bears capitalized on the Panthers' weak defense, which struggled to contain their offense. Swift looks poised for another strong outing in Week 6 against the struggling Jaguars defense in London.

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Roschon Johnson Oct 7 7:00am CT
Roschon Johnson

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson delivered his best performance of the season in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. He rushed ten times for 25 yards and scored two touchdowns. While his yardage may seem modest, his goal-line usage adds significant fantasy appeal. Should D'Andre Swift miss any time, Johnson's role in the offense will likely expand even further. Since Week 3, he has been the clear change-of-pace back, averaging ten touches and a touchdown per game. With bye weeks approaching, having a player like Johnsonwho regularly sees opportunities near the goal linecan be invaluable. Johnson aims to maintain his scoring momentum as he heads into a favorable Week 6 matchup against the struggling Jaguars defense in London.

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D.J. Moore Oct 7 7:00am CT
D.J. Moore

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore delivered his best performance of the season against his former team, the Carolina Panthers. He caught five passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns, igniting the Bears' scoring with a 34-yard touchdown in the first quarter and adding another 30-yard touchdown reception just before halftime. Moore set a season high in receiving yards, solidifying his status as the clear top target in a Bears receiving corps that also features Keenan Allen and rookie first-round pick Rome Odunze, who collectively managed 73 yards on 12 targets during the game. This marked Moore's first 100-yard game of the season and the sixth since he joined the Bears last year. Notably, it was only the second time he's scored multiple touchdowns in a game with the team. After a slow start to the season, which included a wait until Week 4 to find the end zone, Moore is building a strong connection with quarterback Caleb Williams. This momentum bodes well for Moore as he heads into a favorable Week 6 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Keenan Allen Oct 7 7:00am CT
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen had a subdued outing this Sunday against the struggling Carolina Panthers secondary, finishing with just three receptions for 33 yards. Despite setting a season-high in receiving yards, he has yet to deliver a standout performance since joining the Bears. His two-game absence due to a heel injury has undoubtedly impacted his rhythm, but seeing him healthy and back on the field for the last two games is encouraging. While he remains unstartable in fantasy leagues now, there's optimism that he could find his groove in the upcoming matchup against a vulnerable Jaguars defense.

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Rome Odunze Oct 7 7:00am CT
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze had a solid yet modest performance against the Carolina Panthers in Week 5, catching five passes for 40 yards. He tied with Keenan Allen for second on the team in targets, but DJ Moore remained the clear standout in Chicago's passing attack. Notably, this season, 112 of Odunze's 206 receiving yards came during a Week 3 breakout while Allen was sidelined with a heel injury. As the Bears head into a Week 6 matchup against Jacksonville's struggling secondary, Odunze has the potential to make an impact. However, his low floor is a concern as he competes with Moore and Allen for targets in the offense.

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Cole Kmet Oct 7 7:00am CT
Cole Kmet

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet delivered a solid performance against the Carolina Panthers in Week 5, recording three catches for 57 yards, including a notable 26-yard reception that showcased his big-play potential. After a slow start to the season, Kmet is starting to find his stride in the offense, averaging five catches and 63 yards over the past three weeks. While he has had one standout game this season, he should be primarily regarded as a reliable fantasy option with a solid floor. Backup Gerald Everett also saw increased involvement, catching two passes for 22 yards. Kmet will look to build on this momentum in a favorable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6.

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Adonai Mitchell Oct 7 1:30am CT
Adonai Mitchell

Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell caught four of his seven targets for 38 yards in the team's 34-37 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Adonai also threw a 24-yard completion to running back Tyler Goodson, and carried the ball once himself for four yards on the ground. Mitchell has seen a significant decrease in snaps upon Josh Downs' return from injury, but HC Shane Steichen is manufacturing ways for him to remain involved in the offense. Mitchell's snap count remains low, logging just 19 in the game. While it is encouraging to see that the Colts want him to remain a part of the offense, Mitchell's low-end opportunity share doesn't make him a reliable weekly option in fantasy right now. That could change in the event of an injury to any of the Colts starting receivers. The former Texas Longhorn is better left on the bench in Week 6 when the Colts take on the Tennessee Titans.

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Josh Downs Oct 7 1:20am CT
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs caught nine of his 12 targets for 69 yards in the team's 34-37 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Downs led the team in both receptions and targets, being a consistently reliable target for QB Joe Flacco throughout the matchup. Downs has been the No. 1 option for Flacco through the last two weeks, and it's unclear how much that production might shift should the Colts go back to Anthony Richardson (oblique) in Week 6. That being said, Downs remains a viable flex option in Week 6 against the Tennessee Titans, with a slightly higher ceiling if Flacco is once again the starter.

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Michael Pittman Jr. Oct 7 1:20am CT
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught five of his eight targets for 37 yards and a touchdown in the team's 34-37 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pittman opened the scoring for Indy, catching a one-yard touchdown on the team's opening drive. Pittman remained quiet throughout the rest of the matchup, eventually seeing more usage in the second half when the Colts went down by multiple possessions. The touchdown heavily helped Pittman's fantasy production but he did otherwise have an underwhelming performance given the high-scoring affair. Given his favorable target share, the former USC wide out can still be considered a WR2/3 option in Week 6 when the Colts face the Tennessee Titans.

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Alec Pierce Oct 7 1:10am CT
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce caught all three of his targets for 134 yards and a touchdown in the team's 34-37 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pierce was quiet through the first three quarters of the game, not getting his first reception until five minutes left in the fourth quarter. He then caught a 46-yard pass and followed it up with a 65-yard touchdown grab in the team's final drive. Pierce has put together a few games like this so far this season, catching multiple deep passes, whether from QB Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco. While his target share remains low in the offense, the third-year receiver has shown the ability to be a trusted deep ball target for both QBs. He can be considered a boom-or-bust option in Week 6 when the Colts take on the Tennessee Titans.

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Joe Flacco Oct 7 1:00am CT
Joe Flacco

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco completed 33 of his 44 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns in the team's 34-37 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Flacco committed no turnovers and also surprisingly ran the ball three times for another 22 yards on the ground. Flacco was nearly perfect in the shootout loss, finding Michael Pittman Jr., Mo-Alie Cox, and Alec Pierce in the endzone throughout the game. The game script heavily favored Flacco's performance, with the Colts facing a two-touchdown deficit with less than six minutes to play in regulation, resulting in an increased passing volume for Indy. It's unclear what the plan is for Indianapolis at quarterback while Anthony Richardson (oblique) recovers from injury. Still, Flacco would remain a strong streaming option if he gets the start again in Week 5. The Colts will face a stingy Titans defense in Week 6, but Flacco would remain firmly on the radar again then should he be named the starter.

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Trey Sermon Oct 7 1:00am CT
Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon ran the ball ten times for 38 yards and a touchdown in the team's 34-37 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also grabbed six catches for another 25 yards through the air. Sermon was slated to be the starter in Jonathan Taylor's (ankle) absence and was able to string together a productive fantasy outing as a result. Sermon saw a ten-to-five split in carries with running back Tyler Goodson, indicating there will be a noteworthy split in opportunities between the two in Taylor's absence. The former Ohio State Buckeye remains a viable option with Taylor out but will be in for a tougher matchup in Week 6 when the Colts face the Tennessee Titans.

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George Kittle Oct 7 1:00am CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle continued his hot streak by putting up 16.4 half-PPR points on Sunday, but it wasn't enough to avoid a 24-23 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The colorful former Hawkeye hauled in eight of a co-team-high 12 targets for 64 yards and a touchdown. Kittle's day could have been even better if he had caught a tough first-quarter red-zone target and avoided an unforced drop on a 14-yard target later on. Historically, Kittle has been boom-or-bust but his fantasy production has been steady this year, averaging 13 half-PPR points per game with a low of six points, which came in Week 1. Kittle will be a top choice at tight end in Week 6 when the 49ers face the Seahawks in Seattle on Thursday Night Football.

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Jaleel McLaughlin Oct 7 12:50am CT
Jaleel McLaughlin

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin only had six carries for 22 yards rushing (3.67 yards per carry) in the 38-14 win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5. It was more of the same for McLaughlin in the fifth game of the season, but he did manager to salvage his fantasy day somewhat for those that used him in a flex spot in deeper leagues with three catches on his four targets for three yards and his second touchdown of the year. The touchdown was nice for the 24-year-old, but it came on a day in which backfield mate Javonte Williams led the team in both rushing and receiving as their primary offense weapon. McLaughlin has scored twice and Williams is still searching for his first score, but he's the clear No. 2 in an offense that finally broke out for the first time in five weeks. He was out-touched 18 to nine by Williams. In a Week 6 matchup against a tougher defense in the Los Angeles Chargers, McLaughlin will be tough to trust in a flex spot.

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Courtland Sutton Oct 7 12:50am CT
Courtland Sutton

After scoring his first touchdown of the season in the Week 4 upset win over the New York Jets, Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton had a very non-descript day despite the offense breaking out for a season-high 34 points in the Week 5 win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Sutton finished with just two catches on five targets for 32 yards. He led all Denver wideouts in targets (five) but was out-produced by both running back Javonte Williams and receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey as quarterback Bo Nix continued to spread the ball around. The 28-year-old didn't have much of a chance to produce for fantasy managers with the Broncos RBs seeing more work in the passing game. Sutton is the clear No. 1 target for Nix, but he hasn't been efficient in 2024 and will continue to be a touchdown-dependent, low-upside WR4/flex in Week 6 against a stout Chargers defense.

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Javonte Williams Oct 7 12:40am CT
Javonte Williams

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams still has not found the end zone in 2024, but he managed his best game of the year regardless in the 34-18 win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday in Week 5. Williams had a team-high 13 carries for 61 yards (4.69 yard-per-carry average) while catching a team-high five passes on a team-high six targets for a team-high 50 receiving yards. It was the first time that he has gone over 100 scrimmage yards this year. He out-touched Jaleel McLaughlin 18 to nine and produced 111 scrimmage yards to McLaughlin's 25, but McLaughlin did score for the second time in 2024. The 24-year-old was very efficient and had a long run of 17 yards to take advantage of a great matchup. It was nice to see for Williams' fantasy managers, but he'll once again be a low-upside RB3/flex in a tougher matchup in Week 6 against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers.

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Bo Nix Oct 7 12:30am CT
Bo Nix

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix went 19-for-27 for 206 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the 34-18 win on Sunday in Week 5 to snap a long losing streak to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Nix also had eight carries for nine yards and his third rushing touchdown in five games. The 24-year-old 12th overall pick certainly improved over his 60-yard performance in the Week 4 win over the New York Jets. Nix and the Broncos were able to open their passing game up as much as they have all year, with his two touchdown tosses (one to Jaleel McLaughlin and one to Josh Reynolds) being a season-high through five weeks. The biggest thing is that Nix has avoided turning the ball over in each of their three wins after throwing four interceptions in the first two weeks. Nix led Denver to a season-high 34 points on Sunday, but he'll once again be a low-end QB2 in fantasy in another divisional game in Week 6 against what has been a stingy Chargers defense.

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Kyren Williams Oct 7 12:10am CT
Kyren Williams

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams rushed for 102 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He also caught a three-yard pass and lost a fumble in the contest. Williams currently owns an eight-game touchdown streak dating back to last season. During that span, he has found the end zone a total of 11 times. The 24-year-old continues to be one of the most reliable touchdown scorers in fantasy football, contributing RB1 value week after week. He should continue to be started in all fantasy leagues when he faces the Las Vegas Raiders on the other side of the Week 6 bye.

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Diontae Johnson Oct 6 11:40pm CT
Diontae Johnson

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson turned six targets into just three catches for 23 yards during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Chicago Bears. Given that the 25-year-old had 15 catches, 205 yards, and two touchdowns through his first two games with Andy Dalton under center, this performance in Week 5 was a massive disappointment for Johnson's fantasy managers. This wide receiver and quarterback pairing will have a chance to restore their rapport and get the Panthers back in the win column next Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson remains a fringe top-24 fantasy receiver at the moment.

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