Theo Johnson Dynasty Value: Why He’s a Buy Now

With the hiring of HC John Harbaugh and the return of Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo from injury, the New York Giants will be one of the most popular worst-to-first picks in 2026.

The New England Patriots followed the model as recently as this year — a coaching change paired with a promising second-year quarterback — and the Giants could very well be next.

It’s a big reason why tight end Theo Johnson presents terrific fantasy value in dynasty right now, making him a brilliant “buy” candidate.

Theo Johnson Dynasty Value

What to know about Theo Johnson

Johnson, a 2024 fourth-round pick out of Penn State, became a mainstream dynasty darling at the Draft Combine. He posted a 4.57 40-yard dash time as well as speed and burst scores that led PlayerProfiler to slot him in the 98th and 96th percentiles, respectively.

In short, he’s an athletic freak. Where Johnson has yet to translate to for fantasy, however, is in the details. Drops have been a recurring issue through the 25-year-old’s two NFL seasons. Overall, his inconsistencies have made 2026 a prove-it year for Johnson.

Despite those issues, Johnson is still coming off a 45-528-5 season through 15 games. His average depth of target saw a noticeable jump from 2024 to 2025, from 6.7 to 8.3. Johnson isn’t catching cheap screens for PPR points; his 11.7 yards per reception sit tied for fifth among all tight ends with at least 50 targets.

Why Johnson is a BUY in Dynasty

A New System

That athleticism shows itself in the yards per reception. Johnson isn’t a tight end limited to in-line blocking. He has every opportunity to prove he belongs in 2026.

While Harbaugh will not call offensive plays, his teams have always favored building through the tight end and the running game. From Dennis Pitta to Mark Andrews to Isaiah Likely, Johnson has the opportunity to step into a similar role for a team in need of playmakers.

The same could be said of new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. One of his first decisions as head coach in Chicago in 2018 was to sign Super Bowl LII hero Trey Burton to an ambitious four-year, $38 million contract. Nagy also has plenty of experience in game planning for Travis Kelce alongside Andy Reid in Kansas City.

Now, no one should confuse Johnson with Kelce, nor Nagy with Reid. But in an offense featuring Malik Nabers — returning from a torn ACL and meniscus suffered in Week 4 — and not much else, it’s not a reach to see Johnson making a third-year leap. Especially with a coaching staff designed to maximize the promising tight end.

A Larger Role

Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson will test free agency after a massive season in terms of usage. His absence could vacate 140 targets, 92 receptions, and 1,014 receiving yards. The Giants must and will add to their receiver room. But Johnson will likely return to the team having the most experience alongside Dart.

The Giants could look to a talented crop of tight ends in free agency. Guys like David Njoku, Kyle Pitts, and Dallas Goedert are potentially testing the market and could throw a wrench in the works. But with a cheap starter in Johnson and capable depth in Daniel Bellinger, New York is well-positioned to utilize 12 personnel (two tight ends) without needing to make a splash.

Perhaps most importantly to Johnson’s fantasy success, the Giants can make a step forward in scoring in 2026 after sitting 16th in PPG as a team. Dart enters his second season after a promising rookie campaign despite numerous injuries around him and to the rookie himself.

Dart also ran for nine touchdowns in just 15 games and 11 starts. He attempted a mere 44 passes inside the 20-yard line. That’s fewer than Geno Smith (55 in 15 games) and Jalen Hurts (49 in 16 games), and slightly more than Joe Burrow (41 in eight games) and Lamar Jackson (41 in 13 games).

Expect New York to trust its young star quarterback more in the red zone in 2026. They will also want to protect him from running into another concussion, which could create more scoring opportunities for Johnson.

Offers to send for Johnson

The price will vary across league settings and depth. Johnson will obviously cost more in TE premium scoring. He’ll also be harder to acquire in deeper leagues where starters are all the more valuable.

Yet the 2026 draft class isn’t one that sparks much excitement, particularly beyond the top 15 picks for fantasy purposes. Instead of banking on a long-shot rookie that you currently don’t know will be available, sending a late second-round pick could both get the deal done and better your roster in one swoop.

In TEP formats, consider throwing in dynasty long shots like Jack Bech, Kyle Williams, or even Tre Harris on top to get the deal done.

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