Should You Start Los Angeles Chargers WRs Quentin Johnston or Keenan Allen in Fantasy Football Week 9?
Los Angeles’ receiving corps has experienced a dramatic shift in production distribution as the season progresses. Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen enter Week 9 with vastly different trajectories after both started the year as featured options in Justin Herbert’s passing attack. Can fantasy football managers trust either Chargers receiver this week?
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Quentin Johnston Fantasy Outlook
The hot start that positioned Johnston as Los Angeles’ emerging WR1 has completely evaporated over the past month. After posting at least 14.9 fantasy points in each of his first four games, Johnston has maxed out at 11.0 in his last three contests.
The most alarming development came last Thursday night when he registered a complete goose egg despite the Chargers scoring 37 points against the Minnesota Vikings.
Target distribution numbers reveal Johnston’s declining role within the offense. His 18.5% target share ranks 46th among wide receivers, while his 18% targets per route run rate places him 69th at the position.
Johnston appeared on just 53% of offensive snaps in Week 8 after playing 86% during his first six games, indicating the coaching staff might have lost confidence in his consistency.
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The emergence of rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II has further complicates Johnston’s path to targets. Johnston has fallen from potential WR1 status to arguably the WR4 role when counting Ladd McConkey, Allen, and Gadsden as the top three options in Herbert’s progression. Johnston totaled just 10 targets over his last three games combined after averaging 9.3 targets per contest during his explosive start.
Big-play ability remains Johnston’s primary fantasy asset moving forward. The explosive receiver can generate splash plays on limited volume, but banking on one or two deep shots per game creates an unreliable foundation for weekly lineup decisions. Fantasy managers must now view Johnston as a boom-or-bust WR4 option rather than the consistent contributor he appeared to be early in the season.
Keenan Allen Fantasy Outlook
Despite maintaining solid target metrics, Allen has struggled to convert his opportunities into consistent fantasy production. The veteran’s 24% target share remains strong while his 28.9% targets per route run rate ranks eighth in the league. These numbers reflect Herbert’s continued trust in his possession receiver on crucial downs.
Route participation presents the primary concern for Allen’s weekly ceiling. The 33-year-old is running routes on just 75% of Herbert’s dropbacks, limiting his overall opportunity count compared to full-time receivers. Allen posted at least 17.1 fantasy points in each of his first three games before his production cratered dramatically.
Since Week 4, Allen has finished higher than WR40 just once over five games. The veteran has managed double-digit fantasy points in only two of those contests while posting multiple single-digit performances. Allen’s declining snap rate combined with increased competition for targets has severely limited his weekly upside potential.
Game script dependency has become a critical factor in Allen’s fantasy relevance. When Los Angeles controls games through their running attack, Allen’s limited route participation naturally reduces his target opportunities. The veteran remains Herbert’s preferred option in critical situations, but those moments become increasingly rare when the Chargers build significant leads.
Should You Start Johnston or Allen This Week?
Tennessee presents a favorable overall matchup but concerning game script implications for both receivers. The Titans allow the 17th-most fantasy points to wide receivers, creating average rather than exceptional conditions for the passing game. Tennessee’s defensive struggles lie primarily against the run, where they’ve surrendered the third-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to running backs.
Projected game flow heavily favors Los Angeles’ rushing attack over their aerial assault. The Chargers enter as 10-point road favorites against a Titans team that has been outscored by 120 points this season. Los Angeles may not need to throw extensively given Tennessee’s defensive vulnerabilities on the ground and the likelihood of extreme positive game script throughout the contest.
Recent trends strongly suggest McConkey and Gadsden will dominate target distribution while Allen and Johnston fight for scraps. Los Angeles scored 37 points last Thursday with minimal involvement from both veterans, demonstrating the offense’s ability to produce without relying on their established receivers. That pattern could easily continue against an overmatched Titans defense.
Both receivers function as risky Flex plays at best for Week 9. Allen offers the slightly higher floor due to his target rate and Herbert’s trust in crucial situations, but his ceiling remains capped by limited route participation.
Johnston provides more boom-or-bust upside through his big-play ability but carries an extremely low floor after his zero-target performance. Fantasy managers should actively seek alternatives unless facing severe roster construction challenges.
