The Los Angeles Chargers will likely need a few big offensive bursts to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11.

Could one of those big performances come from wide receiver Quentin Johnston?

After struggling through his rookie season and scoring just two times, the 2023 first-round pick has had a steady breakout this year with 306 yards and five scores while averaging 15.3 per catch.

Johnston has really come alive in recent weeks as the offense has strengthened along with the improving health of Justin Herbret’s ankle. In his last two appearances, he caught six passes for 142 yards and scored two scores.

Now experts are convinced that Johnston will post one of the five biggest surprise performances of Week 11.

“Johnston has one touchdown reception in consecutive games, and he has at least one in four of his last six,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote. “I expect quarterback Justin Herbert to find Johnston in the end zone for the third straight game against a weak Cincinnati secondary. The Bengals have thrown 17 touchdowns through the air this season, tied for the sixth-most in the league.”

Johnston scoring for the third straight game should give the Chargers a big advantage in a game where they will run the ball well against a poor defense, while Herbert also includes someone like breakout rookie Ladd McConkey.

And in the long run, having Johnston begin to live up to his draft slot as the roster overhaul continues under Jim Harbaugh would go a long way toward filling a perceived offseason need.

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