Theo Johnson Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

Production & Fantasy Finishes

Darren Waller retired last summer, helping Johnson tally 29 catches, 331 yards, and one score in 12 games.

The Round 4 rookie still finished just 37th among TEs in PPR points. He slotted 34th in points per game.

Johnson never truly became a startable fantasy asset. He posted one top-12 fantasy line, with four others between TE16-TE20.

Usage & Role

Among Giants TEs, Johnson saw a team-best 76% route rate and 60.7% snap rate.

Most of his 3.6 targets per game came in the short range. Only one showed up in the red zone.

The 6’6, 264-pounder saw an average depth of target of only 6.9 yards, per Pro Football Focus. Only three of his targets (7%) traveled 20+ air yards, while four arrived behind the line of scrimmage.

Johnson was at least trending up before suffering a season-ending foot injury. He saw target counts of 6 (24% share), 6 (19%), 6 (20%), and 5 (17%) over his final four games.

Efficiency Metrics

Johnson’s efficiency metrics proved underwhelming.

Among 43 TEs with 30+ targets, Johnson ranked:

• 10th in yards per catch
• 38th in catch rate
• 39th in PFF receiving grade
• 40th in yards per route run
• 43rd in drop rate

Offensive Context

QB play crippled this offense.

Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito combined for a 61.9% completion rate and 6.0 yards per attempt. They averaged 190 yards and .88 TDs per game.

The Giants also finished 30th in total yards and 31st in points. New York slotted seventh in pass rate (63%) but just 23rd in pass rate over expected.

Injury History

Johnson missed the final five games with a Lisfranc (foot) injury. He underwent surgery in early December.

2025 Expectations

Projected Role & Competition

The Giants drafted TE Thomas Fidone in Round 7. They return veterans Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz, and Greg Dulcich.

But expect Johnson to stick in a starting role. He brings the size (6’6, 260) and athletic ability (9.99 Relative Athletic Score) to get an extended look as a pass catcher.

There’s a realistic chance he finishes third on the team in targets, behind WRs Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson.

Supporting Cast

New York projects to trot out at least two QBs in 2025.

Russell Wilson will be the Week 1 starter barring a major surprise. He was OK with Pittsburgh in 2024, posting a 63.7% completion rate and 7.4 yards per attempt. While his play clearly improved from a disastrous 2023 in Denver, Wilson remained far from the Pro Bowl level we saw in Seattle.

Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart round out the depth chart.

Winston’s risk-taking tendencies can boost his pass catchers. In six games with Winston last year, David Njoku posted finishes of TE7, TE15, TE6, TE31, TE2, and TE2.

Dart is unlikely to be a difference-maker as a rookie. GM Joe Schoen said in March that the Round 1 pick has a “long way to go” in his development. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan believes the Giants want Dart to sit behind the veterans all season.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

The Giants brought back HC Brian Daboll and OC Mike Kafka. 2025 marks their fourth season together.

In 2024, the team funneled a league-low 11% target share to TEs.

New York ranked 13th in 2023 (22%) and 27th in 2022 (17%).

Production & Efficiency Trends

Our historical aging curves show that, on average, fantasy TEs peak at age 25.

Johnson turned 24 back in February. But he has a chance to take a statistical jump given the opportunity in front of him.