RADIO
Losing one key player to an injury can alter an entire offensive identity. Generally, that player is the quarterback. Case and point: The Jets' offense following an Achilles tear for Aaron Rodgers. But it isn't always the quarterback that changes an offense.
In Week 1 with a healthy Austin Ekeler, the Chargers rushed the ball 52.63% of the time. Some of that may have been a ploy to keep the football out of the hands of the explosive Miami offense, but both Ekeler and Joshua Kelley found success. With Ekeler out in Weeks 2 and 3, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore shifted his approach and let Justin Herbert cook. In Week 2 against the Titans, Herbert dropped back to pass on over 67% of their plays. In Week 3, the Chargers' pass percentage jumped all the way to 76.56%.
| Game | Run Plays | Pass Plays |
| Week 1 (vs. MIA) | 40 | 36 |
| Week 2 (at TEN) | 21 | 44 |
| Week 3 (at MIN) | 15 | 49 |
With wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) lost for the season, will Moore change his strategy again and revert to the run game? Or will Joshua Palmer and rookie Quentin Johnston garner more targets in a pass-heavy offense?
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What Did Quentin Johnston Accomplish In Week 3?
That's the dilemma. Johnston didn't do much of anything in Week 3, even after Williams departed the game with his ACL injury. The rookie was on the field for less than a quarter of the snaps. Palmer was the receiver who played all the snaps opposite of the current WR1 in PPR formats, Keenan Allen.
The 2023 first-round pick hasn't reached the 30% mark for snap shares in any game this season. Johnston is a big-bodied receiver with speed to get downfield, the skills that Williams also possesses. The training wheels are now off.
Is Quentin Johnston A Good Fantasy Football Pickup for Week 4?
This is one of the rare cases where you need to look at your team and decide if you need help now or want to build for the future. Palmer will get the first crack at replacing the production of Mike Williams and did the job admirably in 2022. Tight end Gerald Everett and Ekeler (when he returns) could also see their targets increase.
Clearly, the Chargers don't believe Johnston is ready for the big leagues yet but they can't afford to give him much more time to develop on the sidelines. He is a first-round pick and a large part of the future plans for Los Angeles.
If you need a wide receiver now, put in your waiver claim for Palmer. If you can afford to stash the rookie and see what he becomes as the season progresses, put in the claim on Johnston. If you have roster spots to play with, adding both is not a bad strategy.
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