According to multiple reports, the Carolina Panthers are trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the trade includes a pick swap, a Baltimore fifth-round draft pick in exchange for Johnson, and a Carolina sixth-round pick.
The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec notes that the Panthers are also paying down some of Johnson's salary -- about $3 million worth -- so the Ravens will owe him about $625,000 for the rest of the year.
It's the second time Johnson has been traded this year. The Panthers acquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens' AFC North rival, before the season.
The Panthers held Johnson out of Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos amid trade interest in the wide receiver.
During his time in Pittsburgh, Johnson started 67 games, catching 391 passes for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns. In seven games this season, he's caught 30 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns, working with Bryce Young and Andy Dalton at quarterback.
Fantasy Outlook In Baltimore
While fantasy managers invested in Johnson were hoping for a trade, Baltimore likely wouldn't have been on the list of desired destinations.
As SI.com's Jason Schandl pointed out, Johnson has averaged just 6.8 yards per target over six NFL seasons. For context, Schandl added, 91 qualifying receivers are averaging more than 6.8 this year.
Schandl explained, "That's the opposite of what you want from a Ravens receiver in fantasy, where explosive upside is always going to be an option, but where volume is tough to come by."
Although Zay Flowers is tied for 10th in the NFL with 61 total targets, no other Ravens receiving asset has more than 35 targets. Three of the four players behind Flowers, who have at least 25, are running backs or tight ends. Rashod Bateman, who's been serving as the team's No. 2 receiver opposite Flowers, has averaged 4.4 targets per game.
There doesn't appear to be a path to volume and consistent high-end production for Johnson, who is more likely to be a limiting factor for Flowers than a piece that leads to a change in offensive philosophy.
If there's a winner here, it's Lamar Jackson, who will have another dangerous downfield threat for those occasions he needs it.
The Other Side Of The Deal
Carolina will move forward with a wide receiver group headlined by veteran Adam Thielen and first-round pick Xavier Legette.
Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Coker, and David Moore complete the rest of the depth chart.
Although things have been better at times with Dalton running the offense, it's not clear whether he'll be ready to go this week -- or beyond. Young returned to the starting lineup against Denver this past Sunday, with Dalton sidelined by a thumb injury. The second-year man completed 24-of-37 passes for 224 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, and he ran three times for six yards.
Still, Fantasy managers should be mindful that the Panthers have scored 124 points this season. Only the Giants (117) and Titans (120) have scored fewer.
While the top players in poor offenses can be viable fantasy options, mining the depth on these units isn't a great strategy.
Closing
As always, the Footballguys staff will have various views on this one, so watch for more on this story and the broader impact in the coming days.
The move will also impact our Week 9 Footballguys Projections and Rankings, so watch for that.
Catch Harris every weekday morning on the Footballguys Daily Update Podcast, your 10-minute daily dose of NFL news and fantasy analysis. Find the latest edition here or subscribe on your podcast platform of choice. You can also listen to Harris weeknights on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio's The Football Diehards show and Sundays on the SXM Fantasy Football Pregame show on Sirius channel 87, and Saturday nights on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Sirius channel 88.
