Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson made it pretty clear that he's not going to play in Week 7 if all he'd be is a decoy. Johnson said that there's "no point in being on the field if I can't go out there and do what I got to do," according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN. Johnson is referring to the team's games in Week 4 and Week 5 in which he started, but wasn't really targeted. He was there to draw coverage and not much else.
Calvin Johnson doesn’t want to be a decoy; fantasy outlook bleak for Week 7
Calvin Johnson doesn’t want to play until he’s fully healthy and ready to contribute. We break down the fantasy implications.
Gregory Shamus
Johnson caught three passes for 19 yards in those two games. That accounted for all three of his targets. Obviously, it didn't serve his injured ankle well, as he went on to miss Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Johnson doesn't want to be used as a decoy at this point, especially when his injury is one that can be made worse just by running routes even at half speed.
Fantasy Impact: Johnson is one of the most prolific receivers in the NFL, as evidenced by the fact that he pulled in 164, 83 and 82 yards over the first three games of the season. He’s been invisible the past three weeks, but that can be blamed on his injuries. Now with him talking about not playing until he’s healthy, fantasy owners will likely be without him for a game and possibly two if the Lions want to sit him through the Week 9 bye. There aren’t too many inspiring options on the roster to replace him with.
