Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (knee) was back at practice on Wednesday, according to report by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. In Week 6 against the Browns, Johnson caught just three passes for 25 yards, his lowest total in both categories this season.
Calvin Johnson practicing, likely a game-day call for fantasy owners
The Lions’ superstar receiver is practicing on Wednesday and should start in Week 7 against the Bengals. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Fantasy impact: After posting a career-high 122.8 yards a game last season and an outstanding 16 touchdowns in 2011, the perennial Pro Bowler has to be considered one of the early disappointments of the 2013 fantasy football season.
That said, he did have a touchdown in three straight games going the Week 6 and everyone knows he's playing hurt especially when you consider he only saw 14 snaps in the first half last week and lined up as the slot receiver instead of taking his usual place on the outside. To add to that, his longest catch of the game was just 10 yards and he ran short routes for the most part against a solid Cleveland Browns secondary.
Johnson is considered to be a game-day decision, although he’s one of the few receivers in the league that presents a ton of strategic value to his team even if he only gets used as a decoy. He’s the type of player you have to start in your fantasy lineup even if that’s the case, so by all means roll with Johnson. That said, don’t expect him to put together a five-star level performance quite yet.
• Week 7 fantasy football waiver wire: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
