San Diego Chargers wide receiver Stevie Johnson left Sunday’s game early, suffering a hamstring injury. Johnson was injured without contact, pulling up lame while running a route. He couldn’t return to the Chargers’ 30-27 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Stevie Johnson leaves with hamstring injury, frustrating fantasy owners
The wide receiver couldn’t finish Sunday’s game. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Johnson had four catches for 32 yards on eight targets before his injury. Malcom Floyd also left Sunday’s game early, suffering a concussion after one catch for 20 yards. Without those two, the team leaned on wide receivers Dontrelle Inman (three catches for 88 yards), Keenan Allen (four for 72, one score) and running back Danny Woodhead (four for 84).
Fantasy impact: Johnson started the season strong, with a touchdown and double-digit fantasy scoring in each of the season’s first two weeks. He’s cooled a bit since, though eight targets is always a nice sign. On its face, Sunday’s injury didn’t appear serious -- the team took its time to rule him out, and Johnson appeared to want to give it a try for some of that time.
More damning for Johnson’s fantasy stock, though, is the impending return of tight end Antonio Gates. The veteran tight end hasn’t played yet this season while serving a suspension, but that suspension ended Sunday and Gates is eligible to return in Week 5. He could steal targets from Johnson and from interim tight end Ladarius Green.
