Diontae Johnson is...... maybe really really good?

[ericanadian]

Digging up this thread, just saw this stat posted on RotoUnderworld's Twitter (shout out).

Most WR Target Separation in 2019:
1. Diontae Johnson - 2.39
2. Demarcus Robinson - 2.02
3. Tyreek Hill - 1.97
4. Albert Wilson - 1.97
5. DaeSean Hamilton - 1.92
6. Tyler Lockett - 1.91
7. Steven Sims - 1.90
8. Davante Adams - 1.88
9. Cole Beasley - 1.86
10. Deebo Samuel - 1.84

Not a perfect stat and not necessarily a list of 10 NFL studs, but this does confirm that Diontae is a very, very good route runner, especially for a rookie.

I also thought it was quite impressive that the gap between Diontae Johnson and the #2 player on this list (.37 yards) was twice as wide as the gap between the #2 player and the #10 player on this list (.18 yards).

Excited to see what this guy can do with some improved QB play in 2020.

Not sure this stat is necessarily reflective of good route running. Most of the guys on this list are high agility, quick direction change guys, which I suspect has more to do with them getting open.

[Ice]

Digging up this thread, just saw this stat posted on RotoUnderworld's Twitter (shout out).

Most WR Target Separation in 2019:
1. Diontae Johnson - 2.39
2. Demarcus Robinson - 2.02
3. Tyreek Hill - 1.97
4. Albert Wilson - 1.97
5. DaeSean Hamilton - 1.92
6. Tyler Lockett - 1.91
7. Steven Sims - 1.90
8. Davante Adams - 1.88
9. Cole Beasley - 1.86
10. Deebo Samuel - 1.84

Not a perfect stat and not necessarily a list of 10 NFL studs, but this does confirm that Diontae is a very, very good route runner, especially for a rookie.

I also thought it was quite impressive that the gap between Diontae Johnson and the #2 player on this list (.37 yards) was twice as wide as the gap between the #2 player and the #10 player on this list (.18 yards).

Excited to see what this guy can do with some improved QB play in 2020.

Not sure this stat is necessarily reflective of good route running. Most of the guys on this list are high agility, quick direction change guys, which I suspect has more to do with them getting open.

True but D. Johnson looks surprisingly good in his routes for a rookie.

Johnson is pretty quick but his strength is he is really smooth out of his breaks off either foot. Very few tells in his route running.

Bright future for this player.

[DynastyDrum30]

Surprised by the lack of chatter on Diontae lately. He’s constantly getting hurt, but in three heathy games, he's went 23/229/3 with 38 targets.

If the guy can stay healthy, he may be the #1 in Pitt.

[Cameron Giles]

Surprised by the lack of chatter on Diontae lately. He’s constantly getting hurt, but in three heathy games, he's went 23/229/3 with 38 targets.

If the guy can stay healthy, he may be the #1 in Pitt.

He's their best WR in terms of route running and separation. He's not their most talented, but the closest they have to getting 60% of the Antonio Brown element they had in their offense.

[Sriracha]

As a Denver fan, part of Hamilton's problem was mental lapses - either running the wrong route or flat-out dropping wide-open passes.

I don't know how this stat is calculated, but I also know Hamilton had some success working the middle of the field - an area that probably more conducive to finding more separation than on the boundary.

Hamilton is a good route runner.

He's just terrible at everything else. He's actually open a lot, just doesn't catch the ball.

[Sriracha]

Surprised by the lack of chatter on Diontae lately. He’s constantly getting hurt, but in three heathy games, he's went 23/229/3 with 38 targets.

If the guy can stay healthy, he may be the #1 in Pitt.

He's their best WR in terms of route running and separation. He's not their most talented, but the closest they have to getting 60% of the Antonio Brown element they had in their offense.

Diontae is their most dynamic WRs with the ball in his hands, and probably in the NFL. He's not just running routes out there to get open, they make a concerted effort to get the ball in his hands and let him work his magic. He's very talented, just not the size speed specimen that Claypool is.

[CGW]

Surprised by the lack of chatter on Diontae lately. He’s constantly getting hurt, but in three heathy games, he's went 23/229/3 with 38 targets.

If the guy can stay healthy, he may be the #1 in Pitt.

He's a great route runner and seemingly always open. Say what you will about separation stats, his translates to receptions. His after catch ability is exceptional as well. I like him a lot, just frustrated by injuries.

This offense is going to be very interesting with 3 very capable WR. Claypool is likely the best playmaker, but when Diontae is in he seems to be the target hog.

[jenkins.math]

Surprised by the lack of chatter on Diontae lately. He’s constantly getting hurt, but in three heathy games, he's went 23/229/3 with 38 targets.

If the guy can stay healthy, he may be the #1 in Pitt.

I believe you answered yourself. Hard to get super excited about guys that struggle to stay healthy.

[Ice]

He has stud potential. Health has been an issue but when on the field he is as smooth as silk. Really enjoy watching him play.

[Sriracha]

Just looked over week 7 again..

Diontae had 5 3rd down conversions and 2 redzone TD's. $$$

[kmbryant09]

He's basically AB without the top-end speed (and without the off-field antics, and without the blonde mustache). That's obviously a huge skill for a WR, so don't think I'm suggesting DJ will be nearly as good as AB.

But AB was such a smooth route runner with elite quickness, effortless separation, YAC potential, and could win at every spot on the field. Now, DJ can't really win as a straight-line WR like AB could, but he really does look the part as AB's replacement. He's a savvy route runner, creates separation with ease, makes people miss with the ball in hand, has already earned Big Ben's trust, and can win at *most* levels of the field - inside / outside / short / intermediate (just not deep / over-the-top).

If he stays healthy, he's a top20 dynasty WR.

[FantasyFreak]

Just looked over week 7 again..

Diontae had 5 3rd down conversions and 2 redzone TD's. $$$

Yeah, he's a chain mover, posession type WR. YPR have been hovering around ten for his career, so he's not really a consistent big play guy, but he's a really good WR 1a or 1b for the Steelers. Wouldn't call him a true 1, but the Steelers don't really have that. I think he and Claypool will be the Steelers top WR's for the next few years. Not really sure how much longer Ben has, but he should put up decent PPR numbers until Ben's arm loses it.

[drobes]

He's basically AB without the top-end speed (and without the off-field antics, and without the blonde mustache). That's obviously a huge skill for a WR, so don't think I'm suggesting DJ will be nearly as good as AB.

But AB was such a smooth route runner with elite quickness, effortless separation, YAC potential, and could win at every spot on the field. Now, DJ can't really win as a straight-line WR like AB could, but he really does look the part as AB's replacement. He's a savvy route runner, creates separation with ease, makes people miss with the ball in hand, has already earned Big Ben's trust, and can win at *most* levels of the field - inside / outside / short / intermediate (just not deep / over-the-top).

If he stays healthy, he's a top20 dynasty WR.

AB has elite speed? A quick look on player profiler has AB's 40 time at 4.56 and DJ's at 4.53. What am I missing?

[FantasyFreak]

He's basically AB without the top-end speed (and without the off-field antics, and without the blonde mustache). That's obviously a huge skill for a WR, so don't think I'm suggesting DJ will be nearly as good as AB.

But AB was such a smooth route runner with elite quickness, effortless separation, YAC potential, and could win at every spot on the field. Now, DJ can't really win as a straight-line WR like AB could, but he really does look the part as AB's replacement. He's a savvy route runner, creates separation with ease, makes people miss with the ball in hand, has already earned Big Ben's trust, and can win at *most* levels of the field - inside / outside / short / intermediate (just not deep / over-the-top).

If he stays healthy, he's a top20 dynasty WR.

AB has elite speed? A quick look on player profiler has AB's 40 time at 4.56 and DJ's at 4.53. What am I missing?

AB became much faster after college. Training, and natural growth can sometimes do that. AB was much faster than that time in the NFL.

[Sriracha]

Yea, idk. I think people are just hesitant to compare him to an All time great even when all the ingredients are there. Both he and AB can hit you deep by running by you without deep speed (there’s a play from earlier in the season where Diontae gets wide open literally running a go route and nimbly side stepping the defender).

Granted, his usage has been very close to the LoS at this point, but he has shown the ability to beat you deep dating back to his rookie year