The Los Angeles Chargers’ receiving corps continues experiencing volatility in production distribution as Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen navigate evolving roles. Both veterans enter Week 10 with contrasting trajectories following another week of inconsistent opportunities. Can fantasy football managers trust either Chargers receiver against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week?
Quentin Johnston Fantasy Outlook
Volume trends paint a concerning picture for Johnston’s consistency despite his recent scoring success. Over his first four games, Johnston commanded 37 targets from Justin Herbert. Over his last four contests, that number has plummeted to just 15 total targets, reflecting his diminished role in the offense.
Johnston returned to productivity last week with 15.3 fantasy points against the Tennessee Titans, but the underlying metrics were not encouraging. The TCU product caught four of five targets for 53 yards and a touchdown. That score provided the bulk of his fantasy value, masking continued struggles to earn consistent opportunities.​
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Target efficiency has cratered for Johnston as the season progresses. His 18.5% target share places him well behind Ladd McConkey. More recently, he’s even fallen behind Oronde Gadsden II in Herbert’s progressions. Most concerning, Johnston is being targeted on just 17.7% of his routes run, ranking 70th in the league among qualified receivers.
The emergence of Gadsden has had a tangible negative impact on Johnston’s weekly ceiling. The rookie tight end’s breakout has pushed Johnston further down the target hierarchy, transforming him from the WR2 early in the season to a boom-or-bust WR4 option. Johnston totaled just 10 targets over his last three games combined before last week’s five-target performance.
Keenan Allen Fantasy Outlook
Allen faces similar challenges to Johnston despite maintaining elite target efficiency metrics. While the veteran is still being targeted on a very healthy 28.5% of his routes run, the ninth-highest rate in the league, he’s been on the field dramatically less than earlier in his career. Allen’s snap share has dipped to just 56%, limiting his overall opportunity.
Route participation presents the primary obstacle to Allen’s fantasy ceiling. The 33-year-old is running routes on only 73.5% of Herbert’s dropbacks, well below the full-time involvement expected from a featured receiver. Allen remains effective when deployed but has transitioned into more of a situational underneath option than the every-down starter he’s been for most of his career.​
Game script dependency continues defining Allen’s weekly outcomes. When Los Angeles controls games through their ground attack, Allen’s limited route participation naturally reduces his target opportunities. The veteran remains Herbert’s preferred option in crucial situations, but those moments arrive less frequently when the Chargers build leads.
Since Week 4, Allen has finished higher than WR40 just once over six games. The former Cal star has managed double-digit fantasy points in only two of those contests. Allen’s declining snap rate combined with increased competition from McConkey and Gadsden has severely capped his weekly upside potential.
Should You Start Johnston or Allen This Week?
Pittsburgh presents an exceptional matchup for Los Angeles’ entire passing attack. This is not the classic fearsome Steelers defense that has terrified offenses for decades. The Steelers allow the second-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to wide receivers, creating ideal conditions for Herbert to attack through the air.​
Recent evidence demonstrates Pittsburgh’s vulnerability to receivers with similar profiles to Johnston. Indianapolis’ Alec Pierce shredded this secondary for 135 yards on six receptions last week. Johnston profiles more similarly to Pierce as a vertical threat who can win downfield, making this matchup particularly appealing for his skill set.​
The Steelers’ other major defensive weakness lies in defending the slot, where McConkey operates almost exclusively. Pittsburgh also functions as a massive pass funnel defense, forcing opponents away from the ground game and into aerial attacks.​
Allen lines up mostly on the outside, positioning him away from Pittsburgh’s slot vulnerability. The veteran lacks both the explosiveness of Johnston and the lateral agility of McConkey, making him less suited to exploit the Steelers’ specific weaknesses. All four of the Chargers’ top pass catchers qualify as startable options this week, but Johnston emerges as the second-best play behind McConkey.
Johnston offers legitimate WR3 upside in this dream matchup despite his recent target struggles. Allen provides a higher floor through his route efficiency but faces a lower ceiling given his limited playing time. Fantasy managers seeking consistent volume should prefer Allen, while those chasing upside should deploy Johnston as the superior boom-or-bust option in Week 10.
